Tennessee Arrest Records Search | Jail Roster & Inmate Lookup

ByArrest Guider
Tennessee · 95 county jails, trial courts, TBI histories and TDOC custody

Find the County Booking First—Then Verify What Happened in Court

Tennessee arrest information is divided among county sheriffs, city police departments, trial-court clerks, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Correction. This guide shows which record to use, how to verify identity, where to request reports and what to do about bond, visits, errors or expungement.
Find the correct county sheriff Search TBI criminal history Search Tennessee felony offenders
TENNESSEE RECORD ROUTER 95 COUNTIES
COUNTY → COURT → TBI
WEST
MIDDLE
EAST
TENNESSEE COURT FILE
OUTCOME FOUND
IDENTITY + DISPOSITION VERIFIED
An arrest is not a conviction. A booking page records a custody event and allegations entered during intake. Prosecutors may decline, replace or dismiss charges, and a defendant remains presumed innocent unless convicted in court.
95 county systemsNo single public search covers every Tennessee county jail.
TBI TORIS$29 nonrefundable, name-based Tennessee history search.
TDOC FOILFree search for current and former Tennessee felony offenders.
Trial court recordsUsually obtained through the originating county’s court clerk.
Victim alertsTN SAVIN provides free county-jail custody notifications.
Record decision board

Which Tennessee record answers your question?

COUNTY JAIL Is the person held now? Booking number, booking date, charges, bond, facility, holds and release status. Start with the sheriff in the county where the person was booked.
ARRESTING AGENCY What did the officer report? Arrest report, offense report, probable-cause narrative, calls for service and releasable evidence. The jail may not be the law-enforcement agency that created the report.
TRIAL COURT What charge was filed? General Sessions, Criminal, Circuit or Municipal Court filings, hearings, pleas and judgments. The final court record—not the mugshot—shows the legal outcome.
TBI TORIS What appears statewide? A paid name-based search of Tennessee criminal-history information supported by fingerprint submissions. TORIS is not the strongest method for resolving a same-name dispute.
TDOC FOIL Is the person in state custody? Felony-offender status, location, photo, sentence, parole and release information. FOIL does not replace a current county jail search.
Most reliable sequence: find the county booking → save every identifier → identify the arresting agency → locate the trial-court case → obtain only the report or certified outcome still needed.

Go directly to the Tennessee task you need

High-volume county routes

Start with these official Tennessee county inmate searches

Davidson County / Nashville Offender information: 615-862-8123 Search active inmates, advanced identity fields and recent bookings through the Nashville Sheriff. Search Davidson County inmates
Shelby County / Memphis Jail information: 901-222-4700 Search the Shelby County Sheriff’s Jail Inmate Lookup using the person’s full name. Search Shelby County inmates
Knox County / Knoxville 24-hour arrests and inmate population The Sheriff homepage provides separate links for arrests during the last 24 hours and the current jail population. Open Knox County inmate tools
Hamilton County / Chattanooga Jail information: 423-209-7125 Search by last name or SPN number and review the separate booking-report system. Search Hamilton County inmates
Montgomery County / Clarksville Sheriff: 931-648-0611 Use the county Sheriff’s public inquiry section for the current booking log and warrant information. Open Montgomery County Sheriff
Sumner County / Gallatin Corrections: 615-452-2616 Search the official Sheriff inmate roster by name. Search Sumner County inmates
Sullivan County / Blountville Official Sheriff roster Use the searchable Sullivan County inmate roster for current detention information. Search Sullivan County inmates
All other Tennessee counties Anderson through Wilson Use the statewide Sheriff directory rather than a guessed or outdated jail URL. Find another county sheriff
Custody notifications TN SAVIN · 24 hours a day Register for participating county-jail release, transfer or escape notifications. Open TN SAVIN
Complete county finder

Find any of Tennessee’s 95 county sheriffs

West Tennessee counties Benton, Carroll, Chester, Crockett, Decatur, Dyer, Fayette, Gibson, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Henry, Lake, Lauderdale, Madison, McNairy, Obion, Shelby, Tipton and Weakley.
Middle Tennessee counties Bedford, Cannon, Cheatham, Clay, Coffee, Davidson, DeKalb, Dickson, Fentress, Franklin, Giles, Grundy, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Jackson, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Macon, Marshall, Maury, Montgomery, Moore, Overton, Perry, Pickett, Putnam, Robertson, Rutherford, Smith, Stewart, Sumner, Trousdale, Van Buren, Warren, Wayne, White, Williamson and Wilson.
East Tennessee counties Anderson, Bledsoe, Blount, Bradley, Campbell, Carter, Claiborne, Cocke, Cumberland, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Hamilton, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson, Johnson, Knox, Loudon, Marion, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Polk, Rhea, Roane, Scott, Sequatchie, Sevier, Sullivan, Unicoi, Union and Washington.
Search the directory by county
A county may operate more than one jail or contract with another facility. Confirm the exact facility before sending mail, scheduling a visit or purchasing a service.
Booking-result decoder

Understand the fields in a Tennessee inmate result

Booking fields, limitations and correct next actions
Field What it identifies What it does not prove Next action
Booking number One county-jail admission. That every allegation became a court charge. Use it for jail and records questions.
JMS, OCA or control number A local jail or offender identifier. The court docket number. Use it only in the system that issued it.
Booking date When the jail processed the person. When the alleged offense occurred. Compare arrest, offense and filing dates.
Arresting agency The agency responsible for taking the person into custody. The jail created the arrest report. Request the narrative from this agency.
Arrested charge The allegation entered during arrest or intake. The charge prosecuted in court. Read the warrant, affidavit or indictment.
Warrant number An arrest or charging process connected to the detention. The warrant remains active. Search the newest court activity.
Bond A current financial release condition. Payment will clear another hold. Confirm every charge with the jail or clerk.
Hold or detainer Another agency may have a custody claim. The person will be released after local bond. Ask which agency controls the hold.
Release date The jail custody event ended. The case was dismissed. Search the court outcome.
Mugshot A photograph associated with booking. Guilt or identity by itself. Match official numbers and birth date.
Identity safeguards

Verify the person before relying on an arrest result

Full first and last names match
Middle name, alias or suffix is consistent
Date of birth or age matches
Booking date fits the known event
Arresting agency matches the incident location
Booking or control number is consistent
Court docket follows the same arrest
Charge and disposition chronology makes sense
Use at least two independent official identifiers. A name-based TBI result, private background report or booking photograph can be associated with the wrong person.
No-result troubleshooting

No Tennessee jail record found?

Booking is still underway Fingerprinting, medical screening, property inventory and data entry can delay a new result.
The person remains at a police facility A recent city arrest may not yet have transferred to the county jail.
The person received a citation A misdemeanor citation may create a court case without an overnight jail admission.
The wrong county was searched Search the county that processed the booking.
The name differs Try an alias, former surname, hyphenated surname, suffix or alternate spelling.
The person was released Search the trial-court docket or request a historical jail record.
The person transferred to TDOC Search FOIL for state-prison or supervision information.
The person entered federal custody Search the Federal Bureau of Prisons or contact the federal agency.
The website is unavailable Call the jail using the Sheriff directory instead of using an unverified private database.
The record is restricted Juvenile, expunged and legally confidential information may not appear.
Missing-booking 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, held, released, transferred or listed under another inmate or booking number?
Tennessee criminal-case timeline

What happens after a Tennessee arrest?

Law-enforcement arrest or citation The agency creates the offense report, arrest report, warrant information and evidence records.
County jail booking Jail personnel verify identity and enter charges, bond, warrants, holds and property.
Initial appearance or arraignment A judge addresses the accusation, release, bail and the right to counsel.
General Sessions proceedings Misdemeanors may remain in General Sessions Court, while felony allegations can receive a preliminary hearing.
Grand jury review A felony can proceed by indictment, be reduced, remain unresolved or result in no true bill.
Criminal or Circuit Court case An indicted felony moves through arraignment, motions, plea discussions or trial.
Release or continued detention The defendant may post bail, receive release conditions or remain held because of another order.
Final disposition Each count can end through dismissal, nolle prosequi, no true bill, acquittal, diversion, plea or conviction.
Correction or expungement Incorrect information may be corrected, and an eligible matter may later qualify for expungement.
Correct record custodian

Send each request to the office that created the record

Jail, police, court, TBI and TDOC records are different
Record needed Correct starting office What to provide Common mistake
Current jail custody County sheriff or jail Name, birth date and booking number. Using TDOC FOIL for a pretrial detainee.
Sheriff arrest report Arresting county sheriff Report number, date, location and names. Asking the court clerk for the police narrative.
City police report Arresting municipal police department Agency case number and incident details. Requesting it from the county jail.
Misdemeanor court case General Sessions or Municipal Court clerk Docket number or defendant identity. Searching only Criminal Court.
Felony court case Criminal or Circuit Court clerk Indictment or trial-court case number. Treating the preliminary charge as final.
Statewide criminal history Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Accurate identifying information. Assuming a name search guarantees identity.
State-prison custody Tennessee Department of Correction TDOC number or full identity. Using FOIL as the official judgment.
Police and Sheriff reports

Request a Tennessee arrest report with fewer delays

Identify the arresting agency Use the booking page, citation, warrant or court filing.
Name the exact record Request the offense report, arrest report, affidavit, calls for service, body-camera video or named supplement.
Provide precise identifiers Include the report number, full name, birth date, incident date, location, booking number and court docket.
Ask for electronic delivery Digital delivery can reduce duplication and mailing charges.
Set a cost limit Ask for an estimate before research, redaction or duplication exceeds a stated amount.
Follow the agency’s Tennessee Public Records Act policy Some agencies require a designated form, proof of Tennessee citizenship or identification.
Request only existing records A records custodian does not have to answer questions, conduct research or create a new report.
Ask for the legal basis for redactions Active investigations, victim information, juvenile records and medical information may be protected.
Copy-ready Tennessee records request
Under the Tennessee Public Records Act, I request an electronic copy of the releasable offense report, arrest report, probable-cause material and identified supplements concerning [full legal name], date of birth [date], for the event on [date] at [location]. Known identifiers are agency report number [number], county booking number [number] and court docket number [number]. Please provide an itemized estimate before processing if charges will exceed $[amount], and identify the legal basis for any withholding or redaction.
A jail-record office normally cannot provide a city police report. For example, Nashville Sheriff jail records are separate from Metro Nashville Police reports.
Court-routing decision

Choose the correct Tennessee criminal court

General Sessions Court Handles many misdemeanors, initial felony proceedings, preliminary hearings, warrants and bail matters.
Criminal Court Handles felony indictments and criminal trials in judicial districts with a separate Criminal Court.
Circuit Court Handles felony criminal matters in counties or districts where Circuit Court has criminal jurisdiction.
Municipal or City Court Handles city ordinance, traffic and limited criminal matters where local law grants jurisdiction.
General Sessions jurisdiction varies by county. A felony may begin under one General Sessions docket and later receive a different Criminal or Circuit Court case number after indictment.
Disposition decoder

Understand common Tennessee criminal-case outcomes

Common case terms and what to verify
Term Practical meaning What to verify next
Dismissed The charge ended without conviction. Whether court costs, retirement or another charge remain.
Nolle prosequi The prosecution decided not to continue the charge. Whether another docket or count continued.
No true bill The grand jury did not return an indictment. Whether the entire arrest is eligible for expungement.
Not guilty The defendant was acquitted. The verdict and every separate count.
Pretrial diversion Prosecution is deferred while the person completes agreed conditions. Successful completion and dismissal.
Judicial diversion The court defers judgment while the eligible defendant completes probationary conditions. Discharge, dismissal and expungement paperwork.
Guilty plea The defendant admitted guilt to the filed or amended offense. The exact conviction and sentence.
Convicted The court entered a judgment of guilt. Offense class, sentence, probation and expungement eligibility.
Retired The case was removed from the active docket under specified conditions. The conditions and later dismissal or reinstatement.
Judgment The court’s formal written disposition. Obtain a certified copy when official proof is needed.
Court records and certification

Order a Tennessee dismissal, judgment or certified disposition

Identify the correct clerk Determine whether the file is in General Sessions, Criminal, Circuit or Municipal Court.
Provide the docket number Include the defendant’s full legal name and date of birth.
Name the exact document Ask for the warrant, affidavit, indictment, dismissal, diversion order, judgment or sentence.
Choose ordinary or certified Ask the receiving employer, licensing agency, immigration lawyer or court what it requires.
Ask for the current fee Copy, certification, research and mailing charges vary by county and court.
Keep several certified copies before expungement Later access can be restricted once agencies complete the expungement order.
Copy-ready court-record request
I request [ordinary/certified] copies of the [dismissal, no true bill, diversion discharge, judgment, sentence or complete docket] in State of Tennessee v. [full legal name], docket number [number]. Please confirm the page count, certification charge, payment method and delivery options before processing.
Warrant verification

Check a Tennessee warrant without relying on an old entry

Tennessee does not provide one guaranteed, complete public statewide search for every arrest warrant. County sheriffs and issuing courts remain the controlling sources.
Identify the likely county and court Use a citation, prior case, booking page or notice.
Check the sheriff website Look for Warrant Search, Most Wanted or Warrants Division.
Search the court docket Look for warrant issued, capias, failure to appear, served, recalled or cancelled.
Read the newest entry An older warrant line can remain visible after a later resolution.
Call the issuing clerk or warrants division Provide the case, warrant number and full identity.
Ask a defense lawyer about surrender Counsel can explain bail, a motion to recall or the risk of immediate detention.
Never confront, follow or attempt to detain someone based on an online warrant result.
Scam warning: courts and sheriffs do not require gift cards, cryptocurrency or payment to a private individual to cancel a warrant.
Bail and release

Confirm every Tennessee charge and hold before paying

Release on recognizance The defendant is released under a promise to appear and court-imposed conditions.
Cash bond The required amount is deposited through the court or jail’s approved procedure.
Professional bond A licensed Tennessee bonding company posts the financial undertaking.
Hold or no release Another warrant, probation matter, detainer or judicial order can prevent release.
Confirm the correct inmate Match the name, birth date and booking number.
List every charge and hold One payment may not clear another warrant or jurisdiction.
Check the newest court order Bond can change after an initial appearance or later hearing.
Call before paying Confirm the total amount, bond type, case number, posting location and payment method.
Use an approved bonding company Verify any license or county registration required for the bondsman.
Ask about release conditions Reporting, monitoring, no-contact orders and testing can apply after payment.
Keep the receipt and court date Failure to appear can result in forfeiture and another warrant.
Allow processing time Release can be delayed by identity checks, paperwork, property return and outstanding holds.
Bond-verification script
I am calling about [full legal name], booking number [number]. Please confirm every active charge, the current bond type and amount, all holds, the approved payment location and any supervision or monitoring condition required before release.
County jail visitation

Schedule a visit using the inmate’s actual county rules

Tennessee county jails use different visitation providers, schedules, approval standards and fees. Do not create a vendor account until the inmate’s current county and facility are confirmed.
Confirm current custody and facility Recheck the official roster or call the jail.
Record the exact inmate identifier Use the booking, control, JMS, SPN or OCA number required by that county.
Open the county’s visitation page Possible providers include Securus, ViaPath, HomeWAV, ICSolutions and county-operated systems.
Create one accurate visitor profile Use the legal name, birth date and current government identification.
Wait for approval Some facilities perform identity, warrant or criminal-history checks.
Choose onsite or remote video Onsite service may be free while remote sessions can carry vendor charges.
Schedule before the deadline Many counties require advance booking.
Recheck before traveling Court movement, quarantine, discipline and transfer can cancel a session.

Rules that commonly apply

Government identification must match the account
Registered visitor must remain present
Appropriate clothing is required
Minors need an approved adult
No weapons, drugs or alcohol may be displayed
No recording or photographing
No unauthorized visitor may participate
Personal visits can be monitored and recorded
County jail mail

Verify the address every time before mailing

Some Tennessee jails deliver physical mail, while others use an offsite scanning center. Never copy an address from an old directory without checking the current Sheriff page.
Confirm the inmate remains in custody Mail for a released or transferred person may be returned.
Confirm the personal-mail address Ask whether correspondence goes to the jail or an offsite processor.
Use the exact booking name and identifier Add the facility or housing information when required.
Add the sender’s complete return address Mail without a return address can be rejected.
Keep irreplaceable originals Scanned mail may be destroyed after electronic delivery.
Use the separate legal-mail process Attorney and court correspondence generally requires direct facility delivery and professional identification.

Items commonly prohibited

Cash, personal checks or gift cards
Food, medication or hygiene products
Glitter, glue, lipstick or perfume
Polaroid or sexually explicit images
Electronic devices or storage media
Original IDs or irreplaceable certificates
Books from an unapproved sender
Contraband or coded escape information
County jail calls and messages

Set up communication without discussing case strategy

Telephone calls
  • Inmates generally initiate outgoing calls.
  • Use the provider linked by the county.
  • Review the current rate before funding.
  • Three-way calls may be prohibited.
Electronic messages
  • Some jails provide paid tablet messages.
  • Messages and images are screened.
  • Access can be restricted for discipline.
  • Save all payment confirmations.
Legal confidentiality
  • Personal calls may be recorded.
  • Do not discuss witnesses or admissions.
  • Do not discuss evidence or plea offers.
  • Attorneys should use approved privileged channels.
Treat every ordinary jail call, message and personal visit as non-confidential.
County jail deposits

Deposit money into the correct inmate account

Confirm the inmate remains at that jail Do not deposit after release or transfer.
Copy the exact inmate identifier Use the official roster or information provided by jail staff.
Use only the provider linked by the county Tennessee counties use several different deposit companies.
Compare transaction fees Online, telephone, retail and kiosk charges can differ.
Verify the displayed inmate before payment Stop when the name, number or facility is incorrect.
Save the receipt Record the amount, provider, inmate number and confirmation.
Deposited funds may be applied to jail debt, medical charges, restitution or other legally authorized deductions before commissary purchases.
Never send commissary or release money to an individual who contacts you through social media, text or an unverified payment account.
Medical, mental-health and PREA concerns

Report an urgent county-jail safety concern

Use 911 for an immediate emergency outside custody Do not wait for a web response when someone is in immediate danger.
Call the county jail for an urgent inmate concern Use the number listed in the Sheriff directory.
Provide the full name and inmate number Include the facility and housing location when known.
Describe the risk precisely State symptoms, diagnoses, medication, allergies and the reason the situation is urgent.
Do not mail medication Jail healthcare personnel must verify and administer prescriptions.
Report sexual abuse or retaliation immediately Ask for the facility’s PREA reporting channel or investigations unit.
Medical-concern script
I am reporting an urgent healthcare concern for [full legal name], inmate or booking number [number]. The specific concern is [symptoms or diagnosis]. The person normally takes [medication and dosage], has allergies to [allergies] and last received treatment on [date]. Please route this information to the appropriate medical or mental-health team.
Public defender and appointed counsel

Request counsel and find the attorney assigned to the case

Tennessee defendants who are financially unable to hire a lawyer are entitled to appointed counsel in criminal proceedings where incarceration is possible, subject to the court’s indigency determination.
Request counsel at the first court appearance Do not waive the right to counsel without understanding the consequences.
Complete the Uniform Affidavit of Indigency Provide complete employment, income, assets, debts and assistance information.
Wait for the court’s determination The judge decides indigency and enters the appointment order.
Check the docket for the attorney The district public defender, Appointed Counsel Commission or a private appointed attorney may appear.
Call the clerk when no attorney is shown Provide the defendant name, docket number and next court date.
Do not discuss the case on ordinary jail calls Wait for approved confidential attorney communication.
Review Tennessee appointed-counsel rules Find a Tennessee private lawyer
An indigent defendant does not have the right to choose a particular appointed lawyer. A conflict may require assignment of different counsel.
Victim notification and assistance

Receive county-jail custody alerts and financial-help referrals

Keep the police and court identifiers Save the incident, booking and docket numbers.
Register with TN SAVIN The service provides free, confidential notifications concerning participating county-jail custody changes. Open Tennessee SAVIN
Use the statewide telephone service Call 888-868-4631.
Contact the District Attorney’s victim-witness coordinator Use the judicial district prosecuting the case.
Ask for hearing and release information Update the coordinator whenever contact details change.
Apply for criminal-injuries compensation when eligible Tennessee’s fund can help qualifying victims of violent crime with medical expenses, lost wages and other covered losses.
Open Tennessee victim compensation Open VINELink
Tennessee felony offender search

Use TDOC FOIL after state custody, probation or parole

Use FOIL for

  • Current or former Tennessee felony offenders.
  • Incarcerated, probation, parole or inactive status.
  • TDOC location and offender photograph.
  • Active offenses and sentence information.
  • Parole-hearing and release information when displayed.

Do not use FOIL alone for

  • A recent county-jail booking.
  • A misdemeanor-only arrest.
  • The complete trial-court docket.
  • The police incident report.
  • A certified Tennessee background check.
Search the TDOC number when known A unique offender number is safer than a common name.
Otherwise search the full legal name Compare status, photograph, birth information and county.
Record the current status and location Determine whether the person is incarcerated, on probation, on parole or inactive.
Read the sentence details carefully Projected dates can change through credits, parole decisions or new cases.
Return to the court for official proof FOIL information must be confirmed with the originating jurisdiction. Search Tennessee FOIL
FOIL is free. TBI TORIS is the paid statewide criminal-history search.
TDOC visitation

Apply for Tennessee state-prison visitation

Find the assigned TDOC facility Use FOIL and confirm the location before applying.
Open the facility page Each state prison publishes its address, telephone number and visit information. Open the Tennessee prison directory
Submit the required visitor application Use accurate identity, relationship and criminal-history information.
Wait for approval Do not travel until the inmate or facility confirms approval.
Check the live cancellation notice TDOC can cancel visits for a unit, facility or weekend because of operational needs.
Bring acceptable identification Follow the specific facility’s clothing, property and arrival rules.
Approval at one facility does not guarantee that a visit will occur after the inmate transfers. Recheck the assigned prison and schedule.
TDOC inmate mail

Use the facility’s current state-prison mailing route

Tennessee state-prison mail procedures are changing, and some facilities use centralized digital-mail processing. Use the individual prison page and current TDOC policy before addressing an envelope.
Find the prison through FOIL Confirm the inmate’s full name and TDOC number.
Open the individual facility page Do not assume every TDOC or privately managed prison uses the same address.
Distinguish personal and legal mail Privileged legal mail follows separate verification and opening procedures.
Add the TDOC number Use the complete name, number and facility information required.
Keep irreplaceable originals Digitized personal mail may not preserve or return the physical item.
Check publication and package rules separately Books and packages generally require an approved vendor or program.
Review TDOC mail and visitation policies
TDOC telephone and trust accounts

Set up Tennessee state-prison calls and deposits

Approved telephone list TDOC inmates may have up to ten approved telephone numbers. The inmate initiates additions or removals through the facility.
ConnectNetwork rate TDOC publishes a 7.5-cent-per-minute telephone rate effective July 1, 2024, subject to future change.
No incoming calls Inmates cannot receive ordinary incoming calls. A facility chaplain may assist during a verified family emergency.
Confirm the facility CoreCivic facilities may use a different communication provider.
Create the approved provider account State-operated facilities primarily use ConnectNetwork. Open ConnectNetwork
Choose AdvancePay or PIN Debit AdvancePay funds calls to one receiving number; PIN Debit funds the inmate’s approved calling account.
Review transaction fees Provider fees are displayed during the transaction.
Use the TDOC trust-account instructions for inmate funds Confirm the prison and TDOC number before payment. Open TDOC trust-fund instructions
State-prison personal calls are monitored and recorded. Attorneys should contact the institution about privileged communication.
TBI statewide criminal history

Run a Tennessee TORIS background check correctly

TORIS is a paid name-based Tennessee search. It is not a nationwide FBI check, a fingerprint match, a county jail roster or a guaranteed identity verification.
Current charge$29 for each request.
Refund policyThe search charge is nonrefundable.
Search methodName-based Tennessee criminal history.
Alias limitAliases are not included in the TORIS name search.
Support615-744-4057.
Use the free county search first for current custody Do not pay $29 merely to determine whether someone is in a local jail.
Open Tennessee TORIS Use a desktop or laptop when possible because TBI warns that result PDFs may not display on every device. Open Tennessee TORIS
Enter the requester information The first form identifies the person purchasing the search, not the subject.
Enter complete subject information Use the full legal name, date of birth, sex, race and Social Security number when lawfully available.
Understand the identity limitation Similar names and the absence of aliases can produce a possible match rather than certainty.
Review the PDF result The report states whether the searched subject has or may have a Tennessee criminal-history record.
Compare every arrest with the court disposition Look for missing dismissals, diversion completion, no true bills or expungement.
Tennessee Open Records Information Services Telephone: 615-744-4057 TBI Headquarters: 901 R.S. Gass Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37216
TBI criminal-history information is based on misdemeanor and felony arrests supported by fingerprint submissions from arresting agencies. Juvenile information is generally excluded unless the juvenile was transferred to adult criminal court.
Record correction

Correct an inaccurate Tennessee arrest or disposition

Identify the incorrect source Compare the jail roster, arrest report, court docket, TORIS report and FOIL record.
Save the inaccurate entry Record the date, URL, booking number, agency report number and court docket.
Obtain controlling proof Use a certified dismissal, no true bill, judgment, diversion discharge or agency correction.
Correct the originating office first The jail corrects booking data, law enforcement corrects reports and the court corrects the docket.
Ask the clerk to submit a missing disposition Tennessee FlexCheck allows clerks and authorized agencies to submit dispositions and expungements electronically to TBI.
Contact TBI when the state record remains wrong Provide the certified court document and exact disputed entry.
Contact private background companies separately Commercial databases may not update automatically after the government record changes.
Copy-ready correction request
I request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information associated with [full legal name], date of birth [date]. The disputed entry is [exact field], displayed under county booking number [number], agency report number [number] or court docket [number]. The correct information is [correction]. Attached is [certified dismissal, no true bill, judgment, diversion discharge, expungement order or agency correction].
Correction is not expungement. Correct a record when the information is factually wrong. Request expungement when an accurate record qualifies for legal deletion.
Tennessee record relief

Expunge an eligible arrest, diversion or conviction

Tennessee expungement law changed again in 2026, and the Administrative Office of the Courts states that updated guidance is being prepared. Verify current law and local procedures before filing.
No-fee non-conviction cases Qualifying dismissals, no true bills, arrests without charges, not-guilty verdicts and nolle prosequi outcomes may be expunged without a fee.
Diversion cases Successful pretrial or judicial diversion may qualify after discharge, dismissal and completion of the required process.
Eligible convictions Some misdemeanors and Class E felonies may qualify. Current AOC guidance lists a $180 expungement fee plus court costs for qualifying conviction cases.

Cases Tennessee Courts identifies as potentially free

Charge dismissed
Grand jury returned no true bill
Arrested and released without being charged
Trial resulted in not guilty
Case resulted in nolle prosequi
Qualifying order-of-protection petition was denied after hearing

Expungement workflow

Search every related case Include General Sessions and any later Criminal or Circuit Court docket.
Identify the exact outcome of every charge One arrest can contain both eligible and ineligible counts.
Obtain certified records before deletion Keep the dismissal, no true bill, diversion discharge, judgment and expungement order.
Check current eligibility Review the exact offense, sentence, prior history, diversion status, pardon and waiting requirements.
File with the court where the case originated This may be General Sessions, Criminal, Circuit or another trial court.
Ask whether each charge needs a separate form Local clerk procedures can differ.
Confirm all costs before payment Non-conviction cases can be free, while diversion or conviction expungements may involve state and local charges.
Obtain a signed court order The record is not expunged merely because the case was dismissed.
Keep a certified copy permanently Tennessee Courts specifically recommends retaining proof that the order was entered.
Confirm transmission to every agency The court sends orders to the arresting agency, jail, TDOC and TBI as applicable.
Recheck TORIS and FOIL Contact TBI or TDOC when the qualifying charge remains visible after processing.
Dispute private reports separately A commercial background company may keep an old copy until the consumer submits the order.
Open Tennessee expungement guidance Read TBI expungement FAQs Find the originating court clerk
2026 pardon change: Public Chapter 719 permits courts to consider expungement of certain pardoned offenses under the amended law. A pardon alone does not guarantee expungement.
Immigration, licensing, firearm and federal consequences can remain complex after state expungement. Obtain legal advice and certified records before filing when these issues apply.
Statewide contacts and maps

Tennessee arrest, court, TBI and corrections contact board

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation
901 R.S. Gass Boulevard Nashville, TN 37216
615-744-4000
TORIS Background Checks615-744-4057
Tennessee Department of Correction
320 Sixth Avenue North Nashville, TN 37243
615-741-1000
Administrative Office of the Courts
511 Union Street, Suite 600 Nashville, TN 37219
615-741-2687 800-448-7970
TN SAVIN888-868-4631
TBI Sex Offender Registry888-837-4170

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation map

Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts map

Tennessee Department of Correction map

Before traveling: confirm the county, facility, court, office hours, identification, appointment requirement and accepted payment.
High-value information included

What this statewide Tennessee guide solves inside the page

County jail routing All 95 counties, official Sheriff directory, major-county searches and no-result troubleshooting.
Booking interpretation Booking numbers, arrested charges, bonds, holds, warrants, release dates and identity safeguards.
Court verification General Sessions, Criminal, Circuit and Municipal Court routing plus disposition decoding.
Immediate next actions Report requests, warrant confirmation, bond checks, counsel and victim notification.
Custody services County visits, mail, calls, money, medical concerns and TDOC prison services.
Record accuracy and relief TORIS, FOIL, disposition corrections, diversion and current Tennessee expungement steps.
Title-related questions

Tennessee arrest-record questions answered

How do I search Tennessee arrest records? Search the sheriff or jail in the county where the person was booked, then verify the related trial-court case.
Does Tennessee have one statewide jail roster? No. Each of Tennessee’s 95 counties controls its own jail information. Use the Tennessee Sheriffs’ Association directory.
How much does a TBI background check cost? TORIS costs $29 for each nonrefundable name-based request.
Does TORIS include aliases? No. TBI states that aliases are not included in the TORIS name search.
How do I search Tennessee trial-court records? Find the General Sessions, Criminal or Circuit Court clerk in the county where the case originated.
How do I check a Tennessee warrant? Search the relevant sheriff and court docket, then confirm the current status with the issuing office.
How do I find a Tennessee state-prison inmate? Use the free TDOC Felony Offender Information Lookup, commonly called FOIL.
How do I correct a missing court disposition? Obtain a certified disposition from the trial-court clerk, correct the originating record and provide the document to TBI.
Can a dismissed Tennessee case be expunged for free? Qualifying dismissals, no true bills, arrests without charges, not-guilty verdicts and nolle prosequi outcomes may qualify for no-fee expungement.
Can a Tennessee conviction be expunged? Some misdemeanors and Class E felonies may qualify. Eligibility depends on the offense, history, completion and current law.
Accuracy, identity and legal-use notice Arrest Records is an independent informational guide. It is not a Tennessee sheriff, jail, police department, court, district attorney, public defender, TBI or TDOC. Booking, bond, warrant, custody, release and court information can change. Verify multiple official identifiers and obtain the current official document before making a legal, employment, housing, financial, safety or publication decision. Every arrested person is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. This page provides general procedural information and is not legal advice.

Tennessee county, court, TBI, TDOC and expungement procedures reviewed July 18, 2026.

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