Allen County, named after Colonel John Allen, a Kentucky state senator who died in the War of 1812, is situated in northeastern Indiana. The county has a population of over 385,000 residents and covers an area of 660 square miles. Its county seat in Fort Wayne is home to several notable higher institutions, including Purdue University Fort Wayne.

Courts in Allen County

The court system in Allen County includes Circuit, Superior, and City and Town Courts. Allen County Circuit Courts have original jurisdiction over all criminal and civil cases. The court presides over felonies,  misdemeanors, and general civil claims beyond the capacity of the lower courts.

The Superior Courts have jurisdiction over most civil and criminal cases. Allen County Superior Courts has specialized divisions, including the Civil, Criminal, and Family Division. The Civil Division presides over personal injury claims and contract disputes. The Criminal Division handles felonies and misdemeanors, while the Family Division attends to family-related cases such as divorce and child custody matters. The City and Town Courts have limited jurisdiction and hear cases involving town ordinance violations and infractions.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Allen County

Public court records are documents from legal proceedings that are available to the general public for viewing, copying, and inspection. The Court Clerk is the record custodian and provides electronic access to public court through the Odyssey Case Management System. Record seekers may also access public court records at the courthouses or mail written requests to obtain the records.

Types of Public Court Records in Allen County

Access to public court records promotes confidence in the county’s judicial process. Court records publicly available in Allen County include:

• Civil Court Records: Business litigation, foreclosures, boundary disputes, landlord/tenant disputes, and contract breaches
• Criminal Court Records: Felonies and misdemeanors, including drug trafficking, arson, aggravated assault, vandalism, public intoxication, and shoplifting
• Probate Records: Wills, trusts, estates, guardianships, and conservatorship
• Family Court Records: Divorce, legal separation, annulments, child custody, and child and spousal support
• Traffic Records: Illegal parking, speeding, driving without valid licenses, and driving without a seat belt

Confidential Court Records in Allen County

Confidential court records in Mercer County are the documents and information from the courts that are excluded from public view, inspection, or copying. Confidential court records are sealed to prevent privacy invasion and further injury to the person named on the court document. Confidential court records include:

• Juvenile Court records
• Trade secrets and business proprietary records
• Grand jury proceedings
• Medical and mental health records
• Adoption records
• Drug and alcohol treatment records

Likewise, some information within a public court record is confidential and restricted from public access. Personal information within court records is redacted to protect the record holder from identity theft and fraud. Examples include:

• Social Security numbers
• Tax identification numbers
• Medical records
• Crime victim personal details
• Driver’s license numbers
• Financial account information

Juvenile Delinquency in Allen, IN

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

In 2017, a total of 1140 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Allen County. Of that total, 52% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 596 court cases. Another 39% were dependency cases that accounted for 445 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Allen County, IN

https://www.in.gov/

County Seat:	Fort Wayne
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Home Rule
Year Organized:	1823
Total Square Miles:	660
2019 Population:	372,877
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	1 E Main St City-County Courthouse Fort Wayne , IN 46802-1815 http://www.allencounty.us/

Allen County, IN Courts