Buena Vista County is located in Iowa and has an estimated population of 20,863. Storm Lake is both its county seat and biggest city.
Courts in Buena Vista County
The Third Judicial District Court is Buena Vista County’s highest and only court. It exercises general jurisdiction over all criminal, civil, juvenile, and probate suits within the county. Buena Vista County District Court also consists of different court divisions that hear juvenile, probate, and small claims cases.
Where to Find Public Court Records in Buena Vista County
Buena Vista County Clerk of the District Court is in charge of public court case records in the county. They are tasked with responding to public record availability inquiries and also ensuring that requestors view and/or obtain copies of unsealed and non-exempt court records. Physical court records can be inspected in person at the County Clerk’s office during office hours. Interested individuals can also access case information online privately or by using the self-service tools at the county courthouse public terminal.
In addition, requestors in Buena Vista County can submit their records request via different channels, including mail, email, telephone, or fax.
Types of Public Court Records in Buena Vista County
Per Iowa Public Records Law, court case records in Buena Vista County are open to any interested person unless barred by state legislation or court order. Some public court record types are:
- Marriage records
- Criminal history records
- Divorce records
- Probate records
Confidential Court Records in Buena Vista County
Confidential court records in Buena Vista County are prohibited from examination, copying, or dissemination by members of the public. These records are generally aimed at preserving individual privacy concerns and protecting public health and safety. However, they can usually be accessed upon a court order granting access at the legal custodian’s request or by any other authorized release party.
Records excluded from public access typically include sealed and expunged records. In addition, sections of court case records containing sensitive personal information are typically redacted or deleted before being publicly examined or copied. The following court case records are considered confidential in Buena Vista County:
- Law enforcement investigative reports
- Records containing trade secrets
- Students personal records
- Patient's medical records
- Military personnel records
- Mental health examination records.
Juvenile Delinquency in Buena Vista, IA
Unfortunately, in many areas of the Buena Vista County, juvenile delinquency crimes are on the rise. There are many reasons for the increase in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Iowa often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of offenses, and other family matters.
In 2017, a total of 114 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Buena Vista County. Of that total, 100% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 114 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.
A lot of counties, including, Buena Vista County, are focusing on family health and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Buena Vista County juvenile delinquency statistics will show whether or not this approach is working.
| Juvenile Cases | Number of cases |
|---|---|
| Delinquency | 2,580 |
| Dependency | 132 |
| Status | 55 |
Government of Buena Vista County, IA
| County Seat: | Storm Lake |
| Government Type: | County |
| Authority: | Home Rule |
| Year Organized: | 1851 |
| Total Square Miles: | 580 |
| 2019 Population: | 20,110 |
| Persons/Square Mile: | 0.03 |
| County Contact: | 215 E 5Th St
County Courthouse Storm Lake , IA 50588-2371 http://www.bvcountyiowa.com/ |