Craig County, established in 1907, is named after Granville Craig, a prominent Cherokee farmer and politician. The County is located in northeastern Oklahoma and has its county seat in Vinita. Home to over 14,000 Oklahomans, Craig County has a significant transportation and logistics industry due to its location along major highways and railroads, providing convenient access to major cities like Tulsa and Joplin, Missouri.

Courts in Craig County

The Craig County District Court has general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases, including felony and civil cases, family law matters such as divorce and child support, and probate matters like wills and estates. Additionally, the court has the authority to hear appeals from the lower courts in the county. The District Court has a Small Claims Department that handles civil disputes for claims for $10,000 or less.

The Municipal Courts in Craig County have jurisdiction over cases involving violations of city ordinances. They preside over traffic offenses, misdemeanors punishable by fines, and minor infractions.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Craig County

Public court records are documents and papers from legal proceedings available to the general public for inspection and copying. The Clerk of the District Court is the record custodian for court records. Interested persons can find public court records in Craig County online, utilizing the On Demand Court Records search tool. Additionally, record seekers may visit the courthouse to view and obtain copies of the court record or mail requests to obtain copies of the court document.

Types of Public Court Records in Craig County

Public access to judicial records promotes transparency within the legal system, allowing citizens to see how the court operates. The following court records are publicly available in Craig County:

• Civil Court Records: Personal injury claims, property disputes, evictions, defamation, and foreclosures
• Criminal Court Records: Felonies and misdemeanors, including drug possession, burglaries, vandalism, and disorderly conduct
• Probate Records: Wills, guardianships, conservatorships, and estates
• Family Court Records: Child support, custody agreements, child support, divorce, legal separation, and spousal support
• Traffic Records: Reckless driving, stop sign violations, speeding tickets, parking violations, and driving without insurance

Confidential Court Records in Craig County

Confidential court records in Craig County are documents unavailable to the general public due to their sensitive nature. The records are protected to maintain the privacy and confidentiality of the person named on the record. Some confidential court records in Craig County include:

• Juvenile court records
• Child abuse and domestic violence records
• Adoption records
• Mental health records
• Trade secrets and proprietary information

Public court records contain personal identifying information where disclosure may threaten the safety of the record holder. Personal identifiers are redacted from public court records to prevent misuse, financial fraud, or identity theft. Personal  identifiers excluded from public view include:

• Social Security numbers
• Financial account details
• Medical information
• Personal email addresses and phone numbers
• Insurance policy numbers

Juvenile Delinquency in Craig, OK

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

In 2017, a total of 46 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Craig County. Of that total, 83% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 38 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Craig County, OK

https://www.ok.gov/

County Seat:	Vinita
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1907
Total Square Miles:	763
2019 Population:	14,327
Persons/Square Mile:	0.05
County Contact:	210 W Delaware Ave Ste 106 County Courthouse Vinita , OK 74301-4236

Craig County, OK Courts