Washoe County is a County in the U.S. State of Nevada. As of July 2023, the County’s population estimate stood at 498,022, making it the second most populous in Nevada. The County sprawls over 6,600 square miles and has its county seat in Reno.

Courts in Washoe County

Washoe County, Nevada, has three courts: District Courts, Justice Courts, and Municipal Courts.

District Courts in Washoe County maintain general jurisdiction over criminal or civil cases. However, they usually handle only cases outside of the other courts' jurisdiction. The Courts have a Criminal Division that hears criminal cases relating to felonies, misdemeanors, and other less common offenses. The Civil Division of the Court hears most general civil claims, including disputes worth over $10,000. Lastly, the Court’s Family Division hears cases relating to juvenile delinquency, abuse, and neglect.

Justice Courts are limited in their jurisdiction over Criminal and Civil cases. The Court’s Criminal Division hears cases relating to misdemeanors. Its Civil Division hears general civil claims for less than $10,000 and other types of civil claims within financial limits, including taxes or forfeitures. A simpler small claims procedure is also used for some civil claims when the actions are feasible financially.

Municipal Courts in Washoe County are limited in the types of criminal or civil cases over which they have jurisdiction. Some criminal cases heard in Municipal Courts include city ordinance violations and other municipal ordinance violations.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Washoe County

Washoe County allows members of the public access to several court records. To access public court records in Washoe County, interested individuals can use the Case Search Portal, an online platform designed to allow easy access to court records. Alternatively, interested persons can complete the Public Records Request Form and submit the completed form to the court where the case was heard.

Types of Public Court Records in Washoe County

Examples of public court records in Washoe County include:

• Arrest Records
• Notary Bonds
• Criminal Records
• Civil Records
• Marriage Certificates

Confidential Court Records in Washoe County

Washoe County designates some records as confidential and keeps such records away from the public. Some of these confidential records include:

• Adoption Records
• Juvenile Court Records
• Mental Health Records
• Domestic Violence Victim Records
• Case Records on Individual Tax Returns

Juvenile Delinquency in Washoe, NV

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

In 2014, a total of 1536 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Washoe County. Of that total, 50% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 761 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Washoe County, NV

http://nv.gov/

County Seat:	Reno
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1861
Total Square Miles:	6,542
2019 Population:	460,587
Persons/Square Mile:	0.01

Washoe County, NV Courts