Okmulgee County was created in 1907 at the statehood of Oklahoma, and its name was derived from the Hitchita word okimulgi, meaning boiling water. Its land area covers 697 square miles, and as of the 2020 census, its population was 36,706. Okmulgee is its county seat and largest city.

Courts in Okmulgee County

The Okmulgee County court system comprises district and municipal courts. Okmulgee County District Court is the highest court in the county. Although it has jurisdiction over all criminal and civil matters, it usually hears cases that fall outside the purview of municipal courts. It hears civil cases with and without financial claims, as well as criminal cases. It also deals with juvenile and domestic relations matters, such as delinquency, dependency, maintenance, annulments, divorces, paternity, and termination of parental rights. In addition, it handles probate matters, such as admission of wills, administration of estates, and appointments of guardianships.

There are five municipal courts in Okmulgee County. They handle municipal ordinance violations and traffic infractions. The municipal courts are in Okmulgee, Henryetta, Morris, Dewar, and Beggs.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Okmulgee County

Public court records in Okmulgee County are records that can be examined and copied by anyone. These records include warrants, court filings, writs, court proceedings, and verdicts from the county courts. The Okmulgee County Clerk maintains these records in compliance with state and county regulations. Members of the public can use the On Demand Court Records Portal provided by the state to search for Okmulgee County court records. They can also view and obtain copies of public court records by visiting any of the courts.

Types of Public Court Records in Okmulgee County

The availability of public court records in Okmulgee County allows the residents to see the workings of the legal system and also improves their trust in the judicial system. Okmulgee County makes the following types of court records available to the public unless sealed by a court:

• Family Court Records: includes divorce decrees, maintenance orders, and custody judgments
• Civil Court Records: includes  employment disputes, professional malpractices, contract indebtedness, personal injury cases, product liabilities, breaches of contracts, trade secrets, libels, and slander
• Probate Court Records: includes documentation of wills, estates, and trusts
• Criminal Court Records: includes court proceedings and court orders for misdemeanor and felony cases

Confidential Court Records in Okmulgee County

In Okmulgee County, confidential court records are court records sealed to preserve privacy and protect sensitive information. These records are either sealed by court orders or sealed by default under Oklahoma law. Unlike public court documents, which are accessible to anyone, confidential court records can only be accessed by specific court orders or by authorized persons. While most court documents are available to the public in Oklahoma, parts or all of the following are usually excluded from public access:

• Adoption records
• Most juvenile records
• Identifying information about jurors
• Grand jury proceedings and records
• Medical and mental health records
• Financial information
• Sexual assault victim records
• Expunged or sealed records
• Eligible misdemeanor or felony convictions after certain years
• Identifying information about confidential informants in criminal prosecutions
• Personally identifiable information such as license plate number, Social Security number, and driver’s license number
• Records of victims of domestic violence.

Juvenile Delinquency in Okmulgee, OK

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

In 2017, a total of 73 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Okmulgee County. Of that total, 100% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 73 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Okmulgee County, OK

https://www.ok.gov/

County Seat:	Okmulgee
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1907
Total Square Miles:	702
2019 Population:	38,930
Persons/Square Mile:	0.02

Okmulgee County, OK Courts