Rockland County is located in the southeastern area of New York State. A designated “Preserve America Community” famous for its amazing river views, attractive villages, stones, and bricks. The county has a land area of 173.7 square miles, hird of which is a parkland. Rockland County, one-third of which is parkland. The county’s seat is New City, the largest hamlet and a Census Designated Place.

Courts in Rockland County

Rockland County’s court system is part of the 9th Judicial District of New York State. It comprises the Supreme and County Court, the Surrogate’s Court, and the Family Court.

The Rockland Supreme and County Court is a court of general jurisdiction over matters arising from the county. It hears cases that are outside the purview of other lower courts. The court's civil jurisdiction covers civil cases such as monetary claims exceeding $25,000, claims for injunctions, and equity suits such as mortgage foreclosures. It also handles divorce and related cases. The court's criminal jurisdiction encompasses felony cases; these cases are often heard by the County Court.

The Rockland Surrogate’s Court is a trial court of limited jurisdiction. It handles matters on the deceased, such as wills, probate, trusts, and administration of estates. On the other hand, the Rockland County Family Court handles domestic-related disputes, marriage, and divorce. However, both courts can hear adoption cases.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Rockland County

The Office of the Clerk is responsible for filing and recording court-related documents. Interested members of the public can obtain these records by requesting them from the Rockland Clerk’s office in person or via mail. Rockland County court records are also accessible online. 

Types of Public Court Records in Rockland County

Public court records in Rockland County are materials containing detailed information associated with court proceedings. They include:

• Traffic and criminal records
• Felony and conviction records
• Family court records
• Civil judgment

Members of the public can access these records; so far, they are not deemed confidential and sealed by court order. 

Confidential Court Records in Rockland County

All court records are public except those considered confidential. As a result, these records are not open to the general public. Examples are:

• Information in matrimonial proceedings
• Mental health records
• Juvenile court records
• Records of adoption proceedings
• Grand jury minutes
• Probation reports and pre-sentence memoranda
• Identity of victims in sex offense cases
• Records of family court proceedings not open to indiscriminate public inspection

Juvenile Delinquency in Rockland, NY

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

In 2017, a total of 60 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Rockland County. Of that total, 77% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 46 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Rockland County, NY

https://www.ny.gov/

County Seat:	New City
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Home Rule
Year Organized:	1798
Total Square Miles:	199
2019 Population:	328,868
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	1 S Main St Ste 100 County Courthouse New City , NY 10956-3549 http://www.co.rockland.ny.us

Rockland County, NY Courts