Jefferson County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Jefferson County is located in southeast Texas and has an estimated population of over 254,900. Its county seat is Beaumont City. The county's court system is made up of District Courts, a Criminal District Court, a Constitutional County Court, County Courts at Law, Justice of the Peace Courts, and Municipal Courts.

Jefferson County is home to seven District Courts and a Criminal District Court. Generally, the District Courts have jurisdiction over felonies, disputes over land, family matters, and civil claims of $200 or more. They also hear matters that are beyond the authority of other courts in the county. On the other hand, the Criminal District Court specializes in criminal cases, though it can also entertain divorce, juvenile, and adoption cases. The Constitutional County Court in Jefferson County typically handles probate matters in the county, while the three Statutory County Courts at Law in the county have jurisdiction over misdemeanor offenses, eminent domain, protective orders, and civil cases where the amount in controversy is between $500 and $200,000. Also, there are seven Justice of the Peace Courts in the county, which preside over crimes punishable with fines only and civil claims involving $20,000.00 or less. Residents can use the county's precinct map to determine the Justice Court operating in their vicinity. Finally, Municipal Courts, such as those in the cities of Beaumont, Groves, and Nederland, handle city ordinance violations, traffic citations, and certain misdemeanor offenses.

Reports from the Texas Uniform Crime Reporting System reveal that Jefferson County has a crime rate of approximately 4,971 incidents per 100,000 people. In 2022, the District Courts in Jefferson County resolved 792 cases. Similarly, the County Courts at Law concluded 4,589 cases, while the Justice of the Peace Court concluded 16,672 cases. Several offices maintain court records in Jefferson County. They include the County Clerk, District Clerk, Justice of the Peace Offices, and Municipal Court Offices. Interested persons can obtain these records by requesting them from the relevant office in person, via email, or by mail. Records of the District Courts, County Courts, and Justice Courts are also available online on the county's Odyssey Portal.

In summary, the District Courts, Criminal District Court, Constitutional County Court, County Courts at Law, Justice of the Peace Courts, and Municipal Courts play a crucial role in the administration of justice in Jefferson County. They hear cases and provide fair, impartial decisions in line with the applicable laws. Nonconfidential records of the courts are also open to the public, promoting transparency and accountability in the court system.