State of Tennessee Criminal Records: Criminal Records Guide

Where Can You Search Tennessee Criminal Records?

Tennessee criminal-history information is maintained by state, county and federal agencies. The most useful starting point depends on whether you want a statewide background check, a criminal case docket, inmate information or official proof of a court disposition.

How to Search State of Tennessee Criminal Records Using TORIS

The Tennessee Open Records Information Services (TORIS) system is operated by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI).

It allows the general public to request an adult Tennessee criminal-history search using identifying information such as the person’s name.

The public request does not require the requester to provide fingerprints. However, the underlying TBI criminal-history repository is based on fingerprint submissions received from arresting agencies.

Step-by-step Tennessee criminal-history name search

1. Open the official TBI website.

   Go to tbibackgrounds.tbi.tn.gov/Toris. Confirm that the website identifies itself as Tennessee Open Records Information Services.

2. Select the credit-card customer option.

   The TORIS homepage offers a public customer path and a separate account login for approved billable accounts. Ordinary public users should choose the appropriate public request route.

3. Enter your information as requester.

   The first form asks for the requester’s identifying and contact information, including name, address, telephone number and email.

   This is your information, not the identifying information for the person whose criminal history you want to search.

4. Complete the required customer and payment process.

   Follow the TORIS prompts to establish your request and pay using an accepted card.

5. Enter the criminal-history subject’s details.

   Provide the requested identifying information for the person whose Tennessee history is being checked. Use accurate legal-name information and other details requested by the service.

6. Review the information before submission.

   Name spelling and other identifiers influence the results. TBI warns that aliases are not automatically included in the public name-search response.

7. Submit the $29 search.

   The TORIS charge is nonrefundable. Make sure the search is appropriate before completing payment.

8. Access the result.

   TBI delivers background-check results electronically. A valid email address is necessary for the response and related communications.

9. Review possible criminal-history matches.

   Check the reported arrests, charges, court information and available dispositions. If the record may involve another person with a similar name, seek positive identification before relying on the result.

What happens if TORIS finds a criminal history?

The service reports whether the requested name may be associated with a Tennessee criminal-history record.

When a possible record exists, TBI supplies the available criminal-history report. The result can include reportable misdemeanor and felony arrest information with available subsequent entries.

A public name-based search is not equivalent to a positive fingerprint identification of the subject.

Does TORIS include aliases?

TBI’s public TORIS instructions state that aliases will not be included in the ordinary name-search response.

If the individual previously used another legal name, that can affect the usefulness of a name-based inquiry. An absence of results under one spelling is not proof that no record exists under another identity.

Can you request a Tennessee background check by mail?

Yes. TBI’s official Background Checks page states that general-public Tennessee criminal-history requests may be submitted online or by mail.

If using the mail option, obtain the current TORIS request form and payment instructions from TBI. Include all required subject and requester details and use the approved payment method.

Do not substitute TBI’s general public-records request form for the dedicated criminal-history request process.

How Much Does a Tennessee Criminal Background Check Cost?

TBI publishes separate fee categories for general-public background checks and checks performed for legally qualified organizations.

The most important difference is that a standard TORIS Tennessee-only check costs $29, while fingerprint-based FBI and organization-authorized checks follow separate processes.

Which payment cards does TORIS accept?

The TORIS public website identifies Visa, Mastercard and Discover as accepted credit cards for its online criminal-history request.

The $29 search fee is listed as nonrefundable.

What Criminal Records Are Included in a Tennessee TBI Background Check?

TBI’s criminal-history repository contains information about reportable misdemeanor and felony arrests submitted by law-enforcement agencies through fingerprint records.

Court dispositions are added when the relevant criminal justice agencies and clerks provide the information.

Does TORIS include juvenile criminal history?

The TORIS public site explains that juvenile information is generally excluded.

An important exception applies to certain juveniles transferred to adult criminal court under Tennessee Code Annotated § 37-1-134.

Do not treat the absence of a juvenile record in TORIS as evidence that no juvenile proceeding occurred.

Does a Tennessee arrest record mean someone was convicted?

No. An arrest is a law-enforcement event. A conviction is a separate court outcome.

A person may be arrested and later have charges dismissed, receive a not-guilty verdict, complete diversion or receive another legal disposition.

Check the corresponding court judgment whenever the final outcome is important.

Why can a court case exist without appearing in TORIS?

Court dockets and TBI’s criminal-history repository have different reporting systems.

The court may have received a charge that was not reported to TBI with fingerprint information, or the record may not be publicly releasable through TORIS.

The TBI Criminal Records Unit receives dispositions from Tennessee court clerks and criminal justice agencies, but delays or errors can occur.

How to Find Tennessee Criminal Court Records by Name

Tennessee’s trial courts do not all use one public criminal case-search website.

Court systems and online availability differ among the state’s 95 counties.

To find an individual prosecution, begin with the county where the charge was filed.

Which Tennessee court handles the criminal case?

Step-by-step county criminal case lookup

1. Identify the county where the case was filed.

   Use the court notice, arrest paperwork, indictment or other verified case information.

2. Determine the court level.

   A misdemeanor may be handled by General Sessions Court, while an indicted felony may proceed in Criminal or Circuit Court.

3. Find the correct court clerk.

   Use the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts’ courthouse and clerk directories.

4. Open the court’s public case-search portal.

   If one exists, search using the defendant’s name or criminal case number.

5. Review the case docket.

   Check filings, hearing dates, charges, court orders and available case status.

6. Verify the final disposition.

   A case may end in dismissal, conviction, acquittal, diversion or another legally recognized outcome.

7. Contact the clerk for an official copy.

   If the document is unavailable online, request the relevant judgment, dismissal or disposition directly from the custodian.

Tennessee Criminal Records Search: Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville & Chattanooga

Some Tennessee counties provide online criminal court records, but the available systems differ significantly.

Davidson County’s older-record limitation

The Nashville Criminal Court Clerk’s public case-search explanation gives useful historical coverage details:

• General Sessions disposition data: Available beginning January 11, 2000, within the identified CJIS data category.
• State Trial Court disposition data: Available beginning July 11, 2000, within the identified CJIS data category.
• Legacy data: Certain records posted from 1980 until those transition dates.
• Before 1980: The Clerk directs users to contact its office.

The site also advises searching a defendant’s name as it was entered at the time of arrest.

How to Search Tennessee Criminal Appeals for Free

The Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts operates a Public Case History portal for appellate cases.

The system includes qualifying Court of Criminal Appeals and Tennessee Supreme Court proceedings.

This is not a statewide database of every trial-court criminal charge.

How to search a criminal appeal

1. Open the Public Case History portal.

   Visit the official Tennessee appellate case-search website.

2. Choose a search method.

   The portal supports searches by appellate case number, case style, party name and organization.

3. Enter the identifying information.

   Use the appellate case number if available or search for a party.

4. Review matching case styles.

   Criminal appeals often identify the State of Tennessee as a party.

5. Open the appellate case.

   Review its case overview, parties, milestones and case history.

6. Check available documents.

   The portal provides access to certain permitted documents in PDF format.

7. Verify the appellate outcome.

   Check whether a decision was issued, further review was sought or the case was remanded.

Tennessee Felony Offender Lookup (FOIL): Free Criminal Record Search

The Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) provides a free offender information system called Felony Offender Information Lookup (FOIL).

FOIL contains information about qualifying felony offenders who are currently or were previously in TDOC custody or supervision.

What information can FOIL display?

• Offender name and available identifying details
• TDOC identification information
• Photograph when available
• Current or former correctional status
• Facility location or supervision information
• Qualifying sentence and offense information
• Relevant parole or release information

How to use Tennessee FOIL

1. Open the Tennessee FOIL portal.

   Use the official foil.app.tn.gov website.

2. Choose Search Now.

   Open the offender search interface.

3. Enter the supported identifiers.

   Provide the person’s name or another accepted identifier when known.

4. Review the results.

   Compare the offender information carefully to avoid confusing individuals with similar names.

5. Open the matching offender record.

   Review the current status and available correctional information.

6. Verify the court disposition separately.

   FOIL is primarily a corrections information service and does not replace the original criminal trial court record.

Does FOIL include every Tennessee county jail inmate?

No. TDOC maintains state correctional records, while county jails are commonly operated by county sheriffs or local detention authorities.

A person held in a county jail awaiting trial or serving a local sentence may not appear in FOIL.

For local jail custody information, identify the county where the person is being held and contact its Sheriff’s Office or official detention facility.

How to Obtain a Certified Tennessee Criminal Court Record

An online court docket may show the charge or hearing date, but some legal and administrative purposes require a certified judgment or final disposition.

The court clerk maintaining the original record is the appropriate authority to contact.

What documents can you request?

• Certified judgment of conviction
• Order of dismissal
• Disposition showing a not-guilty verdict
• Sentencing order
• Certified case docket or case-history printout, if offered
• Diversion completion or dismissal-related order
• Order of expungement when the requester is legally entitled to obtain it

Step-by-step official court records request

1. Locate the criminal court case.

   Find the county, court name, defendant’s name and case number.

2. Identify the exact document.

   If you need proof of dismissal, request the dismissal or final disposition rather than just the original arrest warrant.

3. Contact the court clerk.

   Use the Tennessee court clerk directory or the county’s official website.

4. Confirm the record is publicly releasable.

   Sealed, expunged and confidential records may have different legal access requirements.

5. Ask for the required certification.

   Specify whether you need a plain copy, certified copy or other authenticated document.

6. Confirm fees and delivery options.

   Copy charges, record research, electronic access, certification and mailing costs vary by court.

7. Check the completed document.

   Make sure the case number, defendant, charge and final court action match the proceeding you intended to research.

Why no single Tennessee certified-copy fee is listed

Tennessee’s criminal record offices have different local procedures. A county’s online court service may be free, require registration or charge a subscription.

Certified copies and special court-document services can have additional charges. Publishing one statewide copy fee would therefore be misleading.

How to Correct Errors in Tennessee TBI Criminal Records

A Tennessee criminal-history report may contain incomplete information when a court disposition was not submitted or when an arrest record was associated with the wrong person.

The correct procedure depends on whether the problem is a missing court outcome, incorrect reporting or mistaken identity.

Missing disposition: What TBI recommends

TBI’s Diversions, Expungements & Dispositions guidance explains how to update a criminal-history record when the disposition is missing.

1. Identify the arrest or charge.

   Use the TORIS report or available criminal-history record to find the relevant incident.

2. Find the court that handled the prosecution.

   Locate the court where the final judgment or disposition was entered.

3. Request the disposition document.

   Obtain the case judgment, dismissal, verdict or other official final court entry.

4. Submit the document to TBI.

   The TBI Dispositions Unit accepts qualifying disposition documents by email or fax.

5. Confirm the record update.

   Ask TBI about processing status and verify that the corrected information is reflected in the applicable repository.

What if a criminal-history record belongs to someone else?

A name-based TORIS search can produce a potential match that is not the person you intended to search.

Fingerprint comparison is more reliable for distinguishing individuals who share similar names or dates of birth.

TBI’s TORIS request guidance provides an identity challenge procedure involving fingerprints. Contact TORIS for the current application and applicable fingerprint-comparison charge before submitting materials.

What if a private background-check company still shows an expunged charge?

TBI warns that private background-report companies can retain criminal-history information collected when records were publicly available.

A court-ordered expungement does not necessarily mean that every private company has already corrected or deleted its copy.

If the incorrect information appears in a consumer report, contact the reporting company and follow the applicable formal dispute procedure.

Can Tennessee Criminal Records Be Expunged?

Yes. Tennessee law provides expungement procedures for certain criminal charges and qualifying convictions.

The governing rules include Tennessee Code Annotated § 40-32-101. Whether a person qualifies depends on the charge, final disposition, criminal history and specific statutory requirements.

Dismissed charges and acquittals

TBI explains that charges resulting in dismissal, a no-true-bill decision or a not-guilty verdict may qualify for expungement without a filing charge to the defendant under the applicable provisions.

However, an eligible record may still require the proper court procedure before the agencies update their systems.

Can a conviction be expunged?

Certain misdemeanor and felony convictions may be eligible under Tennessee’s conviction-expungement provisions.

Eligibility is not automatic, and some serious offenses are excluded. Waiting periods and other conditions can apply.

TBI advises beginning a qualifying conviction-expungement inquiry with the District Attorney’s Office in the county where the relevant charge occurred.

How to start an expungement request

1. Find the original criminal case.

   Determine the county, court, charge and recorded disposition.

2. Check whether the case qualifies.

   Review the applicable Tennessee expungement rules or seek guidance from qualified legal assistance.

3. Contact the appropriate court or District Attorney.

   Ask for the correct forms and local procedure.

4. Complete the required petition or application.

   Include the correct case information and supporting documents.

5. Obtain the necessary court order.

   The court determines whether the requested relief is authorized.

6. Confirm distribution to relevant agencies.

   After the court processes the order, affected criminal justice agencies must update their records as required.

7. Keep a certified expungement order.

   TBI specifically recommends retaining this document in case a later records dispute arises.

Tennessee Sex Offender Registry, Federal Cases & Other Records

Why a Tennessee Criminal Records Search May Show No Results

How to understand Tennessee criminal case dispositions

• Dismissed: The charge was terminated without a conviction on that charge.
• Not guilty: A court or jury acquitted the defendant.
• Convicted: A qualifying criminal conviction was entered.
• Pending: The case is not yet fully resolved.
• Diversion: A statutory or court-authorized process that may allow a qualifying case to be resolved under specified conditions.
• Expunged: An authorized court order requires the affected record to be treated under Tennessee’s expungement provisions.

State of Tennessee Criminal Records FAQs

Official State of Tennessee Criminal Records Search Links

Use the following Tennessee state, county court and federal government resources for the latest criminal-history services and records procedures.

• Tennessee Bureau of Investigation — Official Background Checks and Fees
• TBI TORIS — Tennessee Criminal History Name Search
• TBI Criminal Justice Information Services Division
• TBI — Dispositions, Diversions and Expungement Procedures
• Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts — Courthouse Directory
• Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts — Clerk Directory
• Tennessee General Sessions Courts — Jurisdiction Information
• Tennessee Appellate Courts — Public Case History Search
• Davidson County Criminal Court Clerk — Nashville Case Searches
• Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk — Memphis Criminal Records
• Shelby County General Sessions Criminal Court — Online Case Review
• Knox County Fourth Circuit and General Sessions Criminal Online Records
• Hamilton County Criminal Court Clerk — Criminal Court and Sessions Dockets
• Tennessee Department of Correction — Free Felony Offender Information Lookup
• TBI Tennessee Sex Offender Registry
• TBI Tennessee Crime Statistics
• FBI — Personal Federal Identity History Summary
• PACER — Federal Criminal Court Case Search