Clackamas County, one of Oregon’s four original districts, is located in northwestern Oregon and has a population of over 420,000. Established in 1843, it has its county seat in Oregon City, which served as the capital of the Oregon Territory. The county covers an area of 4,876 square kilometers and is known for its stunning landscapes, including the Cascade Range, Mount Hood, and numerous rivers and forests.

Courts in Clackamas County

The court system in Clackamas County comprises Circuit, Municipal, and Justice Courts. The Circuit courts in Clackamas County are the primary trial courts in the county, having jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases. The Circuit courts have specialized divisions, including the Juvenile Division. which presides over paternity and juvenile delinquency cases, the Family Law Division. which handles divorce and child custody, and the Probate Division, which adjudicates wills and estate of the deceased.

The Clackamas County Justice Court is a lower-level court with limited jurisdiction. It presides over minor civil and criminal cases, including small claims, traffic violations, misdemeanors, and other infractions. The Municipal Courts in Clackamas County have jurisdiction over cases involving city ordinances, including parking tickets, traffic violations, and other municipal code infractions.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Clackamas County

Public court records are the documents and papers from court proceedings in Clackamas County open for viewing and copying. Public court records are available online using the Online Record Search Portal. Alternatively, record seekers may fill out the electronic Court Request Form and obtain the record by mail or email. The courthouses in Clackamas County also accept in-person requests for public court records.

Types of Public Court Records in Clackamas County

Access to public court records promotes transparency and builds public confidence in the Clackamas County legal process.  Public court records open to the public in Clackamas County include:

• Civil Court Records: Contract disputes, boundary disputes, personal injury, small claims, and foreclosures
• Criminal Court Records: Felonies, including aggravated assaults and arsons. Misdemeanor cases such as vandalism and shoplifting cases
• Family Court Records: Marriage annulments, dissolution of marriage, alimony, child custody, and child support
• Probate Records: Wills, estates, guardianships, and conservatorships records
• Traffic Records: Speeding tickets, illegal parking, driving under the influence, reckless driving, and driving without a license

Confidential Court Records in Clackamas County

Confidential court records are documents and papers maintained by the courts that are unavailable to the public. Court records contain private or sensitive information where disclosure may result in an unwarranted invasion of privacy. Confidential court records in Clackamas County include:

• Trade secrets and proprietary information
• Medical and mental health records
• Juvenile court records
• Adoption records
• Substance abuse treatment records
• Expunged court records

Similarly, personal information in public court records is confidential. Personal identifiers are redacted from public court records to maintain confidentiality and safeguard private information from unauthorized access. Confidential information excluded from public access includes:

• Birthdates
• Bank account numbers and credit card numbers
• Tax identification number
• Vehicle plate numbers
• Social Security numbers
• Personal email and home addresses

Juvenile Delinquency in Clackamas, OR

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

In 2017, a total of 1321 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Clackamas County. Of that total, 45% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 590 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Clackamas County, OR

http://oregon.gov/

County Seat:	Oregon City
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1843
Total Square Miles:	1,883
2019 Population:	412,672
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00

Clackamas County, OR Courts