Tennessee Public Records

The state of Tennessee has long made provisions for the sharing of its criminal records, vital records, and court records and other public records with the general public.

Passed for the first time in 1957, the Tennessee Open Records Act is covered in the Title 10, Chapter 7 of the Tennessee statutes. According to the Act, all the citizens of Tennessee State and corporations within the state have the right to access public records. You don’t have to state the reason for requesting the records and you can use the records for any purpose once you have received them.

Records that the Act covers include records from judicial, legislative, and executive branches as well as all other government agencies. Also covered are all non-governmental bodies that do get public funds.

Tennessee Criminal Records

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is responsible for administering background checks in Tennessee. The general public, licensing agencies and employers can request name-based background checks on any individual through Tennessee Open Records Information Services (TORIS), which is an online system. You can also request a background check through the mail, which will show an individual’s criminal history for only the state of Tennessee.

You can request for arrest records, and jail and inmate records. You can go to the official website of Department of Corrections to find further information on any inmate in the state system, or to learn more about agency services, or the state prison. Felony Offender Information (FOIL) is a state’s website from which you can locate an offender by State ID, TOMIS ID, or Name. The search results will provide you with the inmate’s sentencing date, earliest parole date, and supervision status.

Tennessee Court Records

Any information about Tennessee courts is available on the state of Tennessee administrator of courts official website. The site contains information on every court in the state. You can obtain information on oral arguments, opinions, and court meetings from individual court’s student page. However, if you want to obtain any particular court records, you will have to make a request through the specific court in which the case was decided.

Tennessee Vital Records

The Office of Vital Records and Tennessee Department of Health are responsible for administering Tennessee Vital Records pertaining to death, birth, divorce, and marriage. Access to these certificates is limited to a spouse, child, parent or the individuals named on the certificate. Legal guardians can also request for these certificates. You can request for a marriage, divorce, death or birth certificates online through VitalCheck. You can apply by mail whereby you download the right form and then mail it to Tennessee Vital Records, 1st Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower, 710 James Robertson Pkwy, Nashville, TN 37243 with payment and a duplicate of your photo ID. Alternatively, you can also make a request in person at the Vital Records Central Office, which is located at 710 James Robertson Pkwy, 1st Floor, Nashville.

  • Birth records: Birth certificates are available from 1914 to present. For birth records prior to 1914, you can direct your request to the Tennessee State Board of Health and Tennessee Family History Library. You may also check with the county where the birth was recorded.
  • Death records: Death records are available dating back to 1914 at the Tennessee Department of Health. For records prior to 1874, you can make your request through Tennessee State Archives. Microcopies of all death records are available at the state’s Family History Library.
  • Marriage records: Marriage records dating back to 1949 to present are available at the Office of Vital Statistics. Copies of most marriage records from early 1900s are kept at the Family History Library.
  • Divorce records: Divorce records are available from 1949 to present. You can request for these records at Tennessee Department of Health. The records are also available at the Tennessee State Library.

The information regarding Tennessee vital records, court records, and criminal records are easily accessible. Just apply for these records appropriately and you will be granted access to them.

Tennessee state court system

Understanding how the system of Tennessee state court works is very important as it helps you find court records easily.

Tennessee Courts Overview

To make your work easier, start searching for court records in Tennessee by simply going to courts by county.

The trial court system of Tennessee State consists of Municipal Courts, Probate Courts, Juvenile Courts, General Sessions Courts, Criminal Courts, Chancery Courts, and Circuit Courts.

Circuit Courts

Tennessee Circuit Courts have general jurisdiction to handle all cases. They handle any case that no other court has jurisdiction over.

Circuit Courts share jurisdiction over all types of criminal cases with Criminal Courts. Chancery Courts and Circuit Courts also share jurisdiction over adoption, divorce, name changes, distribution and partition of personal or real property, the appointment and release of trustees, arbitration, trustee petitions, and paternity.

They also share jurisdiction with some General Sessions Courts over domestic relations cases. They can also handle disputes about validity of cases connected to arbitration. These courts also have limited jurisdiction to handle cases citizenship restoration.

Chancery Courts

These courts have limited jurisdiction to handle many cases of an equitable nature. They generally hear cases that other courts have no jurisdiction over. Chancery Courts share jurisdiction with other courts over some types of civil cases.

Chancery Courts have limited jurisdiction over cases that involve disputes over land boundaries, some types of requests made by creditors, and the cases that the State has signed against corporations.

Criminal Courts

Private Acts in some Judicial Circuits have created Criminal Courts. Criminal Courts share jurisdiction with Circuit Courts over criminal cases, but Circuit Courts will usually not exercise jurisdiction in districts where Criminal Courts are available.

General Sessions Courts

These courts have general jurisdiction to handle certain types of criminal and civil cases. Criminal cases generally handled by these courts include many violations of municipal ordinances, misdemeanor trials, and preliminary hearings in all types of criminal cases.

Civil cases generally heard by these courts include certain general civil cases without any financial limits, such as the recovery of personal property, and forcible entry and detainer. Jurisdiction of General Sessions Courts is limited for certain types of equity and general civil cases to claims with less than $25,000 in dispute, exclusive of costs and attorney fees.

They also issues restraining orders and handle the enforcement of restraining orders. They can also handle cases including nonsupport, mental health proceedings, juvenile matters, and probate matters.

A Mental Health Court division exists in some General Sessions Courts for handling cases that involve voluntary commitments and cases that have been filed under the Mental Health Law.

Juvenile Courts

Juvenile Courts have limited jurisdiction to handle many juvenile delinquency as well as other juvenile cases, such as child neglect and abuse, juvenile dependency, judicial consent to military or employment enlistment, and minors considered to be unruly.

Criminal cases generally heard by these courts include some violations of parental responsibilities by guardians or parents. General Sessions Court share jurisdiction with Juvenile Courts over the offense of contributing to unruly conduct or delinquency of a child.

A Juvenile Court may have a Teen Court division that handle juvenile delinquency cases, including some drug offenses, curfew violations, truancy, runaways, traffic offenses, harassment, disorderly conduct, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, forgery, vandalism, theft of property, burglary, and assault.

Probate Courts

Probate Courts have jurisdiction to handle conservatorships, guardianships, administration of estates, and probate of wills. Chancery Courts may have a Probate Court division.

Municipal Courts

Also sometimes known as Town Courts or City Courts, Municipal Courts usually handle some types of criminal cases and many municipal ordinance violations. Some Municipal Courts also have jurisdiction to handle certain municipal ordinances that reflect state criminal laws, including underage alcohol offenses, reckless driving, and driving without a driving license.

The Official Website of Tennessee County

Murfreesboro Murfreesboro, TN – Official Website
Clarksville Clarksville, TN | Official Website
Chattanooga Welcome to Chattanooga.gov Official site for the City of Chattanooga in Hamilton County, Tennessee
Tullahoma TullahomaTN – Welcome to Tennessee’s Rising Star!
East Ridge East Ridge, TN
Shelbyville Shelbyville
Farragut Farragut, TN – Official Website
Bristol Bristol, TN – Official Website
Maryville City of Maryville, TN
Oak Ridge Welcome to the City of Oak Ridge, Tennessee Official website of the City of Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
Morristown Welcome to City of Morristown, Tennesee
Lebanon Lebanon, TN | Official Website
Mount Juliet Mount Juliet, TN | Official Website
Cookeville Cookeville, TN | Official Website
Gallatin Gallatin, TN | Official Website
Shelby County Shelby County, TN – Official Website
Davidson County Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee
Knox County Knox County Tennessee Government Knox County Govenment Website
Hamilton County Welcome to Hamilton County, TN Hamilton County, TN Government
Rutherford County Rutherford County TN
Williamson County Williamson County, TN – Official Site | Official Website
Montgomery County Montgomery County Government
Sumner County Sumner County Government
Sullivan County Sullivan County | Tennessee
Blount County Blount County, TN | Official Website
Washington County Washington County — The Birthplace of Tennessee | Washington County, TN
Wilson County Welcome – Wilson County TN Government, Official Website Wilson County Tennessee is located in the heart of Middle Tennessee and the county seat is Lebanon, Tennessee.
Bradley County Bradley County, TN
Madison County Madison County, TN – Official Website
Sevier County SEVIER COUNTY TENNESSEE – Sevier County, Tennessee
Maury County Maury County, TN | Official Website
Anderson County Anderson County
Putnam County Putnam County TN
Greene County Greene County
Hamblen County Hamblen County Government
Tipton County Welcome to Tipton County, TN
Carter County Carter County, Tennessee
Hawkins County Hawkins County, TN
Cumberland County Cumberland County, TN – Golf, it’s just the beginning… Don’t forget to take the Cumberland County Broadband Survey! Cumberland County.? Here, the spirit of creativity drives everything, from innovations in manufacturing to artistic integrity. A boundless imagination builds strong businesses, creates thriving communities and applies new ideas to logistics. Now is the time to be in Cumberland County, Tennessee. Cumberland County, located in Tennessee’s…
Roane County Roane County
Coffee County Coffee County, TN | Official Website
McMinn County McMinn County, TN
Jefferson County Jefferson County, Tennessee
Gibson County Greater Gibson County Chamber – Tennessee
Dickson County Dickson County, TN
Loudon County Welcome to the official website of Loudon County, Tennessee Government!
Bedford County Bedford County Welcome
Monroe County Monroe Government
Lawrence County Lawrence County, TN Government | lawrencecountytn.gov – Lawrence County, Tennessee Government Official county website contains latest county news, information on county elected officials, county government services, departments, events, and online data access.

Tennessee Jail Roster

TypeNameCountyInmate LocatorPhone NumberInmate Search
Federal PrisonMemphis Federal Correctional InstitutionShelby County1101 John A Denie Road, Memphis, TN 38134(901) 372-2269Federal Inmate Locator
State PrisonBledsoe County Correctional ComplexBledsoe County1045 Horsehead Road, Pikeville, Tennessee 37367(423) 881-3251Inmate Search
State PrisonNortheast Correctional Complex Carter County AnnexCarter County188 Old Railroad Grade Road, Roan Mountain, TN 37687(423) 772-3231Inmate Search
State PrisonLois M. DeBerry Special Needs FacilityDavidson County7575 Cockrill Bend Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37209-1057(615) 350-2700Inmate Search
State PrisonRiverbend Maximum Security InstitutionDavidson County7475 Cockrill Bend Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37243-0471(615) 350-3100Inmate Search
State PrisonTennessee Prison For WomenDavidson County3881 Stewarts Lane, Nashville, TN 37243-0468(615) 741-1255Inmate Search
State PrisonHardeman County Correctional FacilityHardeman County2520 Union Springs Road, Whiteville, Tennessee 38075(731) 254-6000Inmate Search
State PrisonWhiteville Correctional FacilityHardeman County1440 Union Springs Road, Whiteville, TN 38075(731) 254-9400Inmate Search
State PrisonTurney Center Industrial ComplexHickman County1499 R.W. Moore Memorial Highway, Only, TN 37140-4050(931) 729-5161Inmate Search
State PrisonNortheast Correctional ComplexJohnson County5249 Highway 67 West, Mountain City, TN 37683-5000(423) 727-7387Inmate Search
State PrisonNorthwest Correctional ComplexLake County960 State Route 212, Tiptonville, Tennessee 38079(731) 253-5000Inmate Search
State PrisonWest Tennessee State PenitentiaryLauderdale County480 Green Chapel Road, Henning, TN 38041-1150(731) 738-5044Inmate Search
State PrisonMorgan County Correctional ComplexMorgan County541 Wayne Cotton Morgan Drive, Wartburg, TN 37887(423) 346-1300Inmate Search
State PrisonMark Luttrell Transition CenterShelby County6000 State Road, Memphis, Tennessee 38134(901) 372-2080Inmate Search
State PrisonTrousdale Turner Correctional CenterTrousdale County140 Macon Way, Hartsville, Tennessee 37074(615) 808-0400Inmate Search
State PrisonSouth Central Correctional FacilityWayne County555 Forest Avenue, Clifton, TN 38425-0279(931) 676-5372Inmate Search
State PrisonTurney Center Industrial Complex AnnexWayne County245 Carroll Road, Clifton, Tennessee 38425(931) 676-3345Inmate Search
Anderson County Jail RosterAnderson County Detention FacilityAnderson County308 Public Safety Lane, Clinton, Tennessee 37716(865) 457-7100 ext. 128Inmate Roster
Bedford County Jail RosterBedford County JailBedford County210 North Spring Street, Shelbyville, TN 37160(931) 684-0893Jail Roster
Bedford County Jail RosterBedford County Juvenile Detention CenterBedford County101 Lane Parkway, Shelbyville, TN 37160(931) 680-9720Jail Roster
Benton County Jail RosterBenton County JailBenton County116 Rosemary Avenue, Camden, TN 38320(731) 584-5008Jail Roster
Blount County Jail RosterBlount County JailBlount County920 E Lamar Alexander Pkwy, Maryville, TN 37804(865) 273-5245Inmate Roster
Bradley County Jail RosterBradley County Correctional FacilityBradley County2290 Blythe Avenue, Cleveland, TN 37311(423) 728-7380Jail Roster
Carter County Jail RosterCarter County Detention CenterCarter County900 E Elk Avenue, Elizabethton, TN 37643(423) 542-1855Inmate Search
Davidson County Jail RosterDavidson County Correctional Development CenterDavidson County5113 Harding Place, Nashville, TN 37211(615) 862-8123Jail Roster
Davidson County Jail RosterDavidson County Hill Detention CenterDavidson County506 Second Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37201(615) 880-1942Jail Roster
Davidson County Jail RosterDavidson County Maximum Correctional CenterDavidson County5113 Harding Place, Nashville, TN 37211(615) 862-8227Jail Roster
Davidson County Jail RosterDavidson County Offender Re-Entry CenterDavidson County5131 Harding Place, Nashville, TN 37211(615) 880-3840Jail Roster
Dickson County Jail RosterDickson County JailDickson County150 Doyles Hill Drive, Charlotte, TN 37036(615) 789-4109Jail Roster
Dyer County Jail RosterDyer County JailDyer County401 E. Cedar Street, Dyersburg, TN 38024(731) 285-2802Jail Roster
Fayette County Jail RosterFayette County JailFayette County705 Justice Drive, Somerville, TN 38068(901) 465-5247Jail Roster
Franklin County Jail RosterFranklin County JailFranklin County494 George Fraley Parkway, Winchester, TN 37398(931) 962-0123Inmate Roster
Giles County Jail RosterGiles County JailGiles County200 Thomas Gatlin Drive, Pulaski, TN 38478(931) 363-3505Inmate Search
Hamblen County Jail RosterHamblen County JailHamblen County510 Allison Street, Morristown, TN 37814(423) 586-3781Jail Roster
Hamilton County Jail RosterHamilton County JailHamilton County601 Walnut Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402(423) 209-7050Inmate Search
Hardeman County Jail RosterHardeman County Criminal Justice ComplexHardeman County505 South Main Street, Bolivar, TN 38008(731) 228-3016Inmate Roster
Hawkins County Jail RosterHawkins County JailHawkins County117 Justice Center Drive, Rogersville, TN 37857(423) 272-6968Jail Roster
Henderson County Jail RosterHenderson County Criminal Justice ComplexHenderson County170 Justice Center Drive, Lexington, TN 38351(731) 651-2018Jail Roster
Houston County Jail RosterHouston County JailHouston County3330 Hwy 149, Erin, TN 37061(931) 289-4614Inmate Roster
Humphreys County Jail RosterHumphreys County JailHumphreys County112 Thompson Street, Waverly, TN 37185(931) 296-6521Jail Roster
Jefferson County Jail RosterJefferson County Detention FacilityJefferson County983 Industrial Park Road, Dandridge, TN 37725(865) 471-6000 ext 1307Jail Roster
Knox County Jail RosterKnox County Roger D. Wilson Detention FacilityKnox County5001 Maloneyville Road, Knoxville, TN 37918(865) 281-6700Inmate Search
Knox County Jail RosterKnox County JailKnox County400 Main Street SW, Knoxville, TN 37902(865) 342-9620Inmate Search
Lawrence County Jail RosterLawrence County JailLawrence County240 West Gaines Street, Lawrenceburg, TN 38464(931) 762-3646Jail Roster
Lincoln County Jail RosterLincoln County CorrectionsLincoln County4151 Thornton Taylor Parkway, Fayetteville, TN 37334(931) 433-3111Jail Roster
Loudon County Jail RosterLoudon County JailLoudon County12680 Highway 11 W, Lenoir City, TN 37771(865) 986-6612Inmate Roster
Madison County Jail RosterMadison County JailMadison County546 East College Street, Jackson, TN 38301(731) 423-6000Jail Roster
Maury County Jail RosterMaury County JailMaury County1300 Lawson White Drive, Columbia, TN 38401(931) 380-5722Jail Roster
McMinn County Jail RosterMcMinn County JailMcMinn County1319 South White Street, Athens, TN 37303(423) 745-5620Inmate Search
Meigs County Jail RosterMeigs County JailMeigs County410 River Road, Decatur, TN 37322(423) 334-5268Jail Roster
Montgomery County Jail RosterMontgomery County JailMontgomery County116 Commerce Street, Clarksville, TN 37040(931) 648-0615Inmate Roster
Morgan County Jail RosterMorgan County JailMorgan County414 Main Street, Wartburg, TN 37887(423) 346-6262Jail Roster
Obion County Jail RosterObion County JailObion County1 Law Lane, Union City, TN 38261(731) 885-0277Jail Roster
Overton County Jail RosterOverton County JailOverton County1010 John T. Poindexter Drive, Livingston, TN 38570(931) 403-0077Jail Roster
Polk County Jail RosterPolk County Detention FacilityPolk County164 Industrial Access Circle, Benton, TN 37307(423) 338-8215Inmate Search
Putnam County Jail RosterPutnam County JailPutnam County421 E Spring Street, Cookeville, TN 38501(931) 528-8484Inmate Roster
Rhea County Jail RosterRhea County JailRhea County444 2nd Avenue, Dayton, TN 37321(423) 775-7837 ext. #2Inmate Search
Roane County Jail RosterRoane County JailRoane County230 North 3rd Street, Kingston, TN 37763(865) 717-4700Jail Roster
Robertson County Jail RosterRobertson County Detention FacilityRobertson County311 5th Avenue E, Springfield, TN 37172(615) 384-7974Inmate Search
Rutherford County Jail RosterRutherford County Adult Detention CenterRutherford County940 New Salem Road, Murfreesboro, TN 37129(615) 898-7774Jail Roster
Sevier County Jail RosterSevier County JailSevier County137 Commerce Street, Sevierville, TN 37862(865) 453-0212Jail Roster
Sevier County Jail RosterSevier County Minimum Security FacilitySevier County896 Old Knoxville Hwy, Sevierville, TN 37862(865) 908-9905Jail Roster
Shelby County Jail RosterShelby County JailShelby County201 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN 38103(901) 222-4700Inmate Search
Stewart County Jail RosterStewart County JailStewart County117 Donelson Pkwy, Dover, TN 37058(931) 232-3114Inmate Roster
Sullivan County Jail RosterSullivan County JailSullivan County140 Blountville Bypass, Blountville, TN 37617(423) 279-7509Jail Roster
Sumner County Jail RosterSumner County JailSumner County117 W. Smith Street, Gallatin, TN 37066(615) 442-1843Jail Roster
Unicoi County Jail RosterUnicoi County JailUnicoi County102 North Main Avenue, Erwin, TN 37650(423) 743-1858Jail Roster
Van Buren County Jail RosterVan Buren County JailVan Buren County179 Veterans Square, Spencer, TN 38585(931) 946-2118Jail Roster
Warren County Jail RosterWarren County JailWarren County108 Security Circle, McMinnville, TN 37110(931) 473-7863Jail Roster
Washington County Jail RosterWashington County Detention CenterWashington County114 W. Jackson Blvd, Jonesborough, TN 37659-0097(423) 753-1701Inmate Roster
Wayne County Jail RosterWayne County JailWayne County1016 Andrew Jackson Drive Suite 101, Waynesboro, TN 38485(931) 722-3615Inmate Search
White County Jail RosterWhite County JailWhite County111 Depot Street, Sparta, Tennessee 38583(931) 836-3621Jail Roster
Williamson County Jail RosterWilliamson County Detention CenterWilliamson County408 Century Court, Franklin, TN 37064(615) 790-5560Jail Roster
Wilson County Jail RosterWilson County JailWilson County105 East High Street, Lebanon, TN 37087(615) 444-1412 option 1Inmate Roster

Anderson County Inmate Search Anderson County Sheriff’s Department, Sheriff, Anderson County, Tennessee, Law Enforcement
Bedford County Jail Bedford County Sheriff’s Office Home
Blount County Inmate Lookup Current Inmate Information
Bradley County inmate services Bradley County Sheriff’s Department
Current Inmates – Carter County TN Sheriff’s Office Carter County Jail Inmates
Jail & Detention Center – Cocke County Tennessee Cocke County Detention Center
Davidson County Sheriff – Active Inmate Search Davidson County Inmate Roster
Dickson County Sheriff’s Office Dickson County Jail
Public Jail Roster – Dyer County Sheriff’s Office Dyer County Jail Roster
Franklin County Online Inmate System Franklin County Inmate Lookup
Giles County Sheriff’s Department Giles County Jail Current Inmates
SHERIFF’S OFFICE – Greene County Greene County Sheriff
HCSO-Corrections-Inmate Information Online Hamilton County Inmate Search
Current Inmates – Henderson County Detention Center Henderson County Jail Inmate Info
Henry County Inmate Information Henry County Inmate Search
Knox County Sheriff – Inmate Population Knox County Sheriff Inmate Lookup
Lawrence County, Tennessee Sheriff’s Department – JAIL Lawrence County Corrections Center
Lincoln County Tennessee Sheriff’s Department Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department
Loudon County TN Sheriffs Office Inmate Now Loudon County Jail Inmates
Corrections | Maury County, TN Maury County Corrections
Montgomery County Jail Roster Montgomery County Inmate Roster
Putnam Count Public Jail Roster Putnam Count Corrections Center
Rhea County Inmate Information Rhea County Jail Inmate Info
Public Information-Robertson County Sheriff’s Office Robertson County Jail Inmate Lookup
Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office Rutherford County Jail
Sevier County Online Inmate System Sevier County Inmate Search
Inmate Lookup – Shelby County, TN Shelby County Inmate Roster
Sumner County Jail & Inmate Information Sumner County Jail
Washington County Detention Center Washington County Tennessee, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Law Enforcement, Washington County Detention Center, Chief Littleton, Patrick Littleton
Wilson County Inmate Information Wilson County Jail
Tennessee Felony Offender Information Tennessee Department of Corrections
Background Checks TN Background Checks
Court Records | Tennessee Secretary of State TN Secretary of State Court Case Searches
TN Courts Appellate Case Search
Sex Offender Search Main page TN Sex Offender Registry