Located in the northeastern corner of Texas, Bowie County, established in 1840, was named after James Bowie, a prominent figure in the Texas Revolution. Bowie County, spanning over 900 square miles in area, is home to over 92,000 Texans. Bowie County, with its county seat in Boston, is known for Texarkana, a city strategically located among the Texas-Arkansas border, serving as a commercial and cultural hub for the region.

Courts in Bowie County

Bowie County has a structured judicial system comprising District, Constitutional, County, Justice, and Municipal Courts. The Bowie County District Courts handles felonies, civil cases, and family law matters, including divorce, child custody, and child support cases. The court also presides over juvenile cases, including delinquencies and child abuse and neglect cases.

The Constitutional Courts have exclusive jurisdiction over probate matters such as wills and guardianship of minors. They also preside over misdemeanor criminal cases punishable by fines of not more than $500.

Bowie County County Courts at Law adjudicate misdemeanor criminal cases without penalty of incarceration and civil disputes involving amounts up to $20,000. The Justice Courts handle legal matters such as small claims, civil disputes up to $20,000, misdemeanor offenses punishable by fines, and traffic violations. The Municipal Courts in Bowie County had jurisdiction over cases involving violations of city ordinances and traffic violations occurring within cities.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Bowie County

Public court records are documents maintained by the courts that are open to the general public. The Bowie County Clerk of the District Court provides electronic access to online court records through the Bowie County Case Record Search. Record seekers may also visit the courthouses to obtain public court records or request court documents by mail.

Types of Public Court Records in Bowie County

Access to court records ensures that the Bowie County judiciary system is transparent and impartial. Helping to maintain public trust in the legal system. Public court records in Bowie County include:

• Criminal Court Records: Felonies and misdemeanors
• Civil Court Records: Business litigation, foreclosure, landlord/tenant disputes, and breach of contract
• Probate Records: Guardianships, conservatorships, trusts, wills, and estates
• Family Law Records: Alimony, divorce, legal separation, child custody, and child support
• Traffic Records: Illegal parking, driving under the influence, speeding tickets, and driving with a suspended license

Confidential Court Records in Bowie County

Confidential court records in Bowie County are documents and information from the courts that are restricted from the public. Confidential court records are sealed by the courts or by federal or state law. Confidential court records contain sensitive or private information where disclosure may threaten the safety of the person named on the record. Confidential court records include:

• Juvenile court records
• Trade secrets
• Mental health commitment records
• Grand jury proceedings
• Adoption records

In addition, personal information contained in court records is private and is exempted from public access. The court removes personal identifiers from public court records to protect the safety of the person named on the document. Personal identifying information includes:

• Social Security numbers
• Tax identification numbers
• Bank account and credit card numbers
• Passport numbers
• Medical records

Juvenile Delinquency in Bowie, TX

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Bowie County, juvenile delinquency offenses are on the rise. There are many reasons for the inflation in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Texas often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of charges, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 262 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Bowie County. Of that total, 100% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 262 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Bowie County, TX

https://texas.gov/

County Seat:	New Boston
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1840
Total Square Miles:	923
2019 Population:	94,012
Persons/Square Mile:	0.01
County Contact:	PO BOX 248 County Courthouse New Boston , TX 75570-0248 http://www.co.bowie.tx.us

Bowie County, TX Courts