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Tennessee Criminal Records — at a Glance
Tennessee criminal records are maintained by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI). TBI provides criminal background checks through its Criminal Justice Information Services division. Court records are accessible through the Tennessee courts online system. TBI maintains the Tennessee Sex Offender Registry with searchable offender information.
State BCI / Record Request
Tennessee's fingerprint-based criminal history request process.
Live Scan / Fingerprints
Where and how to submit fingerprints for state and FBI checks.
Court Conviction Lookup
Conviction records through state and county court case indexes.
Sex Offender Registry
National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW) — federal aggregator.
Expungement / Sealing
How eligible records are removed or restricted from public view.
FBI III / Rap Sheet
Requesting your own federal identity history summary (rap sheet).
1Tennessee Statewide Criminal Search Resources
- TBI — Background Checkswww.tn.govTBI allows the public to obtain Tennessee adult criminal history online or by mail.
- Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Homewww.tn.govTBI portal. Missing persons, most wanted, sex offender registry, background checks.
- Tennessee Felony Offender Information (FOIL)apps.tn.govOfficial statewide felony offender information lookup.
- Tennessee Sex Offender Registry — Searchsor.tbi.tn.govSearch by name, alias, address, city, county, zip code, offender ID, or offense.
- Tennessee VINELink — Victim Notificationvinelink.vineapps.comSearch offenders in Tennessee custody and register for victim notification.
2Tennessee County Sheriff Reports & Criminal Records
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation allows the general public to obtain a Tennessee adult criminal history on any individual. The process can be completed online or by mail. This makes Tennessee one of the more accessible states for public criminal-record searches.
- Anderson County Sheriffs Departmenttnacso.netAccess the Anderson county inmate database online.
- Bedford County Sheriffs Departmentwww.bedfordcountytn.govFind Bedford county most wanted list.
- Benton County Sheriffs Officewww.bentoncountytn.govFind information regarding Benton county sheriff services.
- Bledsoe County Sheriffs Departmentwww.ctas.tennessee.eduContact the sheriff for law enforcement services in Bledsoe county.
- Blount County Sherifffs Officewww.bcso.comView list of current Blount county inmates, most wanted list.
- Bradley County Sheriffs Officewww.bradleysheriff.comRequest Bradley county offense and accident reports from the records division.
- Campbell County Sheriffs Departmentcampbellcountytn.govFind information regarding the Campbell county detective unit.
- Cannon County Sheriffs Departmentcannoncountytn.govObtain information for Cannon crime investigation and the county jail.
- Carter County Sheriffs Departmentwww.sheriff.ccRequest information regarding Carter county sheriff services.
- Cheatham County Sherifffs Departmentwww.cheathamcountysheriff.netFind information regarding criminal investigations in Cheatham county.
- Coffee County Sherifffs Departmentwww.coffeecountytn.govAccess Coffee county most wanted list online.
- Crockett County Sheriffs Departmentwww.crockettsheriffsdept.comLaw enforcement services in Crockett county.
- Cumberland County Sheriffs Officewww.ccsheriffs.orgFind information regarding criminal investigations in Cumberland county.
- Davidson County Sheriffs Officewww.nashville-sheriff.netObtain information for Davidson county warrants and corrections.
- Decatur County Sheriffs Officewww.decaturcountytn.orgFind information regarding the Decatur county silent witness program.
- DeKalb County Sheriffs Departmentwww.dekalbsherifftn.comLearn about the DeKalb county citizens alert system.
- Fayette County Sheriffs Departmentwww.fayettecountysheriff.orgRequest information for Fayette county criminal investigations and victim notification services.
- Franklin County Sheriffs Departmentwww.fcsheriff.orgCrime prevention and investigations in Franklin county.
- Gibson County Sheriffs Departmentgibsoncounty-tn.comContact the sheriff for law enforcement services in Gibson county.
- Giles County Sheriffs Departmentwww.gilessd.comContact the records division for Giles county police reports.
- Greene County Sheriffs Departmentwww.greenecountytngov.comAccess the Greene county most wanted fugitive database.
- Hamblen County Sheriffs Departmentwww.hamblencountytn.govObtain information on the Hamblen county jail.
- Hamilton County Sheriffs Officehcsheriff.govAccess the Hamilton county twelve most wanted list online.
- Hancock County Sheriffs Officewww.hancockcountytn.comFind information regarding criminal investigation and crime prevention in Hancock county.
- Hawkins County Sheriffs Departmenthawkinscountytn.govRequest Hawkins county criminal background checks.
- Haywood County Sheriffs Departmenthaywoodtn.govRequest information regarding criminal summons and warrant service in Haywood county.
- Henderson County Sheriffs Departmentwww.hendersoncountytn.govObtain information about Henderson county criminal investigations and interdiction.
- Henry County Sheriffs Departmenthenrycountytn.orgFind out about the criminal investigations division in Henry county.
- Hickman County Sheriffhickmancountytn.govEnforcement of criminal and civil laws in Hickman county.
- HumphreysCounty Sheriffs Officewww.humphreyscosheriff.comRequest information for community policing in Humphreys county.
- Jackson County Sheriffs Departmentwww.jacksonco.comContact the sheriff for law enforcement services in Jackson county.
- Jefferson County Sheriffs Officejctsd.orgAccess the Jefferson county wanted list online.
- Johnson County Sheriffs Departmentjohnsoncountysd.orgLearn about the Johnson county investigation and patrol divisions.
- Knox County Sheriffwww.knoxsheriff.orgAccess Knox county most wanted and inmate population lists.
- Lauderdale County Sheriffs Departmentlauderdalesheriff.orgFind information regarding sheriff services for Lauderdale county.
- Lawrence County Sheriffs Officelawrencecountytn.govLaw enforcement and protection services for Lawrence county.
- Loudon County Sheriffs Officeloudoncounty-tn.govRequest information regarding Loudon county criminal and narcotics investigations.
- Macon County Sheriffs Officewww.maconcountytn.govContact the sheriff for information on Macon county DARE program.
- Madison County Sheriffs Officemadisoncounty-sheriff.comFind information regarding the sheriff operations in Madison county.
- Marshall County Sheriffwww.marshallcountytn.comRequest information about the detention division in Marshall county.
- Maury County Sheriffs Departmentwww.maurycounty-tn.govFind information on court security and corrections operations in Maury county.
- McMinn County Sheriffs Departmentwww.mcminncountysheriff.comAccess the McMinn county inmate roster online.
- McNairy County Sheriffs Departmentwww.mcnairycountytn.orgContact the sheriff for justice services in McNairy county.
- Monroe County Sheriffs Departmentwww.monroetnsheriff.comFind information concerning amber alerts and missing children in Monroe county.
- Montgomery County Sheriffs Officewww.montgomerycountytn.orgObtain information about the enforcement and detention divisions in Montgomery county.
- Obion County Sheriffs Departmentwww.obioncountysheriff.comFind the missing children link at the Obion county sheriff website.
- Poke County Sheriffs Departmentwww.polkgovernment.comObtain criminal investigation information for Polk county.
- Putnam County Sheriffs Departmentwww.putnamcountytn.govLearn about the Putnam county child identification program.
- Rhea County Sheriffs Departmentwww.rheacountytn.govRequest Rhea county police reports.
- Roane County Sheriffs Officewww.roanesheriff.orgAccess a list of Roane county most wanted fugitives.
- Robertson County Sheriffs Officewww.robertsonsheriff.comAccess Robertson county inmate information and find out about unsolved crimes.
- Rutherford County Sheriffs Officewww.rutherfordcountytn.govAccess the Rutherford county sex offender registry.
- Scott County Sheriffs Departmentscottcounty.comFind law enforcement information for Scott county.
- Sequatchie County Sheriffs Departmentwww.sequatchiesheriff.comSearch the Sequatchie county ten most wanted list.
- Sevier County Sheriffs Officewww.seviercountytn.govRequest records and warrant information from the Sevier county sheriff.
- Shelby County Sheriffs Officewww.shelby-sheriff.orgAccess the Shelby county warrant search.
- Sullivan County Sheriffs Officesullivancountytn.govRequest information regarding sheriff operations in Sullivan county.
- Sumner County Sheriffs Officewww.sumnersheriff.comSearch Sumner county inmate information online.
- Tipton County Sheriffs Officewww.tiptonco.comFind information regarding Tipton county crime stoppers program.
- Union County Sheriffs Departmentwww.unioncountytnsheriff.comRequest information about Union county sheriff department services.
- Warren County Sheriffs Departmentwww.warrencountytn.govLaw enforcement and courtroom security services for Warren county.
- Washington County Sheriffs Officewww.wcso.netObtain information regarding the Washington county victim notification program.
- Wayne County Sheriffs Officewww.waynecountytn.orgFind information for Wayne county jail and criminal investigation services.
- Weakley County Sheriffs Departmentwww.weakleycountytn.govAccess the Weakley county felony offender information lookup.
- White County Sheriffs Officewhitecountytn.govContact the records division to request White county police reports.
- Williamson County Sheriffwilliamsoncountysherifftn.comSearch the sex offender registry for Williamson county information.
- Wilson County Sheriffs Officewilsoncotnsheriff.comObtain information regarding the Wilson county criminal investigations and warrants divisions.
3Federal & National Authoritative Sources
These federal and national sources complement Tennessee's state-level records. They are the authoritative sources you should cross-check when Tennessee state records are incomplete or out-of-state activity matters.
NSOPW — National Sex Offender Public Website
The Department of Justice's single national search across every state, territory, and tribal registry. Authoritative for offender status but does not include every historical conviction.
https://www.nsopw.gov/ (nsopw.gov)
The Department of Justice's single national search across every state, territory, and tribal registry. Authoritative for offender status but does not include every historical conviction.
https://www.nsopw.gov/ (nsopw.gov)
FBI — Identity History Summary Check
How to request your own FBI rap sheet (CJIS Identity History Summary) under Title 28 CFR § 16.30–16.34. $18 fee, fingerprint submission required.
https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/need-an-fbi-service-or-more-information/identity-history-summary-checks (fbi.gov)
How to request your own FBI rap sheet (CJIS Identity History Summary) under Title 28 CFR § 16.30–16.34. $18 fee, fingerprint submission required.
https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/need-an-fbi-service-or-more-information/identity-history-summary-checks (fbi.gov)
FBI UCR — Uniform Crime Reporting
The FBI's aggregate crime statistics program. Useful for context on offense frequency but not a record of individual persons.
https://ucr.fbi.gov/ (ucr.fbi.gov)
The FBI's aggregate crime statistics program. Useful for context on offense frequency but not a record of individual persons.
https://ucr.fbi.gov/ (ucr.fbi.gov)
Criminal Records by State
Criminal Records is organized by state. Select another state to see its guide.
ALAlabama
AKAlaska
AZArizona
ARArkansas
CACalifornia
COColorado
CTConnecticut
DEDelaware
FLFlorida
GAGeorgia
HIHawaii
IDIdaho
ILIllinois
INIndiana
IAIowa
KSKansas
KYKentucky
LALouisiana
MEMaine
MDMaryland
MAMassachusetts
MIMichigan
MNMinnesota
MSMississippi
MOMissouri
MTMontana
NENebraska
NVNevada
NHNew Hampshire
NJNew Jersey
NMNew Mexico
NYNew York
NCNorth Carolina
NDNorth Dakota
OHOhio
OKOklahoma
OROregon
PAPennsylvania
RIRhode Island
SCSouth Carolina
SDSouth Dakota
TNTennessee
TXTexas
UTUtah
VTVermont
VAVirginia
WAWashington
WVWest Virginia
WIWisconsin
WYWyoming
Frequently Asked Questions
Tennessee Criminal Records — FAQ
Is there a single nationwide criminal record search?
No public one. The FBI's Interstate Identification Index (III) is nationwide but is only accessible to law-enforcement agencies and approved employers under Public Law 92-544. Individuals can order their own rap sheet through the CJIS Identity History Summary service.
What is the difference between state and FBI record checks?
A state check searches one state's conviction database. The FBI III check searches every state that participates in III. Both are fingerprint-based.
Can arrests without conviction appear on a background check?
Yes, on some. State BCI responses vary — a few states return arrests without disposition for up to seven years, others redact non-conviction arrests. The FCRA (15 U.S.C. § 1681c) caps non-conviction arrests on consumer reports at 7 years.
How long does an expungement take?
It is a court process governed by state statute, typically 60–180 days from petition to order, plus another 60–90 days for agency updates.