Find DeKalb County Arrest Records

DeKalb County arrest records are held by Sheriff Patrick Ray's office in Smithville, Tennessee. The county covers 329 square miles in central Tennessee with about 19,847 residents. The Sheriff's Office runs a full-service jail with room for 104 inmates and maintains detailed booking records for every arrest. You can search for DeKalb County arrest records through the jail roster online, the sheriff's website, or by calling the office at 615-597-4935.

DeKalb County Sheriff's Office

Sheriff Patrick Ray leads the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office from 100 Public Square in Smithville. The department is well-staffed for a county of this size. It includes 1 chief deputy, 2 criminal investigators, 2 school resource officers, 10 deputies, 3 reserve deputies, 16 correctional officers, 4 court officers, 3 administration staff, a litter guard, and a jail cook. This team handles all arrest and booking operations in DeKalb County.

The office is the main point of contact for anyone looking for DeKalb County arrest records. You can call 615-597-4935 for general questions or 615-597-4043 for jail-specific matters. There is also a non-emergency dispatch line at 615-215-3000 and an anonymous tip line at 615-464-6400. The Sheriff's Office website at dekalbsheriff.org has additional information about services and the jail.

DeKalb County Jail and Booking Records

The DeKalb County Jail has space for 104 inmates and keeps an average daily population of about 90. The facility has 4 cell blocks in the main jail and 2 cell blocks in an annex. A licensed nurse visits once daily, and a doctor is on call. Sixteen full-time correctional officers work 12-hour shifts to keep the jail running around the clock. Inmates get 3 meals a day, with 2 hot meals and 1 cold meal.

Every person arrested in DeKalb County is booked at this jail. The booking process creates a detailed record with the person's name, date of birth, physical traits, mugshot, charges, arresting officer, and bond amount. These records are public under T.C.A. § 10-7-503. All mail to inmates is searched for contraband, and you can write to an inmate at DeKalb County Jail, 100 S Public Square, Smithville, TN 37166.

The jail roster page on the DeKalb County Court website shows current inmates.

Note: The 2018 violent crime rate in DeKalb County was 50 per 100,000 people, which is low compared to many Tennessee counties.

Search DeKalb County Arrest Data Online

DeKalb County offers several ways to search for arrest records online. The county court website at dekalbcountycourt.org/jail-roster posts the current jail roster. This shows who is in custody at the DeKalb County Jail right now, along with charges and bond information. It is free to use and does not require any sign-up.

The Jail Exchange website also covers DeKalb County and shows inmate data pulled from public sources. For a statewide search, the Tennessee court system at tncourts.gov lets you look up criminal cases from DeKalb County by name or case number. The state also runs the Felony Offender Information Lookup at foil.app.tn.gov where you can find felony records from all Tennessee counties including DeKalb.

For background checks that cover all of Tennessee, the TBI runs the TORIS system at tbibackgrounds.tbi.tn.gov. This is a paid service but gives you a complete criminal history report. VINELink at vinelink.com is free and shows current custody status for DeKalb County inmates.

Request DeKalb County Records

Tennessee's Public Records Act gives everyone the right to request arrest records from DeKalb County. Contact the Sheriff's Office at 615-597-4935 or visit 100 Public Square in Smithville. You do not have to explain why you want the records. The office may charge for copies but there is no cost to search or view records in person.

For formal requests, write to the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office and include the full name and date of birth of the person you are looking for. An approximate arrest date helps too. Most simple arrest record requests are handled within a few days. Under T.C.A. § 40-6-203, the office is required to keep records of every arrest made in DeKalb County.

DeKalb County Criminal Court

DeKalb County is in the 13th Judicial District. After an arrest, cases go to General Sessions Court for a first hearing. Misdemeanors may be resolved there. Felonies move to Circuit Court for indictment and trial. The Circuit Court Clerk in Smithville keeps all criminal case files, which include indictments, motions, plea deals, and final judgments tied to each arrest.

Arrest warrants in DeKalb County are issued by judges when there is probable cause. Under T.C.A. § 40-6-101, officers can also arrest without a warrant when they have probable cause and the circumstances require it. After a warrantless arrest, the person must see a judge within 48 hours. The court records become part of the public file alongside the original arrest record.

Note: The DeKalb County court office in Smithville can help you find case records that tie back to specific arrests.

Legal Aid in DeKalb County

The Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands serves DeKalb County. They offer free legal help to people with low income who are dealing with criminal cases. Visit las.org for details. The Tennessee Bar Association at (800) 899-6993 provides lawyer referrals in the DeKalb County area.

If you are arrested in DeKalb County and cannot afford a lawyer, the court will appoint one for you at your first hearing. The Tennessee courts website at tncourts.gov has self-help resources, forms, and guides about the criminal court process that apply to DeKalb County cases.

Cities in DeKalb County

DeKalb County includes Smithville, Alexandria, Liberty, and Dowelltown. Smithville is the county seat and where all county government offices are located. All arrests in DeKalb County go through the county jail in Smithville for booking and processing.

Nearby Counties

DeKalb County borders several central Tennessee counties. Verify the location of an arrest before searching the wrong county's system.

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