Suffolk County is the easternmost county in New York State and the fourth most populous county in the state, with about 1.5 million residents. It has 10 towns, including Riverhead Town, which serves as its county seat.

Courts in Suffolk County

Suffolk County is part of the 10th Judicial District of New York State. The county's trial courts hear legal matters. The Suffolk County Supreme Court handles matrimonial and guardianship cases at the courthouse in Central Islip town, and other civil cases are heard at the Riverhead town courthouse.

The County Court has jurisdiction over felony criminal proceedings and is limited to civil cases involving damages of $25,000 or less.

Suffolk County also has six District Courts, located in Babylon, Brookhaven, Huntington, Islip, and Smithtown. The Criminal Court branch has jurisdiction over misdemeanors, violations and infractions, felony preliminary hearings, and criminal traffic ticket charges. The Civil Court division hears civil cases concerning damages up to $15,000, while the Small Claims Court handles disputes not exceeding $5,000. The Landlord and Tenant Court division exercises jurisdiction over housing case proceedings and eviction disputes.

Family Courts in Suffolk handle child support, child custody, visitation, and other family law proceedings. The Surrogate's Court handles all matters related to wills, unclaimed properties, guardianships, adoptions, and other cases concerning deceased estates.

The Town and Village Courts in Suffolk County have jurisdiction to handle misdemeanor criminal cases, civil cases with claims up to $15,000, and traffic infractions. The court justices also preside over arraignments and preliminary hearings for serious crimes.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Suffolk County

In Suffolk County, public court records are maintained by the Clerk of Court and the County Clerk. However, the County Clerk possesses records of only the Supreme Court and the County Court. Individuals can request court records directly at the clerk's office located in the court where the case was heard. Public court records in Suffolk County are also accessible online.

Types of Public Court Records in Suffolk County

Suffolk County provides public access to the following types of court records:

• Criminal Court Records - Misdemeanor and felony case proceedings
• Family Court Records - Divorce, child custody and visitation, and child support cases
• Civil Court Records - Tenancy disagreements, traffic cases, and breaches of contract
• Probate Court Records - Wills executions, estates disputes, and guardianships

Confidential Court Records in Suffolk County

Confidential court records in Suffolk County include case information and documents exempted from public disclosure by New York laws or sealed by court orders. Unlike public court records, confidential court records are only accessible to individuals with court orders or anyone involved in the case. Confidential court records and information in Suffolk County include the following:

• Criminal history records
• Juvenile records
• Matrimonial cases
• Adoption records
• Family court records
• Complete date of birth
• Full names of minors
• Financial information, such as credit or debit cards

Juvenile Delinquency in Suffolk, NY

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

In 2017, a total of 321 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Suffolk County. Of that total, 64% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 206 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Suffolk County, NY

https://www.ny.gov/

County Seat:	Riverhead
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Home Rule
Year Organized:	1683
Total Square Miles:	2,373
2019 Population:	1,492,953
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	300 Center Dr County Center Riverhead , NY 11901-3393 http://www.suffolkcountyny.gov/

Suffolk County, NY Courts