Named in honor of General Richard Butler, who died in 1791 during St. Clair’s Defeat, Butler County is home to approximately 390,000 Ohioians. Established in 1803, Butler County is located in southwestern Ohio, covering 467 square miles. Butler County’s county seat in Hamilton is home to Miami University, one of Ohio’s oldest and most prestigious public universities.

Courts in Butler County

The judicial system in Butler County comprises Courts of Common Pleas, County, Municipal, and Mayor’s Court. The Butler County Courts of Common Pleas has general jurisdiction over criminal and civil cases. The court divisions include the General, Domestic Relations, Juvenile, and Probate Divisions. The General Division presides over felonies and civil cases for disputes over $15,000. The Domestic Relations Division handles proceedings involving divorcees, annulments, spousal support, and allocation of parental rights. The Juvenile Division adjudicates cases involving minors charged with crimes, including delinquency, abuse, and neglect. The Probate Division deals with estates, guardianships, and adoptions.

The County and Municipal Courts have jurisdiction over some criminal and civil cases. County Courts serve areas not covered by Municipal Courts. The courts preside over traffic and non-traffic misdemeanors, parking violations, and violations of township resolutions. The courts preside over civil cases for claims less than $15,000.

The Mayor’s Courts have jurisdiction over criminal cases outside the Municipal Courts. They preside over violations of municipal ordinances and criminal traffic cases, such as parking violations and driving under the influence.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Butler County

The Butler County Clerk of Court is the record custodian and provides electronic access to case files from the Courts of Common Pleas. Additionally, record seekers may view and obtain copies of the court records at the courthouse during business hours or mail requests for the documents. Public court records from the Municipal Courts are available at the courthouses where the case was heard.

Types of Public Court Records in Butler County

Court records publicly available to Butler County residents include:

• Civil Court Records: Landlord-tenant disputes, foreclosures, business litigations, and property disputes
• Criminal Court Records: Felonies and misdemeanors such as homicide, arson, vandalism, and petty theft
• Probate Records: Guardianships, wills, trusts, estates, and conservatorship records
• Family Law Records: Divorce, legal separation, marriage annulments, child visitation, child custody, and spousal and child support records
• Traffic Records: Illegal parking, driving without valid licenses, seat belt violations, and speeding tickets

Confidential Court Records in Butler County

Confidential court records are documents unavailable for public inspection, copying, or viewing.  Confidential court records are sealed by state or federal law or court orders to protect the safety and privacy of the persons named on the court document. The following county documents are restricted from the public in Butler County:

• Juvenile Court records
• Adoption records
• Trade secrets and business proprietary information
• Substance abuse treatment records
• Medical and mental health records

Furthermore, personal data in court documents are confidential and exempted from public view. Personal identifiers are redacted to prevent potential harm, harassment, fraud, and identity theft. Confidential personal identifying information includes:

• Financial account information
• Social Security numbers
• Home and email addresses
• Passport numbers
• Birth dates

Juvenile Delinquency in Butler, OH

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

In 2017, a total of 1073 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Butler County. Of that total, 0% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 1 court cases. Another 55% were dependency cases that accounted for 589 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Butler County, OH

https://ohio.gov/

County Seat:	Hamilton
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1803
Total Square Miles:	470
2019 Population:	380,604
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	315 High St County Administration Bldg. Hamilton , OH 45011-6056 http://www.butlercountyohio.org/

Butler County, OH Courts