Incorporated in 1837, Colorado County is a county in Texas. As of the 2020 census, it was estimated to have a population of 20,558 people. The county is named for the Colorado River of Texas and has its seat in Colombus.

Courts in Colorado County

The Colorado County court system consists of District Courts, Constitutional County Courts, and Justice Courts.

District Courts in the county have general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases. The courts handle civil cases like divorce, disputes over title to land, election disputes, personal injury, tax disputes, and other civil cases. The court also handles cases related to juveniles, probate matters, and mental health cases. Criminal cases handled by the court include felonies, lesser-included offenses, and certain types of misdemeanors.

Constitutional County Courts in Colorado County share jurisdiction with Justice Courts in civil cases where the amount in controversy is between $200 and $10,000. They also hear criminal cases relating to misdemeanors punishable by a fine of not more than $500 or by a jail sentence of not more than one year. 

Justice Courts in Colorado County also have jurisdiction over civil and criminal matters. The courts handle civil suits where the amount in controversy does not exceed $20,000. They also handle Class C misdemeanors that are punishable by fines not exceeding $500. 

Where to Find Public Court Records in Colorado County

The Colorado County Clerk’s Office is responsible for providing access to public court records in the county. To access such records, interested persons can visit the Clerk’s Office to submit a request form. Alternatively, the county recommends an online portal from which public court records can be accessed. Interested persons can use the portal to access public court records from 1992 to the present.

Types of Public Court Records in Colorado County

Public records refer to documents emanating from court proceedings. Unless restricted by statute or court order, Colorado County makes the following court records publicly available:

• Civil Records
• Family Records
• Probate Records
• Criminal Records

Confidential Court Records in Colorado County

Although court records are generally made public, there are instances where records are designated as confidential and restricted from public access. In such instances, only parties to the case and their attornies have access to the records. Examples of confidential records in Colorado County include:

• Probation and Diagnostic Reports
• Mental Health Records
• Juvenile Records 
• Adoption Records
• Protection from Abuse Orders

Juvenile Delinquency in Colorado, TX

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Colorado 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 38 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Colorado County. Of that total, 100% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 38 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Colorado County, TX

https://texas.gov/

County Seat:	Columbus
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1836
Total Square Miles:	974
2019 Population:	21,232
Persons/Square Mile:	0.05

Colorado County, TX Courts