Lane County, named after Joseph Lane, the first territorial governor of Oregon, is located in the western part of Oregon. Established in 1851, Lane County is home to over 380,000 Oregonians and covers an area of about 4,722 square miles, making it one of the largest counties in Oregon. Its county seat in Eugene is an educational hub, especially with the founding of the University of Oregon, a major public research university known for its academic programs and athletic teams.

Courts in Lane County

The court system in Lane County comprises Circuit, Municipal, and Justice Courts. The Lane County Circuit Court has general jurisdiction over all criminal and civil cases, including felonies, misdemeanors, small claims, and civil cases without financial limits. The Circuit Court has a Family, Probate, Juvenile, and Traffic Divisions.

The Family Division handles family-related cases, including domestic violence, divorce,  and adoption lawsuits. The Juvenile Division handles cases involving minors, including delinquency cases, child abuse, child neglect, and abandonment of children. The Probate Court deals with matters related to the administration of estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and mental health commitments.

The Municipal Courts in Lane County handle cases involving violations of city ordinances, minor misdemeanors, and traffic infractions occurring within city limits. The Lane County Justice Court handles minor civil and criminal cases, including traffic violations, small claims, and misdemeanors.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Lane County

Public court records from the Circuit Court in Lane County are available online using the Online Records Search portal. Record seekers may also visit the courthouse to obtain public court records or submit mail requests for the documents. Public court records from the Municipal and Justice Courts are available at the various courthouses.  

Types of Public Court Records in Lane County

The following court records are publicly available to Lane County residents:

• Civil Court Records: Property disputes, personal injury claims, small claims, business litigations, and defamation records
• Criminal Court Records: Felonies such as drug trafficking, burglary, and arson records.  Misdemeanor cases, including vandalism, disorderly conduct, and simple assault
• Probate Records: Wills, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships,  and trust
• Family Law Records: Child support, child custody, divorce, annulments, and legal separation records
• Traffic Records: Reckless driving, seatbelt violations, driving without insurance, and driving without valid licenses

Confidential Court Records in Lane County

Confidential court records are documents from the Land County Courts that are inaccessible to the public. Confidential court records contain sensitive information and are sealed by the courts to protect the privacy of the individual named on the court document. Confidential court records in Lane County include:

• Juvenile Court Records
• Adoption records
• Medical and mental health records
• Trade secrets and business proprietary information
• Expunged records

Likewise, personal information on court records is confidential and excluded from public access. Personal data on court records uniquely identifies an individual. Therefore, it is excluded from public view to prevent financial fraud, harassment, or identity theft. Personal data redacted from public court records include:

• Financial account information
• Social Security numbers
• Birth dates
• Medical records
• Vehicle plate numbers

Juvenile Delinquency in Lane, OR

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Lane County, juvenile delinquency offenses are on the rise. There are many reasons for the inflation in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Oregon often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of charges, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 1416 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Lane County. Of that total, 61% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 862 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Lane County, OR

http://oregon.gov/

County Seat:	Eugene
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Home Rule
Year Organized:	1851
Total Square Miles:	4,722
2019 Population:	374,748
Persons/Square Mile:	0.01
County Contact:	125 E 8Th Ave County Courthouse Eugene , OR 97401-2926 https://www.lanecounty.org/

Lane County, OR Courts