Mesa County, named after the large flat-topped mountains called Mesas, is the 4th largest county in Colorado. It spans an area of 3,328.7 square miles, with an estimated population of 155,703. It is home to Grand Junction, the most populous municipality, which also serves as the county seat.

Courts in Mesa County

Mesa County is located within the 21st Judicial District. The court system comprises district, county, and municipal courts. The District Court is a trial court of general jurisdiction. It hears civil cases of monetary claims, felonies, and criminal offenses. It also handles probate, juvenile, and domestic relations matters. In addition, it has judicial appellate jurisdiction over other lesser courts.

The County Court has limited jurisdiction and handles misdemeanors, traffic violations, small claims, protection orders, and preliminary hearings for felony complaints. It also hears civil cases with claims under $25,000.

On the other hand, the Municipal Court hears cases involving misdemeanors, traffic infractions, and violations of city or municipal ordinances. They also handle civil cases involving monetary claims.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Mesa County

All court records are available for public inspection to ensure transparency and promote confidence in the judicial system. The Office of the Clerk maintains all court records in Mesa County. Persons interested in accessing nonconfidential court records can visit the courthouse to view or request specific records. In addition, public court records can be obtained from the Mesa County Records Search Portal.

Types of Public Court Records in Mesa County

Court records are open to the general public since access to these records promotes trust in the county’s legal process. The following types of court records are available for public inspection in Mesa County:

• Criminal Court Records: These include court proceedings and judgments for misdemeanors and felonies
• Family Court Records: These include divorce decrees, custody orders, and emancipation orders
• Civil Court Records: These include personal injury cases, professional malpractices, product liabilities, mortgage foreclosures, employment disputes, automobile negligence, and trade secrets
• Probate Court Records: These include wills, documentation of estate assets and liabilities, and guardianships

Confidential Court Records in Mesa County

Confidential court records are sealed by law due to privacy or security reasons. However, they can be accessed by authorized persons or court orders. The following are examples of confidential court records in Mesa County:

• Adoption records
• Juvenile records
• Identifying information about jurors
• Medical and mental health records
• Some records of victims of domestic and sexual violence
• Trade secrets

Parts of a court record may also be redacted if it contains sensitive information such as:

• Personal information such as Social Security number, driver’s license number, and license plate number
• Personal details of minor
• Confidential medical report
• Psychological evaluation reports
• Intellectual proprietary

Juvenile Delinquency in Mesa, CO

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

In 2017, a total of 338 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Mesa County. Of that total, 88% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 297 court cases. Another 12% were dependency cases that accounted for 41 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Mesa County, CO

https://www.colorado.gov/

County Seat:	Grand Junction
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1883
Total Square Miles:	3,341
2019 Population:	151,616
Persons/Square Mile:	0.02
County Contact:	544 Rood Avenue Old Courthouse Grand Junction , CO 81501-2642 http://www.mesacounty.us

Mesa County, CO Courts