Founded in 1801, Guernsey County is located in Ohio. Over 35,000 individuals reside across 19 townships in the county. The largest city in the county, Cambridge, serves as the county seat.

Courts in Guernsey County

The Guernsey County Common Pleas Court has general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal matters arising in the county. The court also has several divisions that handle the filing and adjudicating of different cases. The court’s General and Domestic Relations Division handles criminal, civil, and domestic relations cases. Criminal cases brought before the court include felonies that are punishable by incarceration of more than a year and fines of $1,000.

The Civil Division hears non-criminal matters concerning personal injury, medical malpractice, contract disputes, worker’s compensation appeals, property damage, mortgage foreclosures, and other land issues. Likewise, the Domestic Relations Division has jurisdiction over family-related matters, including dissolution of marriage, divorce, spousal support, child custody, child support, and civil protection orders.

Guernsey County’s Juvenile Court is a division of the Common Pleas Court. It handles cases involving offenses committed by minors and also facilitates the supervision, care, and rehabilitation of such children.

The Probate Court is also a division of the Common Pleas Court and has jurisdiction over probate matters. The court handles cases related to wills, decedent estate settlements, trusts, guardianships and mental illness commitments, and adoptions.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Guernsey County

In Guernsey County, the Clerks of the courts are responsible for managing and maintaining court records related to cases filed at their respective courts. While the Clerk for the Common Pleas Court General Division maintains civil, criminal, and domestic relations court records, the Probate and Juvenile Court judges act as clerks for their respective courts. Individuals can find public court records in Guernsey County by searching them at the Clerk’s Office. The Clerk may also provide copies of such records upon submitting a written request for the needed records via mail or in person. Anyone can also search for court records in the county that are publicly available online.

Types of Public Court Records in Guernsey County

Unless confidential, the following types of public court records in Guernsey County are available to anyone:

• Criminal Court Records
• Civil Court Records
• Traffic Court Records
• Probate Court Records
• Domestic Relations Court Records

Confidential Court Records in Guernsey County

Confidential court records in Guernsey County are exempt from disclosure to the public to comply with Ohio laws or court orders. Such records usually contain private or sensitive information about individuals involved in court proceedings. However, confidential court records may be accessible under court orders or to the parties involved in the proceedings.

Ohio laws classify the following as confidential court records:

• Adoption records
• Mental health records
• Records containing developmental disability proceedings
• Medical records
• Personal identifiers of individuals, such as Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and driver's license number
• Juvenile records
• Sealed court records.

Juvenile Delinquency in Guernsey, OH

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Guernsey 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 399 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Guernsey County. Of that total, 52% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 207 court cases. Another 44% were dependency cases that accounted for 177 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Guernsey County, OH

https://ohio.gov/

County Seat:	Cambridge
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1810
Total Square Miles:	528
2019 Population:	39,093
Persons/Square Mile:	0.01
County Contact:	627 Wheeling Ave County Courthouse Cambridge , OH 43725-2284 http://www.guernseycounty.org

Guernsey County, OH Courts