Search Tennessee Arrest Records
Tennessee arrest records are public documents held by sheriff offices and law enforcement agencies in all 95 counties. These records show who was booked, what charges were filed, and when the arrest took place. Most county jails post inmate rosters on their websites with names, mugshots, charges, and bond amounts. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation also keeps a statewide criminal history database that can be searched online through the TORIS system. You can look up arrest records from home, by phone, or in person at any sheriff's office or jail in the state. This page covers the main ways to find and access arrest records across Tennessee.
Tennessee Arrest Records Quick Facts
Tennessee Arrest Records Through TBI
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is the state's main law enforcement agency for criminal records. TBI runs the TORIS system, which stands for Tennessee Open Records Information Services. It lets you search the statewide criminal history database from any computer. A name-based search costs $29 and returns results right away in most cases. You need the person's full name and date of birth to run a search. A Social Security number helps but is not required.
TORIS pulls from arrest records that law enforcement agencies submit to TBI based on fingerprint cards. Not every arrest shows up in TORIS. Only those backed by fingerprint submissions make it into the state database. That means some records, especially older ones from smaller agencies, may not appear. For the most complete picture, you may need to check the county jail roster or contact the local sheriff's office directly. TBI headquarters is at 901 R.S. Gass Blvd., Nashville, TN 37216, and you can reach them at (615) 744-4057.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation website has links to background checks, crime data, and the sex offender registry. The TBI also runs the Tennessee Incident-Based Reporting System, which tracks crime data from all law enforcement agencies in the state. This data gets published in annual reports that break down arrests by county and offense type.
TORIS Online Arrest Records Search
The TORIS online portal is the fastest way to search Tennessee arrest records at the state level. You pay $29 by credit card and get results back almost instantly. The system searches the statewide criminal history database for any arrests tied to the name and date of birth you enter.
Results from a TORIS search may show arrests, charges, convictions, and case outcomes. The system gives you a printable certificate that stays in the system for seven days. Save or print your results during that window because they go away after that. Keep in mind that TORIS is name-based only. If someone used an alias or if their name was entered differently, the search might miss those records.
For more exact results, TBI offers fingerprint-based checks. These must go through an authorized location and take longer to process. Most people start with the online name-based search through TORIS since it is quick and easy to use.
Tennessee Public Records Act and Arrest Records
Arrest records in Tennessee are public under the Tennessee Public Records Act, codified at Tennessee Code Annotated § 10-7-503. This law gives Tennessee citizens the right to inspect open public records held by any government agency. That includes arrest records, booking logs, and jail rosters from county jails and police departments.
To request records, you must be a Tennessee resident. Bring a valid Tennessee driver's license or state ID. The agency has seven business days to respond once they get your request. You can view records for free in person, but copies cost $0.15 per page for black and white and $0.50 for color. If staff time beyond one hour is needed to pull the records, the agency can charge for that time too.
Not all arrest records are open to the public. Under Tennessee Code Annotated § 10-7-504, some records are exempt. Active criminal investigation files, juvenile records, and medical information are off limits. Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and driver's license numbers get removed from any copies you receive. The Office of Open Records Counsel can help if you have questions about what records you can access.
Note: Arrest records show that someone was arrested and charged, not that they were found guilty of a crime.
County Jail Arrest Records in Tennessee
Each of Tennessee's 95 counties has a jail run by the county sheriff. Most of these jails post inmate rosters on their websites. The roster is a list of people currently in the jail. It usually shows the person's name, booking date, charges, bond amount, and sometimes a mugshot. Some counties update their rosters every few hours. Others update once a day.
Several Tennessee counties use the ISOMS portal system for their inmate searches. Anderson County, Loudon County, Marion County, McMinn County, and Perry County all use this system. It shows detailed booking data including the arresting officer, charges, and bond amounts. Other counties use third-party platforms or their own jail websites to post arrest records and booking data.
Larger counties like Davidson County (Nashville) process tens of thousands of arrests each year. Davidson County's Downtown Detention Center is a 762-bed facility that books about 55,480 people annually. Shelby County (Memphis) runs two jail facilities and had a violent crime rate of 1,056 per 100,000 people in 2018. Hamilton County (Chattanooga) posts daily booking reports with names, addresses, ages, and charges. Knox County (Knoxville) provides a 24-hour custody listing as a public service.
For smaller counties, arrest data may not be posted online. In those cases, call the sheriff's office or visit in person. The sheriff handles all arrest records for the county, including those made by local police departments, state troopers, and other agencies operating in the area.
VINELink Arrest Notification System
Tennessee takes part in VINELink, a nationwide system that tracks inmates and sends alerts when their status changes. You can use VINELink to search for people in Tennessee jails and prisons by name or inmate number. The service is free.
VINELink sends alerts by phone, email, or text when an inmate's status changes. That could mean a release, transfer, escape, or other event. Most Tennessee county jails and all state prisons feed data into VINELink. It runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To sign up, visit the VINELink search portal and create an account.
VINELink works well for anyone who needs to know when a person gets out of jail. It covers inmates in county jails, state prisons, and some federal facilities across Tennessee.
Tennessee Arrest Record Expungement
Tennessee law allows some arrest records to be erased from public view. This process is called expungement. Under Tennessee Code Annotated § 40-32-101, certain misdemeanors and Class E felonies can be expunged if the person meets all the requirements. The Clean Slate Act of 2022 expanded who can apply.
To qualify, a person generally must have no more than two convictions (not counting traffic tickets), must have finished their full sentence including probation and fines, and must wait at least five years. Serious crimes like sexual offenses, DUIs, and violent felonies cannot be expunged. The process starts by filing a petition in the court where the conviction happened. It typically takes 6 to 12 weeks, though harder cases may take longer.
Once a record is expunged, the person can legally say it did not happen in most situations. The Tennessee Courts website has forms and step-by-step guides for people who want to file on their own without a lawyer.
Felony Arrest Records in Tennessee
The Tennessee Department of Correction runs the Felony Offender Information Lookup, known as FOIL. This free tool at foil.app.tn.gov lets you search for people who have been in state prison. You can look up inmates by name, TDOC ID number, or State ID number. Results show the person's photo, current location, custody status, charges, sentence, and projected release date.
FOIL only covers felony offenders sentenced to state custody. County jail inmates and people charged with misdemeanors are not in the FOIL system. For those records, contact the county sheriff's office where the arrest took place. TDOC runs 14 state prisons and supervises thousands of people on parole and probation across Tennessee.
Tennessee Sex Offender and Meth Registries
TBI manages two public registries tied to arrest and conviction records. The Tennessee Sex Offender Registry is free to search by name, city, county, or address. It shows photos, addresses, conviction details, and registration status. Tennessee law requires sex offenders to register within 48 hours of moving into the state.
The Tennessee Methamphetamine Registry tracks people convicted of meth-related crimes. It can be searched by name, county, or city. Both registries are open to the public at no cost through the TBI website. These registries come from arrest and conviction records filed with TBI by law enforcement agencies statewide.
How to Request Tennessee Arrest Records
There are several ways to get arrest records in Tennessee. The method you pick depends on what you need and where the arrest happened.
For statewide searches, start with the TORIS system online at tbibackgrounds.tbi.tn.gov. Pay $29 and get results right away. For local records, go to the county sheriff's office where the arrest was made. Most sheriff offices take records requests in person, by mail, or by fax. You need to be a Tennessee resident and provide a valid ID. The office has seven business days to respond.
Many counties post arrest records for free on their jail websites. Check the sheriff's office website for the county you need. Some counties use online portals like ISOMS, InteropWeb, or their own systems. Others list inmates through services like VINELink. If you cannot find what you need online, call the sheriff's office and ask how to submit a records request.
- TORIS online search: $29 per name, instant results
- County jail rosters: free online, updated daily
- In-person requests: free to view, copies cost $0.15 per page
- VINELink: free inmate tracking and alerts
- FOIL: free felony offender search through TDOC
The Tennessee Court System website also has links to court clerks across the state. Court records can show arrest-related case outcomes including charges, plea deals, and sentencing details. The court clerk directory lists contact information for every county.
Note: Some records may be restricted if the case involves juveniles, active investigations, or expunged offenses.
Browse Tennessee Arrest Records by County
Each county in Tennessee has a sheriff's office that manages arrest records and the county jail. Pick a county below to find local booking data, inmate rosters, and records request information.
Arrest Records in Major Tennessee Cities
People arrested in Tennessee cities are usually booked at the county jail. Pick a city below to learn how to search arrest records in that area.