Located along the East Florida coast and bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, Brevard County was created in 1844 and named after a former Florida Comptroller, Theodore Brevard. With its county government in Titusville, the county is sometimes called Space County due to the presence of the John F. Kennedy Space Center in it and the center's resulting effect on the county's economy. Brevard County has a land area of 1,016 square miles, and as of the 2020 census, it has a population of 606,612.

Courts in Brevard County

The Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Court is the highest court in Brevard County. There are three Circuit Courthouses in the county located in Titusville, Melbourne, and Viera. The Circuit Court typically only hears cases beyond the jurisdiction of the County courts. It handles felony cases, cases involving real estate boundaries, and civil cases with more than $50,000 claims. It also hears juvenile, family law, probate, and mental health cases. 

The Brevard County Court has three courthouses located in the same cities and locations as the Circuit Courthouses. The Brevard County Court, often referred to as the People’s Court, has limited jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases. It can hear municipal ordinance violations, misdemeanors, traffic infractions, and civil cases with claims under $50,000.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Brevard County

The Brevard County Clerk and Comptroller maintains all court records in the county. The County Clerk and Comptroller’s office provides access to public court records via its Case Search portal. Members of the public can use the General Public Court Records Search option to find public court records of interest without registering and at no cost. They can also visit the County Clerk and Comptroller’s office to inspect or copy public court records in Brevard County.

Types of Public Court Records in Brevard County

The following types of court records are made available to the public in Brevard County unless sealed by court orders:

• Criminal Case Records: convictions and court proceedings for felonies and misdemeanors
• Civil Case Records: court proceedings and judgments for civil cases, including personal injury cases, product liabilities, professional malpractices, and breaches of contract
• Family Law Records: includes divorce, custody, and child support
• Probate Records: documentations of wills, estates, trusts, and guardianship

Confidential Court Records

Confidential court records in Brevard County are court records sealed to protect personal privacy and the privacy of persons involved in court proceedings, such as minors and jurors. Details of confidential court records are not available to the public but can be accessed by authorized persons or by specific court orders. Some court records are sealed by default under Florida laws or by court orders. Generally, records exempted from public access in Brevard County include the following:

• Juvenile delinquency records, except for serious felonies
• Certain records related to sexual violence victims
• Substance abuse treatment records
• Mental health records
• Adoption records
• Identifying information about jurors
• Cases resulting in dismissal or acquittal
• Eligible misdemeanors and felonies after a specified time
• Certain records related to guardianship proceedings
• Proceedings for involuntary commitment for mental health evaluation
• HIV/AIDs test results and treatment records
• Domestic violence victims’ records

Some parts of a Brevard County court record may be sealed if it contains sensitive information, such as:

• Personally identifiable information such as Social Security number and driver's license number
• Financial information
• Tax returns
• Intellectual proprietary
• References to expunged or sealed records

Juvenile Delinquency in Brevard, FL

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

In 2017, a total of 998 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Brevard County. Of that total, 100% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 998 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Brevard County, FL

https://www.myflorida.com/

County Seat:	Titusville
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Home Rule
Year Organized:	1844
Total Square Miles:	1,557
2019 Population:	589,162
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way County Courthouse Viera , FL 32940-6605 http://www.brevardfl.gov

Brevard County, FL Courts