Formed in 1798, Ross County, Ohio, was named after Federalist Senator James Ross of Pennsylvania. The county’s seat and largest city is Chillicothe City. The county has a land area of 689.17 square miles and is home to over 77,000 residents.

Courts in Ross County

The Court of Common Pleas is the trial court in Ross County. It hears felony criminal cases and civil actions such as personal injury, breach of contract, foreclosures, and actions for declaratory judgment and injunctive relief. In addition, the Court has a combined Probate and Juvenile Division, which handles cases such as the administration of estates, trusts, guardianships, child support, child custody, and juvenile delinquency.

Ross County also has a Municipal Court, which is located in Chillicothe City. The Court entertains various types of criminal matters, including felony preliminary hearings, traffic and non-traffic misdemeanors, as well as municipal ordinance violations. The Chillicothe Municipal Court also handles civil cases involving amounts less than $15,000. Other civil actions heard in the court include breach of contract cases, replevin, interpleader, temporary protection orders, and recovery of money and property.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Ross County

In Ross County, court records are filed and kept by the Clerks of Courts. The Office of the Clerks maintains digital records of case information, which are accessible to members of the public. This is available on the CourtView Portal, which contains all kinds of case records from the Court of Common Pleas and the Juvenile-Probate Division. Residents of Chillicothe can also search for court records of the Chillicothe Municipal Court by using the Case Search option or visiting the courthouse during regular business hours.

Types of Public Court Records in Ross County

In Ross County, certain records are generated in the course of court proceedings. These records are generally accessible to the public, except when sealed by court order. Some examples include:

• Court dockets
• Court calendars
• Transcripts of trials and depositions
• Court orders and judgments
• Cause book

Confidential Court Records in Ross County

Confidential court records are documents that are restricted by law or court order and are only accessible to certain persons. Examples of such records include:

• Records involving juvenile proceedings
• Adoption records
• Records relating to trade secrets
• Mental illness treatment records
• Drugs and alcohol treatment records.

Juvenile Delinquency in Ross, OH

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

In 2017, a total of 744 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Ross County. Of that total, 55% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 409 court cases. Another 28% were dependency cases that accounted for 209 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Ross County, OH

https://ohio.gov/

County Seat:	Chillicothe
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1798
Total Square Miles:	693
2019 Population:	77,313
Persons/Square Mile:	0.01
County Contact:	2 N Paint St Ste H County Courthouse Chillicothe , OH 45601-3109 http://www.co.ross.oh.us/

Ross County, OH Courts