Hamilton County TN Arrest Records Search | Jail & Court
Recent Arrest Lookup
Name + state search
Lookup Active
Worried About a Recent Arrest?
Search by name and state to check available arrest, mugshot, jail, booking, and court report options.
Enter first name, last name, and state.
Report availability varies. Not for employment, tenant, credit, or insurance decisions.
Chattanooga & Hamilton County, Tennessee · Arrests, jail, warrants and criminal court records
Trace a Chattanooga Arrest From Jail Booking to Final Court Disposition
Hamilton County Jail is the county intake point for arrestees even when Chattanooga Police or another local agency made the arrest. That makes the jail search a strong starting point—but not the final answer.
Use this guide to locate the booking, verify the person, identify the arresting agency, obtain the police report, follow General Sessions or Criminal Court, confirm bond and custody, and correct or expunge an eligible record.
HAMILTON RECORD ROUTER
LIVE CHECK
HCSO RECORD SEARCH
SPN
INMATE
BOOKING
COURT
HAMILTON COURT
DISPOSITION
BOOKING + COURT VERIFIED
Arrest does not mean conviction. A booking charge records an allegation connected with an arrest or jail intake. A prosecutor may change or decline the charge, a grand jury may return no true bill, and a judge or jury may dismiss or acquit.
Current inmate
Search by last name or SPN number.
Daily arrests
Booking reports are searchable by date.
Open warrants
Database refreshes daily at 4:00 p.m.
Court status
Sessions and Criminal Court update separately.
TBI history
TORIS name-based search: $29.
Which Hamilton County record answers your question?
HCSO JAIL
Is the person currently in custody?
Search the inmate list by last name or SPN number. A matching detail page can include date of birth, bond amount, judge, division and court date.
Use for: current custody, identity, bond, court date and SPN.
ARRESTING AGENCY
What allegedly happened?
The incident or arrest narrative belongs to the agency that created it. Hamilton County has multiple law-enforcement agencies even though the county jail handles countywide intake.
Use for: incident report, officer narrative, report number and investigation records.
COURT CLERK
What happened after arrest?
General Sessions handles misdemeanors and felony preliminary proceedings. Criminal Court handles cases after indictment, presentment, information or appeal.
Use for: filed charges, hearing dates, no bill, dismissal, plea, judgment and sentence.
Best sequence: inmate or booking search → identity verification → arresting agency → Sessions case → Criminal Court when applicable → final disposition → certified record only if formal proof is needed.
Search a Hamilton County Jail inmate by last name or SPN
Hamilton County Sheriff states that the Jail & Detention Center serves as the intake point for all arrestees in Hamilton County regardless of arresting agency.
Open HCSO Inmate Information
Use the Sheriff’s current custody system.
Open the inmate search
Choose last name or SPN number
The search accepts either an inmate surname or the Sheriff’s SPN identifier.
Start with the surname
A broad surname search reduces the chance that a middle-name or spelling difference hides the correct entry.
Open every plausible person
Common names can belong to several unrelated people.
Match the date of birth
Use DOB with the SPN and known arrest date rather than relying on the name or photograph alone.
Save the SPN number
The six-digit SPN is important for personal mail and other jail services.
Read the bond and court fields
Individual inmate pages may display bond amount, judge, division and next court date.
Register for available victim notifications
The inmate detail page provides a victim-notification path when available.
Continue to court records
The jail charge is intake information, not the final criminal disposition.
Hamilton County Jail & Detention Center
601 Justice Way
Chattanooga, TN 37421
Main published number: 423-209-7125
601 Justice Way
Chattanooga, TN 37421
Main published number: 423-209-7125
Search Hamilton County arrests by booking date
The Sheriff maintains a separate Booking Reports tool. It is useful when you know approximately when someone was arrested but do not yet know the person’s SPN.
Open Booking Reports
Open Hamilton County Booking Reports
Select the arrest or booking date
The Sheriff’s tool organizes corrections booking reports by date.
Review possible matches
Compare the person’s name and available identifying information.
Move to Inmate Information
Use the inmate search when the person appears to remain in custody.
Save the booking identifiers
Keep the SPN and court-related fields shown by the live jail system.
Identify the arresting agency
Do not assume HCSO made the arrest merely because the person was booked into the county jail.
Important Chattanooga distinction: An arrest by Chattanooga Police, East Ridge Police, Collegedale Police or another agency may still result in Hamilton County Jail processing. The police report remains with the agency that created it.
What Hamilton County arrest and jail fields actually mean
| Field | What it tells you | What it does not prove | Next action |
|---|---|---|---|
| SPN | Hamilton County Sheriff identifier for the inmate. | The final court outcome. | Use for mail, services and identity checks. |
| Booking date | When the person entered the booking process. | When the alleged offense occurred. | Compare with incident and court dates. |
| Charge | Allegation associated with arrest or intake. | That prosecutors later filed the same charge. | Search Sessions or Criminal Court. |
| Bond amount | Bond information currently associated with the case. | One payment clears every hold or warrant. | Confirm with jail and Clerk before paying. |
| Judge | Judge currently connected with the displayed matter. | The judge will remain assigned. | Confirm on the current court docket. |
| Division | Court division handling the displayed case. | Every related charge is in the same division. | Search the exact docket number. |
| Court date | Scheduled event available to the jail system. | The date cannot change. | Recheck the Clerk docket before court. |
| Mugshot | Booking photograph connected with custody processing. | Guilt, conviction or identity by itself. | Match DOB, SPN and court case. |
Hamilton County itself warns against name-only identification
Hamilton County’s criminal-record disclaimer states that positive identification from the online court information is not possible by itself. Names can be confused or misused, and unrelated people can share the same name.
Full legal name matches
Date of birth matches
SPN matches another official record
Booking date matches the known event
Arresting agency matches
Docket number follows the same arrest
Court division and date are consistent
Disposition belongs to the exact docket
Minimum standard: Match at least two independent official identifiers before publishing an allegation, sending money or treating a record as belonging to a particular person.
No Hamilton County arrest record found?
The arrest is extremely recent
Booking, fingerprints, photograph, medical intake and data entry may still be underway.
You searched the wrong tool
Use Inmate Information for a person and Booking Reports when you know the date.
The name is recorded differently
Search the surname and compare aliases, suffixes, maiden names and spelling variations.
The person received a misdemeanor citation
Citation-in-lieu-of-arrest processing can involve later fingerprinting, mugshot and entry into the arrest system without a normal jail stay.
The person was released
Continue with the criminal court search even if the person is no longer on the live jail list.
The case moved beyond Sessions
A felony may be bound over to the grand jury and continue in Criminal Court.
The arrest happened outside Hamilton County
Search the jurisdiction where the person was actually booked.
The record was expunged or restricted
Public systems may no longer display legally removed or confidential information.
Missing-record call script
I am trying to confirm the booking or custody status of [full legal name], date of birth [date]. The arrest may have occurred on [date] through [agency]. Can you confirm whether the person is being processed, currently held, released, transferred, cited instead of jailed, or listed under another SPN?
A misdemeanor citation can still create booking fingerprints and a mugshot
Hamilton County Sheriff explains that a misdemeanor citation may be issued instead of immediate incarceration. The person receives a later booking date.
What happens
Fingerprinting, booking photograph and entry of the person’s information into the arrest system.
Published processing time
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Where to report
Hamilton County Jail & Detention Center front-lobby Information Desk.
This is one reason an arrest-related record can exist even when a person was never housed in the jail for a normal detention stay.
From Chattanooga arrest to final disposition
Law-enforcement incident
Chattanooga Police, Hamilton County Sheriff or another agency creates the incident or arrest record.
County jail intake
Hamilton County Jail serves as the county intake point regardless of which local agency made the arrest.
Booking and identification
The arrest system can include fingerprints, mugshot, SPN, charges and bond information.
General Sessions Court
Misdemeanor charges can be resolved there. Felonies use Sessions for preliminary proceedings.
Grand Jury
A felony can be bound over. The grand jury may return a true bill, no true bill or other action.
Criminal Court
Indicted cases, presentments, informations and qualifying appeals proceed in Criminal Court.
Final disposition
Each count can end through dismissal, nolle prosequi, acquittal, plea, conviction, judgment or sentence.
Record correction or expungement
An inaccurate record may need correction; an eligible accurate record may qualify for court-ordered expungement.
Jail intake does not make every arrest a Sheriff report
| Record needed | Correct starting office | What to provide | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current inmate information | Hamilton County Sheriff Corrections | Last name or SPN. | Calling the court for live housing information. |
| Hamilton Sheriff incident report | HCSO Records | Report number, incident date, name and DOB. | Requesting a Chattanooga Police report from HCSO. |
| Chattanooga Police report | Chattanooga Police Department | CPD report number, date and involved party. | Assuming jail custody transfers record ownership. |
| Other municipal police report | The city police department that made the arrest | Agency case number and incident details. | Using only the jail SPN. |
| Misdemeanor disposition | General Sessions Criminal Clerk | Name and docket number. | Treating the jail charge as final. |
| Indicted felony disposition | Criminal Court Clerk | Criminal Court docket number. | Stopping at the Sessions preliminary record. |
| Tennessee statewide history | Tennessee Bureau of Investigation | Accurate name-based search information. | Assuming one county search covers Tennessee. |
Request a Hamilton County Sheriff arrest or incident report
HCSO Records Office
Phone: 423-209-7111
In-person report pickup is available through the Sheriff’s West-side administrative location on Dayton Boulevard. Call before traveling to confirm current pickup instructions.
Phone: 423-209-7111
In-person report pickup is available through the Sheriff’s West-side administrative location on Dayton Boulevard. Call before traveling to confirm current pickup instructions.
The Sheriff’s online Incident Report Request states that requests normally take one business day to process and that a copy of the request is emailed to the requester.
Information requested by the official form
Requester first name
Requester last name
Requester email
Whether it is a traffic accident
Report number when known
Incident date
Involved party’s first and last name
Involved party’s date of birth
Reason for the request
Requester relationship to the report
Confirm HCSO created the report
The Sheriff specifically warns that several other law-enforcement agencies operate within Hamilton County.
Locate the report number
Use it whenever possible rather than relying on a name-only request.
Open the online Incident Report Request
Request the HCSO incident report
Enter the incident date and involved person
Add DOB to reduce same-name errors.
Select the correct requester reason
Options include involved party, attorney’s office, insurance company or other.
Save the confirmation email
Keep it until the request is completed.
Copy-ready focused request
I request the releasable incident and arrest records for [full legal name], DOB [date], involving the incident on [date] at [location]. Known identifiers are HCSO report number [number], SPN [number], warrant number [number] and court docket number [number]. Please provide electronic copies where available and notify me before processing if charges will exceed $[amount].
Use TNORR for inmate audio, investigative files and larger requests
Hamilton County Sheriff instructs Tennessee Open Records Law requests to be submitted to:
openrecords@hcsheriff.gov
openrecords@hcsheriff.gov
The Sheriff states that an open-records request will be acknowledged within seven working/business days under its published process.
HCSO specifically routes these through TNORR
Inmate records
Booking reports requested as records
Inmate phone or audio conversations
Inmate medical records, subject to applicable law
Investigative records
Closed Internal Affairs investigation records
Personnel and employment records
Requests requiring extensive compilation
Body camera and dash camera requests follow another path. HCSO states that requests for dash cam, body cam or other official video records must be made to the Hamilton County District Attorney. If approved, the DA obtains the material through the Sheriff’s IT process.
HCSO states that normal procurement and printing charges can apply to open-record requests. The reviewed Sheriff page does not publish one universal dollar amount, so request a written estimate before authorizing a large production.
Search the first court stage after a Chattanooga arrest
Misdemeanor case
General Sessions Criminal Court can enter judgments for misdemeanor criminal cases and traffic offenses.
Felony case
General Sessions handles the preliminary felony stage to determine whether sufficient cause exists for the matter to be bound over to the grand jury.
General Sessions Criminal Clerk
600 Market Street, Room 108
Chattanooga, TN 37402
Phone: 423-209-7600
600 Market Street, Room 108
Chattanooga, TN 37402
Phone: 423-209-7600
Open the Sessions criminal information entry
Read and accept the county’s identity and accuracy disclaimer.
Search Sessions dispositions and dates
Use the docket number when possible
It is more reliable than a common-name search.
Match the arrest date and defendant
Do not treat a same-name result as positive identification.
Check the daily-updated information
Hamilton County states that Sessions criminal information is updated daily.
Read the disposition
For a misdemeanor, determine whether the case was dismissed, resolved by plea, resulted in judgment or had another outcome.
For a felony, check whether it was bound over
A felony proceeding may leave Sessions and continue through the grand jury and Criminal Court.
Hamilton County explicitly states that its online Sessions information is not intended to serve as official verification and that positive identification from the online record alone is not possible.
Follow felony charges, grand-jury action and final disposition
Hamilton County Criminal Court Clerk
Room 102, Courts Building
600 Market Street
Chattanooga, TN 37402
Phone: 423-209-7500
Fax: 423-209-7501
Regular office hours: 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., Monday–Friday except county holidays
Room 102, Courts Building
600 Market Street
Chattanooga, TN 37402
Phone: 423-209-7500
Fax: 423-209-7501
Regular office hours: 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., Monday–Friday except county holidays
The Clerk maintains both Sessions Criminal and Criminal Court records. The Criminal Court division handles criminal cases bound over to the grand jury, cases initiated by indictment/presentment/information and qualifying appeals from lower courts.
Open Criminal Court dispositions
Accept the county disclaimer before entering the search.
Search Criminal Court dispositions and dates
Search by the Criminal Court docket number
Use the new docket number after the case leaves General Sessions.
Check indictment or other initiating filing
Compare it with the jail allegation; the formal counts may differ.
Review grand-jury action
Hamilton County posts true-bill, no-bill and dismissed grand-jury reports through its Criminal Court docket page.
Check the current docket schedule
Criminal Court dockets are informational and can change on the original docket.
Find each count’s disposition
One charge can be dismissed while another produces a plea or conviction.
Obtain certified proof when necessary
Use the Clerk rather than an online screenshot when a licensing agency, employer, lawyer or court requires official documentation.
How often are Criminal Court dockets refreshed?
Weekly dockets
The county states that dockets are updated every Thursday in preparation for the following week.
Weekly master docket
The master docket is updated each Monday.
Disposition search
The Criminal Court information disclaimer states that the underlying information is updated daily.
Get a certified Hamilton County criminal record
Hamilton County’s online criminal information is useful for research, but the county warns that it is not official verification. Use the Clerk for a certified record when proof matters.
Identify the correct court
Use Room 108 / General Sessions for the Sessions record and Room 102 / Criminal Court Clerk for the Criminal Court record.
Have the docket number
The exact docket minimizes mistaken records and search time.
Name the document you need
Examples include disposition, judgment, charging document or other docket filing.
Ask whether certification is required
Do not pay for certification when an ordinary copy will satisfy the recipient.
Confirm the current fee before ordering
Hamilton County states that fees apply to criminal-record searches and certified documentation but does not publish one universal current amount on the reviewed criminal-search page.
Call before mailing payment
Sessions verification: 423-209-7600. Criminal Court records: 423-209-7500.
Asking the Clerk for the current fee before ordering is more reliable than copying an old third-party fee table.
Search Hamilton County open warrants and verify the newest status
The Sheriff’s Open Warrants database can be searched by first name, last name, warrant number or partial address. A full list can also be viewed.
Open the official warrant search
Search Hamilton County open warrants
Use warrant number when known
This is safer than a common-name match.
Otherwise enter first and last name
Use partial address only as an additional narrowing field.
Check the issued date and charge
Confirm that the details relate to the person and event being researched.
Check the current court docket too
A later court action may change the status.
Confirm before acting
Contact HCSO or the court if the warrant concerns an immediate legal decision.
| Rule | What it means |
|---|---|
| Daily update | The database is updated daily at approximately 4:00 p.m. |
| Court-fed information | The warrant system is based on information supplied by the Hamilton County court system. |
| Recent changes | A recent resolution may not yet be reflected. |
| Older warrants | Warrants issued before January 1, 2008 are not shown. |
Do not confront or attempt to detain anyone. Verify current status with law enforcement or the issuing court.
HCSO states that a person wishing to surrender on a verified warrant may report to the Hamilton County Jail & Detention Center at 601 Justice Way.
Confirm the Hamilton County bond before paying anything
Open the inmate detail page
Review the currently displayed bond amount.
Check every active charge
One charge may have bond while another case or hold prevents release.
Confirm the amount with the jail
Jail main: 423-209-7125.
Confirm the court case and bond status
Contact the Criminal Court Clerk at 423-209-7500.
For a cash bond, use the Courts Building
HCSO states that cash bonds can be paid through the Hamilton County Criminal Court Clerk’s Office at 600 Market Street.
For a commercial bond, use an accepted agency
HCSO states that a bonding agency must be verified and accepted by the Criminal Court Clerk’s Office.
Keep every receipt and court-date document
A posted bond does not end the criminal case.
Bond-verification script
I am calling about [full legal name], SPN [number], docket [number]. Please confirm the current bond amount and type on every active charge, whether any hold or warrant prevents release, and where the bond must be posted before I make any payment.
Request the Hamilton County Public Defender when eligible
Hamilton County Public Defender
Steve Smith, Public Defender
720 Cherry Street
Chattanooga, TN 37402
Phone: 423-209-6771
Steve Smith, Public Defender
720 Cherry Street
Chattanooga, TN 37402
Phone: 423-209-6771
Hamilton County Criminal Court publishes indigency documents and an indigency affidavit for defendants seeking court-appointed representation.
Identify the current court
Determine whether the case is still in General Sessions or has moved to Criminal Court.
Ask to apply for appointed counsel
Make the request at the earliest court appearance if a private attorney cannot be retained.
Complete the indigency paperwork
Hamilton Criminal Court provides indigency forms through its official forms area.
Open Hamilton Criminal Court forms
Provide accurate financial information
Appointment depends on the court’s indigency determination and applicable law.
Confirm which lawyer was appointed
Do not assume the Public Defender office represents a person until representation has actually been assigned.
Do not discuss case facts on ordinary jail calls
Family and friend calls are not a substitute for confidential attorney communication.
Track custody and Hamilton County court events through VINE
Hamilton County court and Sheriff pages direct crime victims to VINE for available custody and court notifications.
Confirm the defendant’s identity
Have the legal name, DOB, SPN and docket number when possible.
Open VINE
Open VINE victim notifications
Choose the matching offender or case
Do not register against a same-name result without confirmation.
Select available notification methods
Follow the VINE options displayed for custody or court-event alerts.
Save the registration information
Keep it in case contact preferences need to be changed.
Recheck the official court docket
Notification services do not replace a formal notice from the court.
Hamilton County court-notification phone published for VINE Courts:
1-866-277-7477
1-866-277-7477
Hamilton County Jail uses video visitation—not face-to-face family visits
Hamilton County Jail states that it does not permit face-to-face personal visits. Friends and family use GettingOut video visitation.
Onsite video visit
- Uses Viapath terminals at the facility.
- HCSO states onsite video visitation is free.
- Account approval is required first.
- Visit must be scheduled in advance.
Remote video visit
- Can be accessed from a smartphone where supported.
- HCSO states a fee applies.
- The county page does not publish one fixed current remote rate.
- Review the provider’s displayed price before confirming.
Confirm the inmate is still in custody
Search the inmate page immediately before creating or funding an account.
Create a GettingOut account
Create the visitation account
Upload government-issued identification
HCSO requires a picture of the ID.
Make sure the account name matches the ID
First and last names must match the submitted identification.
Take the verification headshot
The signup process uses a current headshot for identity verification.
Confirm visitor eligibility
Visitors must be at least 18 years old.
Check the six-month rule
HCSO states that visitors must have been free from incarceration for at least six months before the visit.
Wait for account approval
Scheduling becomes available after the facility approves the account.
Schedule ahead
Video visits must be scheduled before the session.
Visitation questions: 423-209-7086
Visitation office published hours: 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
GettingOut support: 866-516-0115
Visitation office published hours: 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
GettingOut support: 866-516-0115
Use different addresses for personal and legal inmate mail
Personal letters and packages are no longer accepted directly at the Hamilton County Jail. Personal mail sent directly to the facility can be returned to sender.
Personal / non-legal mail
Hamilton County Jail & Detention Center, TNInmate Full Name, SPN# (6 digits)
P.O. Box 247
Phoenix, MD 21131
Incoming personal mail is scanned at an offsite facility and delivered electronically.
Include the sender’s name and return address.Attorney / legal mail
Inmate Full NameHamilton County Jail & Detention Center
601 Justice Way
Chattanooga, TN 37421
This address is for legal correspondence sent directly to the jail.
HCSO’s current legal-mail procedure states that incoming legal mail is opened by staff in front of the inmate. Staff make a copy of each item, including the envelope, and the originals are destroyed under the facility’s published procedure.
Before mailing
Confirm current custody
Use the inmate’s full legal name
Add the six-digit SPN to personal mail
Include sender name and return address
Do not send personal mail directly to Justice Way
Use Justice Way for qualifying legal mail
Choose the correct inmate account before depositing money
Commissary account
Deposit at the jail lobby kiosk using cash, debit or credit card, or use CorrectPay online.
Phone account
Direct phone deposits use the GettingOut communication system.
Indigent basics
HCSO states that basic necessities are provided for qualifying indigent inmates.
Items available through commissary
Correspondence materials
Hygiene products
Food products
Approved clothing items
Published commissary order cycle
| Stage | Published timing |
|---|---|
| Ordering opens | Noon Thursday |
| Ordering closes | 10:30 p.m. Saturday |
| Current delivery days | Tuesday and Wednesday |
Verify the inmate and SPN
Do this immediately before sending funds.
Choose commissary versus phone
These are different accounts.
For commissary, use CorrectPay
Open CorrectPay
For direct phone funding, use GettingOut
Open GettingOut
Save the payment confirmation
Keep the receipt until the inmate confirms the deposit.
HCSO warns that a deposit later flagged as fraudulent can lead to an inmate being blocked from future deposits. Use only authorized payment methods and accounts you control.
GettingOut family support: 866-516-0115
Legal visits use a separate Hamilton County procedure
Call the Legal Visitation Desk
Arrange the attorney-client visit directly with jail visitation staff.
Bring the attorney BAR card
HCSO instructs attorneys to be prepared to present it when entering.
Do not hand paperwork directly to the inmate
HCSO states that attorneys may not directly provide paperwork during the visit.
Give documents to visitation staff
Staff make the required copies and provide them to the incarcerated person under the jail’s procedure.
Schedule property pickup before driving to the jail
Inmate property is released by appointment.
Call the property-release number
423-209-7042
Provide the inmate’s identity
Have the full name and SPN available.
Confirm HCSO actually possesses the property
Another local law-enforcement agency may have retained evidence or property from the arrest.
Schedule before traveling
Do not arrive without confirming the appointment and pickup location.
Hamilton County Jail also offers release-preparation programs
HCSO’s Re-Entry Program is aimed at sentenced inmates who are approaching release. The county states that more than 1,000 inmates have participated since the program began in 2018.
Life transition
Preparing for return from incarceration to community life.
Recovery
Addiction-recovery and behavioral programming.
Family & literacy
Parenting and literacy-related classes.
Vocational training
Programs include cosmetology, electrical, carpentry and welding through TCAT partnerships.
Use Tennessee FOIL after a person enters TDOC custody or supervision
FOIL can show
- Current or former Tennessee felony offender.
- Photograph when available.
- Incarcerated, probation, parole or inactive status.
- Assigned location.
- Offense and sentence information.
- Parole hearing information.
- Release-related information.
FOIL does not replace
- Current Hamilton County Jail search.
- Hamilton County arrest report.
- General Sessions docket.
- Criminal Court judgment.
- Complete Tennessee criminal-history check.
Search by TDOC ID when known
This gives the strongest direct match.
Otherwise search by name
Compare DOB and available identifiers.
Record the assigned location and status
State custody or supervision can change.
Return to Hamilton County court for proof of conviction
FOIL is a correctional-information system, not a certified judgment.
Search Tennessee FOIL
Tennessee FOIL is free to the public.
Use TBI TORIS for a Tennessee-wide name-based history
TORIS is not a Hamilton County-only database and it is not fingerprint identity confirmation. It is a Tennessee name-based criminal-history check.
Current charge
$29 for each criminal-history request.
Coverage
Tennessee misdemeanor and felony arrests reported through fingerprint submissions by arresting agencies.
Juvenile limitation
Juvenile information is not included unless the juvenile was transferred to adult criminal court under applicable law.
Use Hamilton County first when you only need local information
Jail and court searches are better for tracing one Chattanooga arrest.
Open TORIS when statewide history is necessary
Open TBI TORIS
Enter requester information
The online credit-card process first establishes the requester’s contact information.
Enter accurate subject information
A name-based search creates greater identity risk than a fingerprint comparison.
Pay the $29 non-refundable charge
TBI publishes the same current charge for credit-card criminal-history requests.
Review the result carefully
TBI states that aliases are not included in the normal name-based TORIS search.
Compare court dispositions
If a Hamilton County case is missing its correct outcome, obtain the court record before disputing the history.
Tennessee Open Records Information Services
Phone: 615-744-4057
TBI Headquarters: 901 R.S. Gass Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37216
Phone: 615-744-4057
TBI Headquarters: 901 R.S. Gass Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37216
Fix the source record before blaming the background-check system
Identify where the error appears
Compare the HCSO booking, Sessions case, Criminal Court disposition and TBI result.
Save the incorrect information
Record the SPN, report number, docket number and date the information was viewed.
Obtain the controlling document
For a disposition error, obtain the official court result.
Correct a Sheriff-data problem with HCSO
Use Records or the appropriate open-record process.
Correct a court-data problem with the Clerk
Sessions: 423-209-7600. Criminal Court: 423-209-7500.
Use fingerprint comparison when identity is disputed
Tennessee state guidance says a person disputing the accuracy of a name-based TBI result can request a fingerprint comparison; the currently published additional fee is $24.
Recheck all systems after correction
Court, Sheriff, TBI and private background-report databases do not necessarily update at the same time.
Correction versus expungement: Correction changes inaccurate information. Expungement removes qualifying accurate criminal charges or records through a court order.
Start Hamilton County expungement with the court that handled the case
Tennessee Courts currently notes that its expungement guidance is being updated to reflect changes to T.C.A. §40-32-101. Verify current eligibility for the exact charge before paying a fee or filing a petition.
Cases Tennessee currently identifies as potentially eligible for free expungement
Charges dismissed
Grand jury returned no true bill
Arrested and released without being charged
Trial resulted in not guilty
Case ended in nolle prosequi
Qualifying denied order-of-protection proceeding
Determine where the case originated
It may be General Sessions or Criminal Court.
Obtain the docket number
Tennessee Courts states that case information such as the docket number is needed for expungement.
Read the exact disposition
Identify dismissed, nolle prosequi, no true bill, not guilty, conviction or another result.
Resolve a “dismissed with costs” case
Tennessee Courts explains that outstanding court costs must be addressed before expungement, though a waiver may sometimes be available.
Resolve a “retired” case first
Tennessee Courts states that a retired case generally must be changed to a dismissed case before that charge can be expunged.
File with the court where the case originated
The clerk may require separate forms for multiple charges.
Ask for certified copies
Keep the signed expungement order and charging documents needed to prove the relief later.
Allow the court to distribute the order
Tennessee’s process sends qualifying orders to agencies such as the arresting agency, jail, TDOC and TBI.
Confirm TBI and TDOC updates
TBI removes qualifying charges from the state record; TDOC removes qualifying information from its systems after receiving the order.
Confirm the HCSO mugshot disappears
HCSO states that once its expungement processing is completed, the mugshot is removed from the Sheriff system.
Hamilton County Criminal Court Clerk Expungement Center
Room 109, Courts Building
600 Market Street
Chattanooga, TN 37402
Phone: 423-209-7600
Fax: 423-209-7601
Room 109, Courts Building
600 Market Street
Chattanooga, TN 37402
Phone: 423-209-7600
Fax: 423-209-7601
Conviction cases are different. Tennessee states that some misdemeanor and Class E felony convictions may qualify under conviction-expungement law. Eligibility is narrower, and state guidance currently identifies a $180 expungement fee plus applicable court fees/costs for qualifying conviction cases.
Private mugshot websites are separate. HCSO states that county expungement and removal from the Sheriff system do not automatically erase information already published by private companies or news organizations.
Hamilton County arrest, jail and court contacts
Hamilton County Sheriff
600 Market Street
Chattanooga, TN 37402
Chattanooga, TN 37402
Jail & Detention Center
601 Justice Way
Chattanooga, TN 37421
Chattanooga, TN 37421
HCSO Records
Incident and accident report questions.
Visitation
Published office hours: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Legal Visitation
Attorney appointments, 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
Inmate Property
Appointment required.
General Sessions Criminal
Room 108, 600 Market Street
Chattanooga, TN 37402
Chattanooga, TN 37402
Criminal Court Clerk
Room 102, 600 Market Street
Chattanooga, TN 37402
Chattanooga, TN 37402
Expungement Center
Room 109, 600 Market Street
Chattanooga, TN 37402
Chattanooga, TN 37402
Hamilton County Public Defender
720 Cherry Street
Chattanooga, TN 37402
Chattanooga, TN 37402
TBI TORIS
Tennessee statewide name-based criminal history.
VINE Courts
Victim court notifications.
Hamilton County Jail & Detention Center map
Hamilton County Courts Building map
Confirm before traveling: Verify current custody, office room number, holiday closure, required ID, record availability and payment method before leaving home.
What you do not need to leave this page to learn
Jail search
Last-name/SPN search, booking-date reports, jail identity fields, current bond and court-date workflow.
Warrants
Search fields, 4:00 p.m. daily update, pre-2008 limitation and current-status warning.
Police reports
One-business-day incident-request workflow, required form fields and Tennessee open-record routing.
Court records
Sessions versus Criminal Court, daily disposition information, docket-update cycle and certification cautions.
Jail family services
Video visit requirements, personal and legal mail addresses, commissary ordering cycle, deposits and property pickup.
Record relief
TBI search charge, identity challenge route, local Expungement Center, free-expungement categories and mugshot-removal process.
Hamilton County TN jail and court questions answered
How do I search Hamilton County TN arrest records?
Use the Sheriff’s inmate search for current custody and Booking Reports for arrests organized by date. Then verify the related General Sessions or Criminal Court case.
How do I find a current Hamilton County Jail inmate?
Search HCSO Inmate Information by last name or SPN number. Verify DOB, SPN, bond, judge, division and court date before relying on a match.
How do I search Hamilton County booking reports?
Open the Sheriff’s Booking Reports page and select a booking date. Use the current inmate search after identifying a possible match.
How do I search Hamilton County open warrants?
Use the Sheriff’s Open Warrants database. Search by first name, last name, warrant number or partial address. The Sheriff states the database refreshes daily at 4:00 p.m.
How do I find the final outcome of a Chattanooga arrest?
Check General Sessions first. If a felony was bound over or indicted, continue to Criminal Court and locate the final disposition for each count.
How do I request an HCSO arrest or incident report?
Use the official Incident Report Request form. Include the report number, incident date, involved party and DOB when known. HCSO says ordinary online incident requests take about one business day.
Where do I pay a Hamilton County cash bond?
HCSO directs cash-bond payment to the Hamilton County Criminal Court Clerk’s Office at the Courts Building, 600 Market Street, Chattanooga. Confirm the current bond before paying.
How much is a Tennessee TBI criminal history?
TBI currently charges $29 for each TORIS Tennessee Open Records criminal-history request. It is a name-based search and the fee is non-refundable.
How do I correct a wrong Tennessee criminal record?
Correct the originating police or court record first. If a name-based TBI result is disputed, Tennessee provides a fingerprint-comparison route to help verify identity.
How do I expunge a Hamilton County arrest?
Start with the court where the case originated and identify the exact disposition. Hamilton County’s Expungement Center is in Room 109 of the Courts Building at 600 Market Street. Tennessee law determines eligibility.
