Incorporated in 1803, Rutherford County is at the exact geographic center of the State of Tennessee. It is the fifth most populous county in Tennessee, and according to estimates from the 2020 census, it has a population of about 361,701 residents. The County has its seat in Murfreesboro and sprawls over 619.3 square miles of land.

Courts in Rutherford County

The judicial system in Rutherford County consists of Circuit Courts, Chancery Courts, General Sessions Courts, and Juvenile Courts.

Circuit Courts in Rutherford County handle both civil and criminal cases. The Civil Division handles cases relating to contracts, torts, personal injury, property damage, employment discrimination, tax disputes, etc. The Criminal Division handles cases relating to felonies and misdemeanors.

Chancery Courts in the County share jurisdiction with Circuit Courts over most cases. Their jurisdiction extends to corporate matters, trusts, estates, and contractual matters in general.

The General Sessions Court handles both criminal and non-criminal legal matters. The General Sessions Civil Court handles cases related to landlord and tenant disputes and small claims civil matters. The General Sessions Criminal Court handles traffic tickets and misdemeanor criminal offenses. 

The Juvenile Court in Rutherford County handles civil and delinquency cases. It also offers programs and services that provide troubled youths with the skills they need to succeed.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Rutherford County

Access to court records in Rutherford County is provided by the Office of the various Court Clerks. For example, the Rutherford County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office is responsible for providing access to court records emanating from the Juvenile Court, General Sessions Court, and Circuit Court. The Chancery Court also has its own Court Clerk whose office is responsible for providing access to court records. To access records emanating from these courts, interested individuals can submit a request form or send a mail to the concerned office. Alternatively, interested persons can access court records through Rutherford County’s online records portal.

Types of Public Court Records in Rutherford County

Unless court records are exempt from disclosure due to privacy or other concerns, they are generally accessible to anyone who requests them. Interested persons in Rutherford County are granted access to the following court records: 

• Civil Records
• Criminal Records
• Family Court Records
• Probate Court Records
• Adoption Court Records

Confidential Court Records in Rutherford County

Not all requests to access court records are granted in Rutherford County. Some records are deemed confidential and, therefore, not publicly accessible. The following categories of records are considered confidential:

• Adoption Records
• Juvenile Court Records
• Child Support Records
• Mental Health Records
• Protection from Abuse Orders.

Juvenile Delinquency in Rutherford, TN

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Rutherford County, juvenile delinquency issues are on the rise. There are many reasons for the rise in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Tennessee often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of crimes, and other family matters.

In 2016, a total of 1348 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Rutherford County. Of that total, 81% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 1091 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Rutherford County, are focusing on family therapy and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Rutherford County juvenile delinquency numbers will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Rutherford County, TN

https://www.tn.gov/

County Seat:	Murfreesboro
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1803
Total Square Miles:	624
2019 Population:	317,157
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00

Rutherford County, TN Courts