Free links to official Tennessee state and county government records — courts, criminal histories, vital records, property, voter, business, and licenses across all 95 counties.
How to Search Tennessee Criminal Records (Start Here)
Tennessee criminal records come from two main sources: the state criminal history repository (maintained by the state police or equivalent agency) and individual county court systems. These are separate databases that may show different information.
What this page covers: Tennessee state-level criminal history searches, county court criminal case lookups, and sex offender registry searches. What it does not cover: Federal criminal cases (those require PACER) or arrest records that did not result in charges.
Where to start: For a broad criminal history check, start with the state repository. For specific case details (charges, dispositions, documents), go to the Circuit Court Clerk / Criminal Court Clerk in the county where the case was filed. For sex offenders, use the state sex offender registry.
Common mistake: A state criminal history search and a county court search are not the same thing. The state repository compiles conviction data from across the state. County courts have the actual case files with full detail. You may need both.
Edited by Sam Rokni — Editor & Owner, SearchSystems.net. Public records professional since 1999. NAPBS founding member. Full bio & credentials.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: Tennessee repository URL, fee, and statute verified against the official Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) - CJIS publisher on review date. 6 primary .gov sources cited below.
Tennessee Criminal Records — Key Numbers (2026)
TBI Toris portal — Tennessee adult criminal history available to general public for any individual. Open records state.
$29 TN-only
Public access fee
Per state-only check
Online TORIS name-based
Primary method
How to submit
Tennessee Bureau of Inve
Issuing agency
Statewide repository
T.C.A. §38-6
Governing statute
State law citation
June 04, 2026
Last reviewed
By SearchSystems
What a state criminal-history check actually covers
State-only check (State Identification Bureau): Returns arrests, dispositions and convictions reported to that one state's repository. It does not include arrests from other states or most federal cases. See the FBI's directory of state agencies: State Identification Bureau Listing.
What state repositories miss: The FBI's national survey of state criminal-history information systems documents known reporting gaps (missing dispositions, delayed updates, sealed/expunged handling). See BJS: Survey of State Criminal History Information Systems.
What Changed in 2026 — Tennessee Criminal Records
2026
Tennessee state-only check active
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) - CJIS continues to process state criminal history checks via tbibackgrounds.tbi.tn.gov.
FACTThe Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) - CJIS check covers ONLY Tennessee arrests/convictions. Out-of-state and federal records are NOT included.
MYTH"Free third-party 'instant' checks are accurate."
FACTOnly tbibackgrounds.tbi.tn.gov (the official Tennessee repository) is authoritative. Data brokers often have stale data.
MYTH"Sealed records will show on a check."
FACTRecords sealed or expunged under Tennessee law are removed from public-facing checks. Law enforcement may still access them.
MYTH"Arrest = conviction on my record."
FACTAn arrest is not a conviction. Most Tennessee public checks distinguish arrests, dispositions, and convictions; the FCRA bars non-conviction arrests older than 7 years from employer checks.
MYTH"State and FBI checks return the same data."
FACTThe Tennessee state check shows Tennessee-only records. The FBI check is fingerprint-based and shows records reported by all agencies nationwide.
While searching for information on a particular health care professional, consumers should be aware that there are several locations available to aid them with their research. (Licensure Verification, Abuse Registry, and Monthly Disciplinary Actions Links to various Internet sites are available ...
From hate crime, to crime in schools, to domestic violence, specialized reports produced by TBI help the public and key decision-makers understand the issues in their communities to better improve public safety for all of Tennessee's residents. ... for information, instructions, and more detail on how to obtain criminal history checks. ... for information, details, and FAQs on the state's system to provide background checks at the point of sale or transfer of firearms. ... for procedures and contact information for court-permitted adjustments to criminal…
The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee provides personalized charitable solutions to help you make a difference and enrich the community in ways that matter to you. for more informtation: http://www.cfmt.org/ If you would like to learn more on doing background checks - see more at: ... The Dickson Police Department is a Secret Safe Place for Newborns Facility in compliance with the Tennessee Safe Haven Law.
The information available in this application pertains to Tennessee felony offenders who are or who have been in the custody of the Tennessee Department of Correction. The information is submitted by various jurisdictions within Tennessee. Confirmation and/or elaboration should be obtained from the originating jurisdiction. Information such as an individual's current status (e.g., inmate, probation, parole) or parole eligibility is available to citizens free of charge.
TDOC offers an online database to access information pertaining to felony offenders currently or formerly in the custody or under the supervision of the Tennessee Department of Correction .
He was being housed at the Morgan County Correctional Complex in Wartburg at the time of his escape. A Bluff City, Tennessee woman has been charged with permitting and facilitating an escape, criminal conspiracy and criminal responsiblity for the conduct of another.
The U.S. Probation Office is restricted from disclosing information to the public. However, most convictions are generally available in public records. These records are maintained by the U.S.
This project was supported by Grant ... of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of Justice. ... The Tennessee Sex Offender ...
Federal court cases touching Tennessee — bankruptcy, federal civil, and federal criminal — sit in PACER rather than the county system. It is independently run, so verify anything critical against the official criminal record office.
It is important to note the Tennessee General Assembly has made it a criminal offense for information to be made public once it has been expunged pursuant to T.C.A. 40-32-101. Therefore, it is strongly suggested that you update any search before using the information for official purposes. In no event shall the Criminal Court Clerk of Davidson County...
The Giles County sheriff’s Department is currently takinig registrations for our Self Defense for Women program · If you would like to sign up please fill out the following form and submit it to the Sheriff's Office. The only fee requested is a donation of your choice to the Thornton family ...
Court case information for Tennessee — dockets, hearing dates, and case lookups. It is independently run, so verify anything critical against the official criminal record office.
Warrant lookups covering Montgomery County run through here. It is independently run, so verify anything critical against the official criminal record office.
Do not attempt to arrest or detain any of the subjects of the warrants listed in this database. No attempt should be made to apprehend these individuals except by law enforcement or peace officers. Some individuals may be armed and should be considered dangerous.
The sheriff's side of Shelby County record-keeping — bookings, incident reports, and records requests start here. Confirm details with the official criminal record office before relying on them.
95 Tennessee counties are indexed on SearchSystems.net — top 28 counties shown below. Browse the full directory or click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.
Which Tennessee counties publish jail rosters and sheriff records online
7 of Tennessee's 98 counties run their own online source for jail rosters and sheriff records, based on what this directory indexes. Every other county is covered by the statewide systems listed above — click a county for its full records page.
How do I run an official Tennessee background check?▼
Tennessee's official statewide criminal-history check is administered by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) - CJIS. Begin the request at tbibackgrounds.tbi.tn.gov. Most state-level checks require submitting fingerprints (live-scan or ink) plus a processing fee, and the response covers convictions and certain non-conviction data permitted by Tennessee statute.
Are Tennessee criminal records public?▼
Most adult criminal-history information in Tennessee is considered public record, but access is restricted depending on the requester (self, employer, government agency) and the data type (arrest, conviction, sealed, juvenile). The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) - CJIS explains who can request what at tbibackgrounds.tbi.tn.gov. County-court records are also public and searchable through the trial-court system.
What's the difference between a state and an FBI background check in Tennessee?▼
A state check from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) - CJIS (tbibackgrounds.tbi.tn.gov) covers only criminal activity within Tennessee. An FBI Identity History Summary (fbi.gov) is the nationwide check covering federal records and contributing states. Employers and licensing boards often require both.
Can I get someone else's Tennessee criminal record?▼
Generally, no — only the record subject (with their own ID and signature) or a specifically authorized requester (such as a credentialed employer under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, a licensing board, or law enforcement) can pull a third-party criminal history from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) - CJIS. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) - CJIS documentation at tbibackgrounds.tbi.tn.gov lists each authorized requester category.
How do I challenge or correct a Tennessee criminal record?▼
If you find an error on your Tennessee criminal history, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) - CJIS offers a record-review and challenge process. Begin at tbibackgrounds.tbi.tn.gov — typical steps include fingerprint verification, a written dispute, and supporting court documents (such as a dismissal or expungement order) for each contested entry.
