Salt Lake County covers an area of 752.9 square miles, about 1% of Utah's land mass. More than a third of the state's populace resides there. According to the 2020 US census, the county’s population is approximately 1.2 million, making it the most densely populated county in Utah. The county seat is Salt Lake City.
Courts in Salt Lake County
Salt Lake County is within Utah’s Third Judicial District. The people are served by three courts: a district court, a juvenile court, and a justice court. The Justice Court is the highest level of the judicial system. It consists of small claims with a maximum fine of $11,000. It possesses the authority to handle infractions committed within its territorial jurisdiction, as well as class B and C misdemeanors.
The county of Salt Lake has 16 justice courts. District Courts have a broader jurisdiction and handle civil and criminal cases, such as felonies, probate, and Class A misdemeanors. If no Justice Court has jurisdiction, District Courts may also handle Class B and C misdemeanors. Juvenile courts have far limited authority over civil and criminal cases involving minors.
Where to Find Public Court Records in Salt Lake County
Public court records are open to the public In Salt Lake County. Such records can be accessed both online and in person at the various court locations. As an important member of the county court, the Salt Lake County Clerk has the responsibility of recording and organizing documents related to public affairs. The Clerk's Office ensures public access to court records. Salt Lake County Courts' public records can be accessed through the Salt Lake County's Web Public Access portal.
Types of Public Court Records in Salt Lake County
The courts in Salt Lake County make the following types of court records available to the public:
- Probate Records: They include records related to the administration of a deceased estate, such as wills
- Criminal Records: They include court records from felony criminal cases such as drug trafficking, simple assault, and disorderly conduct
- Civil Court Records: They include records related to contract disputes, real estate disputes, and intellectual property litigations
- Family Court Records: They include records related to divorce, spousal support, child custody disputes, adoption proceedings, and restraining orders
Confidential Court Records in Salt Lake County
Confidential court records include case information or proceedings that are unavailable to the public. This is due to privacy concerns or the sensitive nature of the information. While the majority of court documents in Salt Lake County are accessible to the public, certain types are excluded from public records. They include those related to:
- Adoption and paternity cases
- Agreements for abortion procedures involving minors
- Cases concerning the termination of parental rights
- Medical diagnosis procedures
- Juvenile delinquency cases
- Documents revealing the identity of confidential informants
Additionally, certain types of information within court records may be exempt from public disclosure due to state laws or court orders. They include:
- Medical information
- Social Security numbers
- Bank account and credit/debit card information
- Jury information identification
Juvenile Delinquency in Salt Lake, UT
Unfortunately, in many areas of the Salt Lake County, juvenile delinquency issues are on the rise. There are many reasons for the rise in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Utah often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of crimes, and other family matters.
In 2017, a total of 588 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Salt Lake County. Of that total, 1% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 4 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.
A lot of counties, including, Salt Lake County, are focusing on family therapy and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Salt Lake County juvenile delinquency numbers will show whether or not this approach is working.
| Juvenile Cases | Number of cases |
|---|---|
| Delinquency | 206 |
| Dependency | 2,996 |
| Status | 9,395 |
Government of Salt Lake County, UT
| County Seat: | Salt Lake City |
| Government Type: | County |
| Authority: | Hutchinson's Rule |
| Year Organized: | 1849 |
| Total Square Miles: | 807 |
| 2019 Population: | 1,135,649 |
| Persons/Square Mile: | 0.00 |
Salt Lake County, UT Courts
-
Utah Supreme Court
Address: 320 E Capitol Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84103
Phone: (801) 578-3900 -
Utah Court of Appeals
Address: 450 South State Street, 5th Floor, Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Phone: (801) 578-3900 -
The Third Judicial District - Salt Lake County - District Court
Address: Matheson Courthouse 450 South State Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84114
Phone: (801) 238-7300