Pierce County, named after United States President Franklin Pierce, was established in 1852 and has a population of over 920,000 residents. Home to the iconic 14,000-foot-tall Mount Rainier and the Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Pierce County has its county seat in Tacoma, the third-largest city in Washington. The country covers a landmass of 4,680 square kilometers.

Courts in Pierce County

Pierce County's judicial system comprises Superior Courts, District Courts, Juvenile Courts, and Municipal Courts. The Pierce County Superior Court is a court of general jurisdiction that handles all civil and criminal cases not heard by the District or Municipal Courts. The Superior Courts preside over general civil claims, civil equity cases, felonies, and gross misdemeanors.

The District Court has limited jurisdiction over some criminal, civil, and traffic cases. Criminal cases heard at the District Court include gross misdemeanor criminal cases and traffic infractions. The civil jurisdiction handles cases where the monetary value of the dispute is less than $75,000. Pierce County District Court has a Small Claims department that handles civil disputes of $5,000 and below.

The Pierce County Municipal Courts preside over violations of city ordinances and recovery of license penalties. The Juvenile Court has exclusive rights over cases involving minors who violate criminal state laws or need protection.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Pierce County

Public court records refer to the records maintained by the Clerk of Courts from legal proceedings open to the public for copying and inspection. Pierce County Superior court records are available online through the Legal Information Network Exchange. The District Court records are available for request online by completing the District Court Public Record Request Form. Generally, record seekers can find public court records at the Clerk's Office in the courthouse where the case was heard. The Clerk of Court permits searchers to look up the records in person at the courthouse or order copies of the court record by mail or email.

Types of Public Court Records in Pierce County

The following court records are open to the public in Pierce County, Washington:

• Criminal Court Records: Felonies and misdemeanors such as theft, driving under the influence,
• Civil Court Records: Documents such as landlord/tenant disputes, contract disputes, and property disputes
• Family Court Records: Public Family Court records include divorce records, spousal support, and child custody orders
• Probate Court Records: It includes wills, guardianships, name change trusts, and conservatorship

Confidential Court Records in Pierce County

Confidential court records in Pierce County refer to court documents closed to the public. Confidential records are sealed to protect sensitive information or the privacy of the individuals named on the record. Usually, the courts seal the court document through a court order. Confidential court records may only be accessible through specific authorization granted by the court. Confidential Court records include:

• Juvenile Court records
• Adoption records
• Mental health and medical records
• Information of confidential informants
• Domestic violence protection orders

Furthermore, sensitive information on a court record where disclosure can harm or jeopardize the safety of the persons named on the record is not open to the public. Sensitive information such as tax details, Social Security numbers, bank account details, medical history, and personal email addresses are redacted from the court record to protect an individual's privacy.

Juvenile Delinquency in Pierce, WA

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

In 2017, a total of 1763 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Pierce County. Of that total, 50% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 876 court cases. Another 47% were dependency cases that accounted for 820 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Pierce County, WA

https://access.wa.gov/

County Seat:	Tacoma
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Home Rule
Year Organized:	1853
Total Square Miles:	1,806
2019 Population:	876,764
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00