Popularly known as Staten Island, Richmond County is the southernmost borough of New York City. As of the 2020 census, the County’s population was estimated at 495,747, making it the least populated borough in New York. It has 183,692 housing units and covers over 57.5 square miles of land.

Courts in Richmond County

Richmond County has five courts, including the Supreme Court, Family Courts, Surrogate Courts, Civil Courts, and Criminal Courts.

Supreme Courts in Richmond County have common jurisdiction over each criminal and civil case, but only cases elevated beyond basic courts reach the Supreme level. Civil cases examined by Supreme Courts are civil claims for more than $25,000, divorce, annulment, small claims tax assessment reviews, and complex commercial cases.

Family Courts have jurisdiction over specific types of juvenile matters, such as child neglect, juvenile delinquency, abuse prevention, and juvenile dependency cases. They also handle child protective proceedings and cases involving persons in need of supervision.

Surrogate Courts enjoy jurisdiction over specific case types related to decedent affairs, including the administration of estates, lifetime trusts, probate of wills, and guardianship of a minor's property.

Civil Courts in Richmond County maintain jurisdiction over the majority of general civil claims worth less than $25,000. The courts oversee nearly all counterclaims, regardless of their value, up to certain financial limits.

Criminal Courts of the City of New York have jurisdiction that covers nearly all offenses with a grade under misdemeanor, as well as felony preliminary hearings. Criminal Courts share jurisdiction over Orders of Protection along with Family and Supreme Courts.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Richmond County

The Richmond County Clerk is responsible for keeping public court records in the County. Individuals interested in obtaining public court records can visit the Clerk’s Office to request the records or visit the physical address of the courthouse where the case was heard. Alternatively, interested individuals can access the court records online.

Types of Public Court Records in Richmond County

Some court records are made available to the public in Richmon County. Some of these records include:

• Civil Records
• Criminal Records
• Family Records
• Small Claims Records
• Land Documents

Confidential Court Records in Richmond County

It is important to note that not all court records are available to the public. Some records may be sealed or restricted due to privacy concerns, ongoing investigations, or sensitive information. Some of these records include:

• Adoption Records
• Mental Health Records
• Records Relating to Juvenile Delinquency
• Sealed Records
• Protection from Abuse Orders

Juvenile Delinquency in Richmond, NY

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

In 2017, a total of 188 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Richmond County. Of that total, 73% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 137 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

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

Richmond County, NY Courts