Polk County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Located within the central portion of the state of Iowa and named after the 11th president of the United States, President J.K. Polk, is Polk County. Established in the year 1846, the county covers 572.4 square miles and has its seat in Des Moines. With an estimated population of 493,378 residents, it makes up 15% of the states' entire population, and also makes it the most populous county in Iowa. The justice system in Polk County has only the District Court. The Polk County District Court was built in 1906, but to accomodate the ever growing population, it was enlarged and renovated in 1962.

Polk County belongs to the fifth judicial district in the state of Iowa. The only trial court in the county is the District Court, which is located in Des Moines. The court is responsible for handling all types of cases, including probate, civil, criminal, and juvenile.

The crime rate in Polk County stands at 25.69 per 1,000 residents. The District Court in Polk County currently handles over 200,000 cases annually, and according to data from the National Center for State Courts, this number is projected to increase by around 14% each year. The Office of the Polk County Clerk of Court is responsible for keeping and maintaining up to date court records in the county. To access the records, interested persons can visit the office in person or search for the records online. Record search can be made by the case number, party's name, attorney's name, or by the case filing date. Although court records are generally available to the public in the county, some records are considered to be confidential and restricted from public access. These records typically include adoption records, information on custodial matters, mental health records, medical records, records identifying personal information, sex offernders, and so on. Access can be granted through court order or special permission by authorized personnel, but it is a process in which the County Clerk can help navigate through.

In conclusion, the District Court is the only trial court in Polk County. This court is responsible for settling disputes arising from legal issues in the state. The County Clerk efficiently maintains all court minutes and records. To ensure transparency in court proceedings, the court makes its access to its records easily available through their online portal for interested persons to view and obtain.