District Court (Seventh District : Carbon County) Criminal case files, 1896-

Criminal case files document the legal process and the administration of justice in conjunction with a criminal proceeding. Criminal case files usually contain information such as the case number, and the names of the defendants, counsel, jurors, and witnesses. The case file may include complaints, indictments, subpoenas, verdicts, warrants of arrest, execution or confinement, warrant returns, affidavits, orders, judgments, appeal notices. Records and documents pertaining to a particular action are filed together by the court clerk, and collectively these records constitute the case file. Files rarely include transcripts of testimony.

First, second, and third degree felony cases are the predominant type of action within this series (a major crime for which the maximum imprisonment is more than one year in a state correctional institution). This series also contains misdemeanor cases which are punishable by a county jail term of up to one year and/or a fine. Juvenile cases tried prior to 1907 can also be found in this series. In 1907, a separate statewide juvenile court was established allowing juvenile court jurisdiction in all matters involving children 18 years of age and younger, including parents and guardians of juvenile delinquents.