Clay County Arrest Records
Clay County arrest records are managed by the Sheriff's Office in Celina. This is one of the smallest counties in Tennessee, with a population of just 7,654 and a very low crime rate of 13. Sheriff Brandon Boone runs the department, which has four divisions covering patrol, corrections, investigations, and administration. The jail on West Lake Avenue can hold up to 35 inmates at a time. Despite its small size, Clay County offers more online access to arrest data than many other rural Tennessee counties, with both an official inmate catalog and a sheriff's roster available on the web.
Clay County Quick Facts
Clay County Sheriff's Office Arrest Data
The Clay County Sheriff's Office is the sole law enforcement agency for the county. Sheriff Brandon Boone leads the department from 518 Boyd Street in Celina. The phone number is 931-243-3266. The jail is at a separate location, 400 W Lake Ave in Celina, and holds a maximum of 35 inmates at any given time.
The office has four divisions. Administration covers the business side of running the agency. Patrol handles calls and road coverage across the county. The corrections division runs the jail. Criminal investigations takes on felony cases and more serious matters. With a crime rate of just 13, Clay County sees very few arrests compared to the rest of the state. Most bookings involve minor charges.
Clay County is a rural area in the Upper Cumberland region of Tennessee. It sits on the Kentucky border near Dale Hollow Lake. The small population means that the jail rarely reaches capacity. Even so, all arrest data is treated the same as in larger counties when it comes to public access rights under state law.
The Sheriff's Office runs its own inmate roster online. This is unusual for a county this size.
That roster is at claycountysheriff.org. It lists current inmates by name along with their charges and booking dates. The page is simple but it works. Check it first if you need to know who is in the Clay County jail.
| Agency |
Clay County Sheriff's Office 518 Boyd Street Celina, TN 38551 Phone: (931) 243-3266 |
|---|---|
| Jail |
400 W Lake Ave Celina, TN 38551 |
| Sheriff | Brandon Boone |
Search Clay County Arrest Records Online
Clay County has an official inmate catalog through the Police-to-Citizen platform. This is a step above what most small Tennessee counties provide. The catalog lets you search current inmates and view their booking information in a clean, easy-to-read format.
The inmate catalog is at claysheriff.policetocitizen.com. It shows the current roster with names and charges. The site is free and does not need a login. This is probably the best tool for checking Clay County arrest records online because it comes straight from the Sheriff's Office system.
The Tennessee jail roster site also covers Clay County. It pulls from public sources and gives you another way to look up who is in the jail.
Find that at tennesseejailroster.com. Between the official catalog, the sheriff's roster, and the third-party jail roster, Clay County has three different online tools for arrest record searches. That is solid coverage for such a small county.
If you still cannot find what you need, call the Sheriff's Office at 931-243-3266. The staff can confirm if someone is in custody or point you in the right direction for older records.
Clay County Public Records Requests
Tennessee residents can request arrest records from Clay County under the Public Records Act. TCA Section 10-7-503 gives you the right to access most government documents, including booking logs and arrest reports. You will need to show proof that you live in Tennessee. A valid driver's license is the easiest way to do that.
The Clay County Clerk's Office handles records requests. The clerk is Donna Watson, and the office is at 430 Stone Rd in Celina. Call 931-243-2249 if you have questions before submitting. When you make your request, include as many details as possible. Names, dates, and any case numbers you have will help the staff pull the right records.
Fees follow the state schedule. Black and white pages cost $0.15 each. Color pages cost $0.50 each. If the work takes more than one hour of staff time, the county may bill you for the employee's hourly wage beyond that first hour. TCA Section 10-7-504 exempts certain records from disclosure. Juvenile records, sealed cases, and active investigation files are not available to the public. Standard booking and arrest records are typically open, though.
The county has seven business days to respond. Most requests for simple records are handled faster than that.
State Resources for Clay County Arrests
The TORIS system from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation searches criminal history records across the entire state. A name-based background check costs $29 and includes arrests from Clay County. Results come back quickly. You can run a TORIS search at the TORIS portal. This tool is based on fingerprint data, so it tends to be accurate.
FOIL at foil.app.tn.gov is the state's free felony offender lookup. It covers people in state prison, on parole, or on probation. It will not show county jail inmates or misdemeanor offenders. For Clay County jail records, stick with the sheriff's roster or the inmate catalog.
VINELink at vinelink.com lets you track offenders in Clay County and throughout Tennessee. Sign up for alerts when an inmate is released or transferred. This is free and runs 24 hours a day. It was built for crime victims but is open to anyone.
The Tennessee courts website at tncourts.gov covers court records tied to Clay County arrests. You can search for cases, find court dates, and download forms there. If an arrest led to charges in court, this site is where you go to follow the case.
Clearing Arrest Records in Clay County
Some arrest records in Clay County can be expunged under TCA Section 40-32-101. The law covers certain non-violent misdemeanors and Class E felonies. The 2022 Clean Slate Act made more records eligible than before. To qualify, you must have finished your full sentence, paid all fines, and completed any probation or waiting period.
File your petition in the Clay County court that handled the original case. If you plan to go without a lawyer, the tncourts.gov site has the forms you need. Expect the process to take 6 to 12 weeks. After a judge grants the expungement, the record is sealed in Clay County and in statewide systems like TORIS.
Not every record is eligible. DUI convictions, violent felonies, and sex offenses generally cannot be expunged in Tennessee. If you are not sure about your case, consult with a local attorney.
Cities in Clay County
Clay County includes Celina, which serves as the county seat and the only incorporated town. All arrests in the county are processed at the Clay County jail. All booking data is available through the county-level resources listed on this page.
Nearby Counties
Clay County is bordered by several Tennessee counties and also touches Kentucky to the north. If you are not sure where an arrest took place, check the neighboring counties as well.