Hamilton County is a county in the State of Indiana, with its seat in Noblesville. It is known as the second most populous county in Central Indiana, home to a population of 347,467 people. The county sprawls over 349.30 square miles and has 149,789 housing units.
Courts in Hamilton County
The courts in Hamilton County include the Circuit Court and Superior Courts.
Circuit Courts have jurisdiction that covers any criminal or civil matters. Criminal cases examined by Circuit Courts are the many different felony cases as well as any lesser-included offenses. Civil cases examined by Circuit Courts can also include any of the civil or general claims that exceed the jurisdiction of other courts.
Circuit Courts also handle most domestic-related cases. This includes things like child custody, support, paternity, most domestic relations case types, as well as protection orders for domestic violence cases.
Superior Courts in Hamilton exercise general jurisdiction over nearly all criminal and civil cases in the area. They hear misdemeanors and felony cases. They also hear most small claims and general civil cases.
Where to Find Public Court Records in Hamilton County
The Hamilton County Clerk's Office is the custodian of court records in the county. To access court records, interested persons can submit a request form to the Clerk’s office. Alternatively, the records can be accessed online.
Types of Public Court Records in Hamilton County
The following types of court records are available to the public in Hamilton County:
- Civil Records
- Family Records
- Probate Records
- Criminal Records
Confidential Court Records in Hamilton County
Confidential court records are court records excluded from public access. This may be because of a statute or other court rule restricting public access to it. Court records considered confidential in Hamilton County include:
- Medical Records
- Mental Health Records
- Drug or Substance Abuse Records
- Records of Juvenile Cases
Juvenile Delinquency in Hamilton, IN
Unfortunately, in many areas of the Hamilton 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 519 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Hamilton County. Of that total, 71% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 369 court cases. Another 25% were dependency cases that accounted for 130 of the juvenile cases.
A lot of counties, including, Hamilton County, are focusing on family health and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Hamilton County juvenile delinquency statistics will show whether or not this approach is working.
| Juvenile Cases | Number of cases |
|---|---|
| Delinquency | 16,437 |
| Dependency | 4,969 |
| Status | 2,824 |
Government of Hamilton County, IN
| County Seat: | Noblesville |
| Government Type: | County |
| Authority: | Home Rule |
| Year Organized: | 1823 |
| Total Square Miles: | 402 |
| 2019 Population: | 323,747 |
| Persons/Square Mile: | 0.00 |
Hamilton County, IN Courts
-
Hamilton County Circuit Court
Address: One Hamilton Square, # 337, Noblesville, IN 46060
Phone: 317-776-9635