Jackson County occupies a total area of about 604.5 square miles. It is home to Kansas City, which serves as a second county seat and the center of county government. Nonetheless, Independence remains the original county seat. The 2020 census recorded almost 717,204 people living in this county.

Courts in Jackson County

The highest court in Jackson County is the 16th Judicial Circuit Court. It comprises four divisions: Family Justice Center in Kansas City, which handles juvenile matters; Eastern Jackson County Courthouse, located in Independence, Kansas City; and Albert Riederer Community Justice Complex Courthouses, both in Kansas City. These are trial courts of general jurisdiction where issues concerning Missouri law are litigated. Judges hear everything from small claims cases to civil and criminal matters.

There are municipal courts that adjudicate general County Ordinance infractions. These include code enforcement, traffic violations, and park citations issued by the respective enforcement department personnel.   

Where to Find Public Court Records in Jackson County

The Clerk of the Court maintains all records generated in all divisions of that court. The Office of the Clerk makes public court records available online. Also, requests can be e-mailed to the courthouses for copies of these records. In addition to online access, anyone can visit the locations of the various courts in Jackson County during working hours. Copies of the records of cases heard in these courts can be viewed and requested.

Types of Public Court Records in Jackson County

Unless sealed by court orders, Jackson County makes the following types of court records available to the public:

• Criminal Court Records: They include court records from misdemeanor crimes like simple assault and disorderly conduct as well as felony criminal cases like drug trafficking and burglary
• Family Court Records: They include divorce documents, child custody issues, details from adoption procedures, restraining orders, and spousal support records
• Civil Court Records: They consist of lawsuits on intellectual property, real estate, contract disputes, and personal injury claims
• Probate Court Records: Documents on the management of a deceased person's estate, including guardianships, conservatorships, wills, and trusts

Confidential Court Records

Confidential court records in Jackson County include those sealed by court orders. While most court documents are publicly available in Missouri, the following are usually not available for public viewing:

• Juvenile records
• Settlement agreement of a divorce case
• Medical and mental health records
• Individual or corporate tax records
• Alcohol and drug-related estates

Juvenile Delinquency in Jackson, MO

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Jackson County, juvenile delinquency crimes are on the rise. There are many reasons for the increase in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Missouri often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of offenses, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 2660 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Jackson County. Of that total, 40% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 1075 court cases. Another 57% were dependency cases that accounted for 1509 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Jackson County, are focusing on family health and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Jackson County juvenile delinquency statistics will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Jackson County, MO

https://www.mo.gov/

County Seat:	Kansas City and Independence
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Home Rule
Year Organized:	1826
Total Square Miles:	616
2019 Population:	698,895
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	415 E 12Th St County Courthouse Kansas City , MO 64106-2706 http://www.JacksonGov.org

Jackson County, MO Courts