La Vergne Background Check Records
Criminal records and background check information for La Vergne are held by the Rutherford County Criminal Court Clerk in Murfreesboro and the La Vergne Police Department. This page covers how to access court records, request police reports, and run a statewide check for La Vergne, Tennessee.
La Vergne Quick Facts
Rutherford County Court System
La Vergne is located in Rutherford County. Criminal court cases for La Vergne residents are handled at the Rutherford County courts in Murfreesboro, the county seat. Felony charges go to the Rutherford County Criminal Court. Misdemeanor cases are handled initially at the General Sessions Court level. Records from both courts are public and available through the court clerk.
The Tennessee Court System has a free case search portal at tncourts.gov that covers Rutherford County. You can search by name or case number at no cost. The portal shows case status, charges, and court dates. For copies of actual documents, you contact the Rutherford County Criminal Court Clerk in Murfreesboro. Start here when doing a background check on a La Vergne resident.
Murfreesboro is about 15 miles from La Vergne, so an in-person trip to the courthouse is practical for most residents. Bring a photo ID and the full name of the person you are looking up. A date of birth helps narrow results when there are common names. Staff can assist with searches and copy requests.
| Court | Rutherford County Criminal Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 20 Public Square North, Suite 202 Murfreesboro, TN 37130 |
| Phone | (615) 898-7820 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
More on the Rutherford County court system is available on the Rutherford County background check page.
Court Clerk Records Office
The Rutherford County Criminal Court Clerk in Murfreesboro holds criminal case records for La Vergne and the rest of the county. If you need a court document from a La Vergne case, the clerk's office is where you go. Staff search by name or case number and can pull files from active cases and older archived cases.
Certified copies cost more than plain copies. The exact fee depends on the number of pages and whether certification is needed. Call (615) 898-7820 before visiting to confirm current rates and whether appointments are needed. Most in-person requests are handled the same day. Mail-in requests take longer and typically require a written form and a check or money order for fees.
General Sessions Court records are kept by a separate clerk and cover misdemeanor charges that were handled at the lower court level. If you want to see someone's full La Vergne court history, check both the Criminal Court Clerk and the General Sessions Court Clerk in Murfreesboro. Some cases that started as misdemeanors were resolved at General Sessions and will not appear in Criminal Court files at all.
La Vergne Police Department Records
The La Vergne Police Department maintains its own records separate from the county court system. Their records include local arrest reports, incident reports, traffic citations, and other law enforcement documentation for the city. When checking someone's background in La Vergne, police records can fill in details that court records do not always show, especially for incidents that did not result in formal charges.
To request records, contact the La Vergne Police Department records division. You will likely need to complete a public records request form. Tennessee law requires agencies to respond without delay. Standard public records such as arrest logs and incident reports are available unless they relate to ongoing investigations or protected categories under state law. Copy fees apply.
| Department | La Vergne Police Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 5093 Murfreesboro Road La Vergne, TN 37086 |
| Phone | (615) 793-7744 |
| Records Division | Call main number and ask for Records |
Incidents in unincorporated areas of Rutherford County near La Vergne would be documented by the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office in Murfreesboro rather than the La Vergne Police Department. Keep this distinction in mind when your search involves locations outside the city limits.
Statewide Background Checks Through TBI
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) maintains the official statewide criminal history database. A TBI background check covers all 95 Tennessee counties including Rutherford County and La Vergne. The check draws from court records, arrest data, and corrections files statewide. It costs $29 and is the single most complete source for Tennessee criminal history.
Run a check through the TORIS portal at tbibackgrounds.tbi.tn.gov/Toris/. TORIS is available to the public. You enter the person's name, pay the $29 fee online, and receive results electronically. No office visit is required. The system is widely used by employers, landlords, and volunteer organizations in La Vergne and across Rutherford County.
Visit tn.gov/tbi/divisions/cjis-division/background-checks.html to learn more about what the TBI background check includes and how to read results. TBI checks show what is in the state database. Expunged records are removed. Very recent arrests may not yet appear if court data has not been submitted. For the most complete La Vergne background check, combine TORIS with Rutherford County court records and local police records.
Public Records Access in Tennessee
Tennessee's Public Records Act gives any person the right to inspect and copy public records. The core provision is found at T.C.A. § 10-7-503. Under this law, criminal court records, arrest logs, and most government documents are open to the public. You do not need to give a reason. The agency must respond promptly or explain in writing why a record is being withheld.
For La Vergne background checks, this means you have the right to access Rutherford County court records and La Vergne Police Department records without justifying your purpose. Most requests are handled without issue. Common exemptions include records from active criminal investigations, juvenile records, and some victim data in certain types of cases. These exemptions are specific and cannot be used broadly to block access to routine court records.
If a request is improperly denied, contact the Tennessee Office of Open Records Counsel. They provide free assistance to people who have trouble getting public records from state and local agencies. A written request that cites T.C.A. § 10-7-503 usually gets a proper response from the Rutherford County clerk and local police in La Vergne.
Expungement of Criminal Records
Some criminal records in Tennessee can be expunged under T.C.A. § 40-32-101. Expungement removes the record from public view and from court databases so it does not appear in background checks. It applies to certain dismissed charges, acquittals, and a limited group of convictions where the person has met all sentence requirements.
Eligibility is determined by the type of offense and the outcome of the case. If charges were dismissed or the person was found not guilty, they can petition for expungement at no cost right away. If there was a conviction, additional conditions apply: complete the full sentence, pay all fines and restitution, wait the required number of years, and have no new offenses. Violent felonies, DUI convictions, and sex offenses cannot be expunged in Tennessee.
To file for expungement in Rutherford County, submit a petition to the Criminal Court Clerk in Murfreesboro. The fee is $350 for a conviction expungement. Dismissed cases are free. Once a judge approves the petition, orders go to the TBI and local agencies to remove the record. After that, a background check for a La Vergne resident with an expunged record will not show that entry.
Felony Offender Information
The Tennessee Department of Correction offers free public access to the Felony Offender Information Lookup (FOIL). This database covers people who are or were under state corrections supervision for a felony conviction in Tennessee. FOIL is useful when checking whether a La Vergne resident has a felony record tied to the state corrections system.
Access FOIL at apps.tn.gov/foil-app/search.jsp. You search by name. Results show the offense type, sentence length, and supervision status. FOIL does not show misdemeanor records or cases that did not involve incarceration. For a complete background check in La Vergne, use FOIL alongside TBI TORIS and Rutherford County court records.
Tennessee's TBI Sex Offender Registry is free and searchable by name or address. It covers people required to register as sex offenders under Tennessee law. If you are screening a La Vergne resident for housing or employment, checking both FOIL and the Sex Offender Registry gives you a more complete picture than court records alone.
Nearby Cities
These nearby qualifying cities also have criminal records pages. Each city's cases run through its own county court system.
Rutherford County Background Check Records
La Vergne is in Rutherford County, and all criminal court cases for the city go through the Rutherford County courts in Murfreesboro. Visit the Rutherford County page for full court contacts, fees, and related records information.