Hamilton County, founded in 1819, is situated in the eastern part of Tennessee. With over 350,000 residents, it is the fourth largest county by population in Tennessee. The City of Chattanooga serves as the county seat.

Courts in Hamilton County

Hamilton County's court system comprises the Circuit Court, Chancery Court, Criminal Court, Sessions Court, Municipal Court, and Juvenile Court.

The Circuit Court has general jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases. It also hears appeals from lower courts. In addition, domestic matters like divorces and adoptions are handled by this court.

The Chancery Court handles various cases, including probate matters involving wills, guardianships, and conservatorships. It also hears domestic relations cases and other civil cases, such as contract disputes, election contests, property lines, and lien enforcement.

Hamilton County's Criminal Court handles all types of criminal offenses that occur in the county, from misdemeanors to felonies. Criminal cases in this court may be initiated by Grand Jury indictments or appeals from other courts in the county.

The Civil Division of the General Sessions Court has unlimited original jurisdiction in forcible entry and detainer cases and limited jurisdiction over other civil cases not exceeding $25,000. Small Claims cases are also filed at this division. On the other hand, the Criminal Division of the General Sessions Court handles the adjudication of misdemeanor criminal cases and traffic offenses. It also conducts preliminary hearings for felony criminal cases.

Cases involving minors are under the jurisdiction of Hamilton County's Juvenile Court. Such cases include delinquency, child abuse and neglect, dependency, and status offenses like truancy, curfew violation, and runaway.

Some municipalities in Hamilton County also have designated Municipal Courts or City/Town Courts that deal with cases concerning the violation of local ordinances within city/town limits, such as traffic infractions, animal complaints, or the wrongful disposal of garbage and refuse.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Hamilton County

The Clerks of the Courts in Hamilton County manage public court records of cases within their jurisdictions. The Clerk also provides means for members of the public to access public records. For instance, Circuit Court records are available online. Likewise, interested persons can obtain copies of court records at the office of the Clerk of the Court where the case was filed. Requests may be processed by mail or in person at the courthouse.

Types of Public Court Records in Hamilton County

The following types of public Court records in Hamilton County are available to anyone:

• Criminal Court Records
• Domestic Relations Court Records
• Civil Court Records
• Probate Court Records
• Small Claims Court Records

Confidential Court Records in Hamilton County

Confidential court records in Hamilton County are inaccessible to the public due to the nature of the information that they contain. Such information or court files are limited from public access in compliance with Tennessee laws or court orders. Confidential court records are only accessible to the parties involved, certain court personnel, and individuals authorized by the court.

In Tennessee, the following are confidential Court records:

• Expunged criminal records
• Medical records
• Investigative records
• Records containing credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, tax ID numbers, or bank account numbers
• Sealed adoption records

Juvenile Delinquency in Hamilton, TN

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

In 2016, a total of 2491 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Hamilton County. Of that total, 27% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 675 court cases. Another 40% were dependency cases that accounted for 993 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Hamilton County, TN

https://www.tn.gov/

County Seat:	Chattanooga
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1819
Total Square Miles:	576
2019 Population:	361,613
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	625 Georgia Ave County Courthouse Chattanooga , TN 37402-1425 http://www.hamiltonTN.gov

Hamilton County, TN Courts