Muskingum County was founded in 1804 and is historically known as a hub for waterway traffic in Ohio. Its land area is 664.5 square miles, making it the fourth-largest county in Ohio. The county seat is Zanesville City. 

Courts in Muskingum County

Muskingum County Court of Common Pleas hears several cases arising from the county. The court’s criminal jurisdiction encompasses all felony cases. It also hears civil claims involving more than $15,000 and appeals from some administrative agencies. The court’s domestic relations division handles cases on dissolution of marriages, child support, paternity, and civil protection orders.

The Muskingum County Juvenile Court handles cases involving minors below the age of 18, including delinquency and dependency cases. However, matters involving wills, deceased estate, guardianships, and mental health are within the authority of the county’s Probate Court.

The Muskingum County Court handles civil and criminal cases in all parts of the county besides Zanesville. The court has jurisdiction over misdemeanors, traffic offenses, and civil claims involving $15,000 or less. Eviction cases and small claims of up to $6,000 also fall within the jurisdiction of the County Court. The Zanesville City Municipal Court has jurisdiction similar to that of the Muskingum County Court, but its authority is limited to only Zanesville City.

The Mayor’s Court operates at the municipal level. Their jurisdiction is limited to ordinance violations and traffic cases.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Muskingum County

Courts in Muskingum County maintain records of the cases they handle. Anyone can request records of the Court of the Common Pleas from the office of the court clerk or view them online through the Courtview Portal. Similarly, records of the Muskingum County Court are available in the clerk’s office at the court’s location and on the county’s CaseLook portal. The Zanesville Municipal Court also has its clerk and municipal CaseLook portal.

Each Mayor’s Court maintains its own records; requesters can contact the relevant courthouse to obtain them. Likewise, for records of the Juvenile and Probate Courts, contact their respective clerks.

Types of Public Court Records in Muskingum County

Public records are materials containing information about court cases that are open to the public. Some examples of public court records in Muskingum County are:

• Civil case records
• Divorce records
• Felony records
• Misdemeanor and traffic records
• Judgment lien records

Confidential Court Records in Muskingum County

State and federal laws declare certain court records confidential and thus exempt from public access. Some examples of such confidential records in Muskingum County are:

• Records sealed by court order
• Records of adoption cases
• Juvenile probation records
• Records of conservatorship  cases

Juvenile Delinquency in Muskingum, OH

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Muskingum 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 1009 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Muskingum County. Of that total, 38% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 383 court cases. Another 24% were dependency cases that accounted for 242 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Muskingum County, OH

https://ohio.gov/

County Seat:	Zanesville
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1804
Total Square Miles:	673
2019 Population:	86,149
Persons/Square Mile:	0.01
County Contact:	401 Main St County Courthouse Zanesville , OH 43701-3519 http://www.muskingumcounty.org/

Muskingum County, OH Courts