Marion County is Oregon’s capital and fifth most populous county. According to the 2020 Census, the county had a population of 345,920 residents and a land area of 1,180.8 square miles. The county’s seat is Salem City.

Courts in Marion County

Marion County is home to the Marion County Circuit Court, Marion County Justice Court, and Municipal Courts.

The Marion County Circuit Court has general jurisdiction over matters arising from the county. The court’s criminal jurisdiction covers felony offenses, capital murder, and traffic violations. The court also hears all civil cases, landlord-tenant matters, and small claims in which the plaintiff claims $10,000 or less. Small claims procedures are informal, and the parties do not need to be represented by attorneys.

Additionally, the Circuit Court has authority over juvenile matters like delinquency and dependency cases. It also hears family matters such as divorce, child custody, and paternity. Probate matters like trusts and wills, conservatorships, and administration of estate also fall within the jurisdiction of the court.

The Marion County Justice Court has civil jurisdiction over cases involving less than $10,000. The matter may come before either the small claims division or the civil division of the court. The criminal jurisdiction of the court encompasses traffic citations, wildfire violations, and violations of county ordinances.  

Municipal Courts operate at the city level. They have jurisdiction over traffic cases, misdemeanors, and municipal ordinance violations. They also handle some liquor and drug violation cases.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Marion County

Court records in Marion County are in the custody of the Records Department of the Circuit Court. To access these records, complete the online records request or submit a printed request form to the Department in person or via mail. Note that to find court records, requestors must provide precise case information like case number and hearing dates. Case information is available on the online records search portal or by confirming from the Records Department via phone. Furthermore, requestors are required to pay relevant fees for record copies obtained from the Department. For transcripts, complete the transcript request form and submit it to the Department in person or via mail.

To obtain records of the Justice Court and Municipal Courts, contact the relevant courthouse that heard the case.

Types of Public Court Records in Marion County

Public court records in Marion County are documents, dockets, exhibits, filings, and other materials generated or used in a court case. These records are considered public in many cases, such as:

• Civil claims
• Felony and misdemeanors
• Traffic violations
• Probate cases
• Family cases

Confidential Court Records in Marion County

Confidential court records in Marion County are records that the public cannot access due to restrictions contained in a law or court order. Some examples of confidential court records are:

• Juvenile records
• Adoption records
• Marijuana pardon records
• Mental health cases
• Cases under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)

Juvenile Delinquency in Marion, OR

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Marion 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 1961 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Marion County. Of that total, 69% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 1349 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Marion County, OR

http://oregon.gov/

County Seat:	Salem
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1843
Total Square Miles:	1,193
2019 Population:	341,286
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	555 Court Streetn NE County Courthouse Salem , OR 97301-3736 http://www.co.marion.or.us

Marion County, OR Courts