Named for the highest point along the Ohio and Erie Canal, Summit County is located in northeastern Ohio. Established in 1840, the county is home to approximately 540,000 Ohioans and covers an area of about 1,074 square kilometers. Summit County is known as the global center for rubber and tire production, with companies like Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company headquartered in Akron City, which serves as the county seat.

Courts in Summit County

The Summit County trial court system comprises Courts of Common Pleas, Municipal, and Mayor’s Court. The Summit County Courts of Common Pleas is the trial court of general jurisdiction and handles felonies and civil cases. The court has separate divisions for general, domestic relations, probate, and juvenile cases.

The General Division handles criminal felony cases. The Domestic Relations Division manages family cases, including annulments, divorce, and child custody. The Probate Division presides over matters relating to estates, willis, mental health commitments, and guardianships. The Juvenile Division handles cases involving minors, including abuse, neglect, and delinquencies.

The Municipal Courts in Summit County presides over criminal traffic and non-traffic misdemeanors, most violations of township resolutions, municipal ordinances, and general civil claims for amounts below $15,000. The Mayor’s Court has authority over criminal cases outside the jurisdiction of the Municipal Courts. They preside over violations of municipal ordinances and criminal traffic cases.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Summit County

Public court records In Summit County are the documents maintained by the courts that are publicly accessible to anyone. The Summit County Clerk of Courts provides access to public court records through the Online Case Search web tool. Record seekers may also request the records by completing the online public request form. Requesters may obtain copies of the records in person, by mail, and by email. Municipal Court records are accessible online using the Case and Schedule Search.

Types of Public Court Records in Summit County

The following court records are publicly available to Summit County residents:

• Civil Court Records: Zoning appeals, title disputes, breach of contracts, business solutions, and foreclosures
• Criminal Court Records: Felonies such as arson, burglaries, and drug trafficking cases. Misdemeanor criminal cases, including shoplifting, petty theft, and disorderly conduct
• Probate Records: Conservatorships, guardianships, wills, and trusts
• Family Court Records: Marriage annulment, separation, divorce, child support, and child and spousal support
• Traffic Records: Traffic citations, including parking tickets, illegal parking, driving under the influence, and driving without valid licenses

Confidential Court Records in Summit County

Confidential court records in Summit County are court documents considered sensitive and private by the courts and restricted from public view. Confidential court records are exempted from public access to comply with state and federal laws. The types of confidential court records in Summit County include:

• Juvenile court records
• Adoption records
• Mental health records
• Sealed and expunged records
• Grand jury proceedings
• Trade secrets and proprietary business information

Similarly, personal data on court documents are confidential and excluded from public court records. Disclosing personal identifying information on court records may jeopardize the safety of the record holder, exposing the individual to identity theft and financial fraud. Therefore, the court redacts the following information from public court records:

• Social Security numbers
• Tax identification numbers
• Vehicle plate numbers
• Home and personal email addresses
• Birthdates
• Financial account information

Juvenile Delinquency in Summit, OH

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Summit 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 258 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Summit County. Of that total, 1% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 2 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 1 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Summit County, OH

https://ohio.gov/

County Seat:	Akron
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Home Rule
Year Organized:	1840
Total Square Miles:	420
2019 Population:	541,228
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	175 S Main St County Administration Building Akron , OH 44308-1306 http://www.co.summit.oh.us/