Deschutes County was created in 1916 and named after the Deschutes River. The county has a land area of 3,017.6 square miles and a population of 198,253 residents as of the 2020 census. Its county seat, Bend City, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Oregon.

Courts in Deschutes County

The Deschutes County Circuit Court is part of the 11th Judicial District in Oregon and is the highest trial court in the county. The court has general jurisdiction over cases arising from the county including all civil, criminal, probate, family, and juvenile matters. The civil jurisdiction of the court includes all claims to money or property, foreclosures, contract disputes, and tort cases. The court also holds telephone mediation for landlord-tenant matters and small claims of less than $10,000. The court’s criminal jurisdiction covers all felony and capital murder cases. Examples of family matters include divorce and dissolution, child support, child custody, and domestic violence. Juvenile matters include delinquency and dependency cases, while probate cases relate to wills, trusts, deceased estates, and guardianships. 

The Deschutes County Justice Court hears cases on traffic and ordinance violations, misdemeanors, and evictions. It also handles civil cases involving less than $10,000, referred to as small claims.  Small claims procedures are informal and without legal technicalities.

Deschutes County has a Municipal Court situated in Bend City. The court has jurisdiction over cases on vehicle impoundments, simple traffic offenses, municipal ordinance violations, and certain drug and liquor violations. 

Where to Find Public Court Records in Deschutes County

Courts in Deschutes County maintain records of cases they handle and grant public access to such records. To request records of the Circuit Court, visit the courthouse or send a request via mail to the file room department of the court.  Requests are to include certain case information, including parties’ names and case numbers. Requesters can also obtain audio copies and transcripts of the court’s proceedings. The Circuit Court records are also available online on the statewide record search page. For records of the Deschutes County Justice Courts and Municipal Court, contact the court that heard the case.

Types of Public Court Records in Deschutes County

Public court records in Deschutes County refer to case materials and documents that are open to members of the public without restriction. They include:

• Court dockets
• Filings and pleadings
• Judgment and orders
• Transcripts
• Recordings of the proceedings

Confidential Court Records in Deschutes County

Confidential court records are protected by law; as such, they are exempt from public access. Some examples of such records in Deschutes County include:

• Court records sealed by court order
• Juvenile records
• Adoption records
• Marijuana’s pardon records

Juvenile Delinquency in Deschutes, OR

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Deschutes 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 1036 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Deschutes County. Of that total, 55% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 569 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Deschutes County, OR

http://oregon.gov/

County Seat:	Bend
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1916
Total Square Miles:	3,055
2019 Population:	186,875
Persons/Square Mile:	0.02
County Contact:	1300 NW Wall Street, 2nd Floor County Courthouse Bend , OR 97701-1960 https://www.deschutes.org/

Deschutes County, OR Courts