Created in 1841 from parts of Washington and Robertson County, Brazos County is located in the east-central part of Texas. The county covers an area of 591 square miles and is home to over 230,000 residents. Brazos County, Texas, with its county seat in Bryan, is known for being home to Texas A&M University, one of the largest and most prestigious public universities in the United States.

Courts in Brazos County

Brazos County has a structured judicial system comprising District, Constitutional, County, Justice, and Municipal Courts. The District Court in Brazos County handles felony criminal cases, civil cases, family law matters, and juvenile cases. The District Court also hears appeals from the lower courts.

The County Courts at Law in Brazos County presides over misdemeanor criminal cases and civil cases involving amounts up to $200,000. The court also handles probate matters, including wills, estates, and guardianship of minors, and family lawsuits, such as divorce, marital asset division, and child neglect and abuse cases.

The Associate Courts in Brazos County have limited jurisdiction. They assist the District and County Courts. They preside over felonies and misdemeanors punishable by fines or jail terms of less than one year. The court presides over family law matters, such as divorce and child custody cases.

The Justice of Peace Courts in Brazos County handles minor legal matters, including small claims for disputes up to $20,000, traffic violations, landlord/tenant disputes, and misdemeanor offenses punishable by fine only. The Municipal Courts have jurisdiction over cases involving violations of city ordinances, minor criminal offenses, and traffic violations occurring within the city.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Brazos County

Public court records are documents open for inspection and copying by Brazos County residents. Interested persons can access Brazos County public court records online through the Brazos County Judicial Records Search. Additionally, each courthouse maintains records of court proceedings and grants access to these records at the courthouses. Finally, the courts permit mail requests for public court records.

Types of Public Court Records in Brazos County

By making court records accessible to the public, citizens can hold the judiciary accountable and help prevent misconduct and corruption. The following court records are publicly available in Brazos County:

• Civil Court Records: Personal injury, election disputes, slander, defamation, small claims, and eviction records
• Criminal Court Records: Felonies and misdemeanors, including drug trafficking, murder, petty theft, and simple assault
• Probate Records: Guardianship, conservatorships, wills, estate, and trusts
• Family Court Records: Divorce, legal separation, annulments, child custody, and child support records
• Traffic Records: Parking violation, driving without a license, reckless driving, and speeding tickets

Confidential Court Records in Brazos County

Confidential court records in Brazos County refer to the documents and information maintained by the courts that are not accessible to the public. Confidential court records contain sensitive information and are sealed to protect personal information from public exposure.

• Juvenile court records:
• Adoption records
• Mental health commitment records
• Confidential informants records
• Trade secrets

Likewise, personal identifiers in court documents are not accessible to the public. Personal data within court records are confidential and restricted from the public to prevent identity theft and fraud. The courts often redact the following private information from publicly accessible records:

• Social Security numbers
• Birth dates
• Medical records
• Bank account and credit card numbers
• Driver’s license numbers

Juvenile Delinquency in Brazos, TX

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

In 2017, a total of 589 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Brazos County. Of that total, 79% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 468 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Brazos County, TX

https://texas.gov/

County Seat:	Bryan
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1841
Total Square Miles:	591
2019 Population:	222,830
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	300 E 26Th St County Courthouse Bryan , TX 77803-5359 http://www.brazoscountytx.gov/

Brazos County, TX Courts