Stephens County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Stephens County was created at Oklahoma statehood in 1907 and named after John Hall Stephens. It has an estimated population of 43,140 and a land area of 891 square miles. Its county seat and largest city is Duncan. The Stephens County court system comprises District and Municipal Courts. These courts oversee various legal matters, including domestic relations, probate, criminal, and civil cases, and are essential to upholding law and order in the county.

The highest court in the county is the Stephens County District Court located in Duncan. Although it has general jurisdiction over all criminal and civil cases, it typically hears matters outside the purview of municipal courts. It hears all criminal actions and civil disputes with or without financial claims. It also handles cases involving domestic relations and probate. Its Juvenile Court handles juvenile cases, such as delinquency, emancipation, and dependency. Stephens County has four Municipal Courts in Duncan, Comanche, Marlow, and Velma. They hear municipal ordinance infractions and traffic offenses within their jurisdictions.

Stephens County has a crime rate of 5,241 crimes per 100,000 residents, and the Stephens County District Court handles over 8,000 cases annually. The Stephens County Court Clerk maintains the court records for the District Court, while clerks of the municipal courts maintain their court records. Members of the public can visit the clerks' offices to inspect and request nonconfidential court records from their courts. They can also find District Court public records on the On Demand Court Records portal provided by the State of Oklahoma. However, certain court records in Stephens County are sealed under Oklahoma law or by court orders to preserve privacy, protect sensitive information, or the interest of justice. These court records are not open to public view but can only be accessed by authorized persons or by court orders. Court records typically sealed in Stephens County include mental health records, adoption records, juvenile records, information about jurors, medical records, records of domestic or sexual violence victims, and personal identifying information.

In summary, Stephens County's court system ensures the just resolution of disputes to protect the rights and liberties of the residents of the county. The District and Municipal Courts are critical to delivering justice for all persons in Stephens County, without regard to their beliefs, race, or status. The adoption of an effective electronic system for managing court records, which ensures accessibility and transparency, boosts public confidence in the legal system. Stephens County continues to be dedicated to upholding its legal duties and serves as an example of effective court administration in the State of Oklahoma.