Stephens County Court Records Search

Stephens County covers a total land area of about 870 square miles in Oklahoma. Over 42,000 residents live in the county, which has Duncan as its county seat. Other popular cities in the county include Comanche and Marlow.

Courts in Stephens County

The District Court has original jurisdiction over all criminal and civil cases in Stephens County. The trial court typically hears misdemeanor and felony-related trials. Residents may approach the county’s apex court to resolve all illegal evictions, contract disputes, torts, property disputes, family law cases, and all disputes involving more than $10,000 in monetary settlements. Stephens County District Court has a Small Claims Division tasked with handling civil lawsuits involving less than $10,000 in financial disputes. Stephens County has four Municipal Courts. These courts hear lesser criminal trials and traffic crimes. Other criminal proceedings that take place in Municipal Courts include parking tickets, ordinance violations, and curfew violations.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Stephens County

Designated court clerks in Stephens County are responsible for keeping and allowing access to public court records. Some examples of public court records include the following:

  • Dockets
  • Court transcripts
  • Orders and verdicts
  • Case filings such as briefs, motions, and petitions
  • Witness reports
  • Evidence
  • Protective orders
  • Warrants and court injunctions

These records are easily accessible online via the Case Search portal maintained by the Oklahoma State Court Network (OSCN). To find information through the online repository, requesters should choose Stephens County District Court under the Court Selection. Afterward, provide case numbers or names of involved parties, then click ‘Go’ to look up the search results. Note that public court records not online may be obtainable in person at the court where the case was filed.

Types of Public Court Records in Stephens County

Stephens County court clerks provide access to the following types of public court records:

  • Criminal records
  • Civil case records
  • Family court records
  • Traffic court records
  • Small claims court records
  • Probate records
  • Land records
  • Archived court records

Confidential Court Records in Stephens County

Stephens County court clerks typically restrict access to confidential court records. Examples of these records are:

  • Mental health records
  • Victim and witness protection records
  • Records showing victims of domestic violence
  • Grand jury proceedings
  • Attorney-client records
  • Adoption/paternity records
  • Child custody/protection records
  • Intellectual property records
  • Court records that may negatively affect state and national security
  • Juvenile records
  • Drug court records
  • Sealed records

Personal identifying details such as individuals’ Social Security numbers and driver’s license numbers are considered sensitive and not removed from public court records. Interested parties must file motions to obtain court orders granting them access to these restricted documents.

Juvenile Delinquency in Stephens, OK

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

In 2017, a total of 83 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Stephens County. Of that total, 100% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 83 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

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

Juvenile Cases Number of cases
Delinquency3,668
Dependency0
Status538

Government of Stephens County, OK

County Seat: Duncan
Government Type: County
Authority: Dillon's Rule
Year Organized: 1907
Total Square Miles: 891
2019 Population: 43,332
Persons/Square Mile: 0.02
County Contact: 101 S 11Th St Rm 200
County Courthouse
Duncan , OK 73533-4758
http://stephenscountyok.com/

Stephens County, OK Courts