Juvenile Court
Circuit Court Clerk
Sam Rainwaters
Circuit Court Clerk
1 Court Square, Room 107
Camden, TN 38320
(731) 584-6165 or
(731) 584-6711
A court of record where all records are sealed. The Juvenile Court Clerk is the keeper of the court's records and all documents filed in the Court. The clerk's office is responsible for the preparation of the minutes the Juvenile Court and processing the paperwork associated with the juvenile cases during their progress through the Juvenile Court System. Cases in Juvenile Court are confidential.
A juvenile is defined as any individual who is under the chronological age of eighteen (18) years and who has not been previously transferred to adult court. Juvenile courts deal not only with delinquency and status offenses, but also with issues concerning dependency and neglect, child abuse, child support, custody issues, establishing parentage, visitation, and the need for medical and/or mental health treatment for children. Tennessee's juvenile courts have jurisdiction within the following areas:
Adjudication of children as dependent and neglected, abused, status/unruly, or delinquent
Determination of custody
Termination of parental rights
Ordering of treatment, evaluation and/or commitment of a developmentally disabled or mentally ill children
Commitment of children to the custody of the Department of Children Services
Establishment of parentage
Ordering and enforcement of child support for children of unwed parents
Establishing visitation for non-custodial parents
Enforcement of the compulsory school attendance laws
Removal of the age restrictions on a minor's application for a marriage license
Giving of judicial consent to a minor's employment or enlistment in the armed services if law requires such consent
Giving of judicial consent to the medical treatment of a child when his/her parents or guardians are unable to do so
Adjudication of alleged traffic violations by persons under the age of eighteen
Transfer of serious delinquency cases to criminal court for trial as adults
Pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated 37-1-159, the juvenile court is a court of record. It may enforce its orders in any way in which a court of equity may enforce its orders and decrees, including by imprisonment and/or by fine for contempt.
Juvenile Court Judge
John Whitworth
1 Court Square, Room 208
Camden, TN 38320
(731) 584-2181 Fax
(731) 584-4685
The Benton County General Sessions Court hears criminal misdemeanors, preliminary hearings in criminal felony cases, and civil disputes up to $25,000. It also hears Juvenile delinquency matters, Juvenile custody cases, and cases involving dependency and neglect or abuse.