Named after United States President James K. Polk, Polk County is one of Iowa's oldest counties. It is home to 492,401 residents as of 2020, making it the most populous county in the state. Its county seat, Des Moines, is the state’s capital and most populous city.
Courts in Polk County
Polk County is home to District Five of the Iowa District Court. The Court tries all cases arising from the county. Its criminal division handles misdemeanors, felony cases, and traffic violations involving adult offenders, while the juvenile division of the court handles cases involving juvenile offenders.
The civil division of the court handles all non-criminal matters including contract disputes, torts, claims to money, and disputes over property. The court also has a small claims division that handles monetary claims of $6,500 or less and landlord-tenant disputes. Finally, the probate division of the District Court hears matters relating to trusts, wills, and administration of estates.
Where to Find Public Court Records in Polk County
The Clerk of District Court maintains and grants public access to Polk County court records. These records are digitally accessible by parties to the case through the Iowa Judicial Branch Electronic Document Management System (EDMS). Members of the public can also access public case information on the state’s Electronic Docket Record Search or via public access terminals at the courthouse. Copies of Polk County Court records are physically accessible at the Clerk’s office.
Types of Public Court Records in Polk County
Court records in Polk County include documents detailing matters handled by the county’s courts. Some examples of such documents are:
- Case dockets
- Parties filings
- Parties pleadings
- Documents submitted in the case
- Court judgment
These documents are typically available to the public unless otherwise protected by law or sealed by court order.
Confidential Court Records in Polk County
Iowa laws exempt certain Polk County court records from public access due to their sensitivity and for the protection of parties in the case. Examples of such confidential court records include:
- Adoption case records
- Case records sealed by court order
- Records on dissolution of marriage
- Juvenile case records
- Records of mental health cases
Juvenile Delinquency in Polk, IA
Unfortunately, in many areas of the Polk County, juvenile delinquency offenses are on the rise. There are many reasons for the inflation in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Iowa often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of charges, and other family matters.
In 2017, a total of 498 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Polk County. Of that total, 100% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 498 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.
A lot of counties, including, Polk County, are focusing on family counseling and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Polk County juvenile delinquency tallies will show whether or not this approach is working.
| Juvenile Cases | Number of cases |
|---|---|
| Delinquency | 8,540 |
| Dependency | 2,595 |
| Status | 105 |
Government of Polk County, IA
| County Seat: | Des Moines |
| Government Type: | County |
| Authority: | Home Rule |
| Year Organized: | 1846 |
| Total Square Miles: | 592 |
| 2019 Population: | 481,830 |
| Persons/Square Mile: | 0.00 |
| County Contact: | 111 Court Ave
County Administrative Office Bldg. Des Moines , IA 50309-2218 https://www.polkcountyiowa.gov/ |