Start with TBI for statewide history, then use the court for the actual case
Tennessee criminal-record information is spread across several official systems. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is the state’s central criminal-history repository, local court clerks maintain trial-court case files, the Tennessee Department of Correction provides felony-offender information, and the Tennessee appellate courts maintain a separate statewide appellate case search. Knowing which system answers your question can prevent wasted searches and misleading conclusions.
Choose the record type before choosing the website
Tennessee does not combine every criminal-justice record into one public search. A statewide criminal-history report, criminal court case, police incident report and corrections record are separate records maintained for different purposes.
State criminal history
Tennessee misdemeanor and felony arrest history maintained in the state repository, based on fingerprint submissions and related disposition reporting.
Criminal case file
Charges, docket events, judgments, plea information, disposition and court documents held by the clerk responsible for the case.
Arrest / incident report
Records created by a police department, sheriff or other arresting/investigating agency.
Felony offender information
People who are or were in Tennessee Department of Correction custody or under supervision.
Sex-offender record
Public registration information for qualifying Tennessee registrants.
Federal criminal case
Federal prosecutions are separate from Tennessee state court and TBI court-record systems.
TBI allows the public to request a Tennessee criminal-history check
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Background Checks service allows members of the general public to request a Tennessee adult criminal-history check on an individual.
| Check | Current listed price | Fingerprints? | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee public check | $29 | No | Tennessee criminal history only. |
| FBI-only general-public check | $50 | Yes | Nationwide FBI fingerprint-based check through the approved contractor. |
| Qualified organization — TN + FBI | Applicant: $37.15 | Yes | Authorized applicant background check. |
| Qualified volunteer | $33.15 | Yes | Authorized volunteer screening. |
What TORIS searches — and what it does not
Tennessee’s public name-based service is commonly referred to as TORIS — Tennessee Open Records Information Services.
TBI describes itself as the central repository for Tennessee criminal-history information. Its TORIS request form explains that Tennessee criminal history is built from misdemeanor and felony arrests based on fingerprint submissions received from arresting agencies.
A TORIS check is name-based. The request does not use the subject’s fingerprints to establish identity.
What the result tells you
TBI’s public check indicates whether the identifying information submitted appears to match a Tennessee criminal-history record. If a potential record exists, TBI provides the criminal-history information available through that process.
How to request a Tennessee criminal-history check online
Open the TBI background-check page
Use the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s official Background Checks page and choose the Tennessee-only option for an ordinary public state criminal-history search.
Open the online request form
The online TORIS system first asks for requester information. The requester-information screen is about you, not the person being searched.
Enter the subject information carefully
Name-based searches depend on the information you supply. Accuracy is especially important because fingerprints are not used for the $29 public Tennessee check.
Pay the current $29 fee
The public Tennessee criminal-history fee is non-refundable, even when the result does not reveal the record you expected.
Provide a valid email address
TBI currently delivers background-check results electronically, so the general-public request requires a valid email address.
Read the result as a state history check
Do not confuse the TBI report with a certified copy of the underlying court case. Go to the local court when you need the actual judgment or docket.
Why a TBI name search can miss or mismatch a record
Name-based criminal-history searches are convenient, but they have limitations.
- two people can share the same or a similar name
- a record may be associated with another name
- aliases are not included in the ordinary TORIS report
- information from another state is outside the Tennessee-only check
- the responsible agency may not have submitted information correctly
- a final court disposition may not yet be linked to the arrest
- an expungement may remove qualifying information
- a federal case requires a separate federal search
You can request the Tennessee-only check by mail
TBI also accepts the public Tennessee criminal-history request using its TORIS paper request form. The current fee is $29 per request.
TBI’s form states that payment may be made using money order, cashier’s check, personal check, business check or credit card, subject to its current payment instructions.
TBI TORIS Unit
Tennessee Bureau of InvestigationTORIS Unit
901 R.S. Gass Boulevard
Nashville, TN 37216
Phone: 615-744-4057
When a fingerprint background check is the better choice
TBI is Tennessee’s state repository for fingerprint-based criminal-history information. Its Biometrics Services Center uses fingerprint identification to associate submissions with the correct criminal-history record.
Fingerprint-based checks are used for specific legally authorized purposes including many employment, licensing and volunteer checks.
FBI-only check
TBI currently lists a $50 fingerprint-based FBI-only check available through its contractor.
Tennessee + FBI
TBI currently lists $37.15 for qualifying applicants when the organization is legally authorized to request the check.
Fingerprint comparison
When disputing a name-based TORIS result, TBI provides a separate fingerprint-comparison procedure.
Use the local Tennessee court when you need the actual criminal case
TBI criminal history is not the same thing as the court docket. Tennessee trial-court criminal records are maintained locally by court clerks.
Tennessee has 95 counties divided among judicial districts, and court structure differs by location. Depending on the offense and county, the record may be maintained by a Criminal Court, Circuit Court or General Sessions Court clerk.
| If you need… | Start here | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Statewide Tennessee criminal history | TBI / TORIS | Central repository for Tennessee criminal-history information. |
| Actual trial-court docket | Local court clerk | The clerk maintains the court case. |
| Certified judgment/disposition | Court clerk | Certification comes from the court record custodian. |
| Appeal | Tennessee appellate search | Appellate cases use a separate statewide system. |
| Felony custody/supervision | TDOC FOIL | Corrections status rather than court docket. |
How to find the right Tennessee court clerk
The Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts maintains an official Court Clerks Directory.
Identify the county
Start with the county where the arrest or prosecution occurred rather than the person’s current residence.
Open the Tennessee clerks directory
Filter by county to see the relevant Circuit Court Clerk, Criminal Court Clerk, General Sessions clerk or other court office.
Ask which court handled the charge
If you are unsure whether the case belongs to Criminal Court, Circuit Court or General Sessions, give the clerk the defendant name, approximate case date and charge.
Request the case number first
Once you have the docket or case number, requesting a specific judgment or disposition is usually easier than repeating broad name searches.
Tennessee appellate criminal cases have a statewide online search
Tennessee’s Administrative Office of the Courts operates a public Appellate Case Search.
The search supports fields including:
- appellate case number
- case style
- party name
- business or organization name
Case pages can include appellate filings, orders, briefs and record information when those documents are publicly available.
Police and arrest records usually begin with the originating agency
A TBI background check is not a request for the police narrative, incident report, body-camera evidence or local jail file.
For those records, identify the police department, sheriff or other law-enforcement agency that created the record and follow that agency’s public-records procedure.
TBI provides an official Tennessee Criminal Justice Directory that can be searched by county, city and agency type.
Find a Tennessee Criminal Justice AgencyUse TDOC FOIL for Tennessee felony-offender information
The Tennessee Department of Correction provides a free Felony Offender Information Lookup (FOIL).
FOIL covers felony offenders who are currently or were formerly in TDOC custody or under TDOC supervision.
Public information may include:
- offender photograph
- incarcerated / probation / parole / inactive status
- current location
- offense information
- sentence information
- parole-hearing status
- release information
Need more detail about a Tennessee felony sentence?
TDOC provides a separate sentence-information request process when the FOIL summary does not answer the question.
TDOC instructs users to choose:
- Offender Information → Sentence Information for someone in a state prison
- Offender Information → County Jail → Sentence Information for an applicable felony offender in county jail
TDOC’s current contact directory lists Records Management at 615-253-8079 and Offender Location/Transfer at 615-253-8207.
Tennessee maintains a separate public sex-offender registry
TBI is responsible for Tennessee’s public Sex Offender Registry website and for the state’s central registration repository.
The public registry can contain information such as:
- name and known aliases
- photograph and physical description
- residential information
- county of residence
- registration status
- classification
- qualifying registered offense
- registration / reporting date information
TBI states that the public website is updated from information submitted to it by registering agencies and that registered adult offenders are generally included, subject to applicable law.
Search Tennessee Sex Offender RegistryExpungement can change what appears in Tennessee criminal history
Tennessee expungement generally begins with the court in the county where the case or arrest occurred. TBI processes criminal-history changes after receiving a qualifying expungement order signed by a judge.
TBI explains that qualifying charges ending in outcomes such as:
- dismissal
- nolle prosequi
- no true bill
- not guilty
may be eligible for expungement without the ordinary clerk costs described for other forms of relief. Certain diversion matters and qualifying convictions follow different procedures and may involve fees.
TBI recommends keeping a certified copy of the expungement order because it is the best proof that the court granted the relief.
TBI Expungement GuidanceWhat if the arrest appears but the case outcome is missing?
TBI’s Criminal Records Unit receives final court disposition information from law-enforcement agencies, clerks from Tennessee’s 95 counties and municipal courts.
A missing disposition can occur when the final court outcome was not submitted successfully or could not be linked to the arrest event in the state repository.
How to dispute a Tennessee criminal-history result
If you requested a Tennessee criminal-history check on yourself—or another request was made about you—and you believe the result is inaccurate, TBI allows a fingerprint comparison.
TBI’s current TORIS request instructions state that the dispute process requires:
- a copy of your fingerprints
- a letter explaining that you dispute the TORIS result
- the criminal-history result being challenged
- the current fingerprint-comparison payment
After comparing the fingerprints, TBI indicates whether the record belongs to the person. The TORIS unit assists with correction when the comparison establishes that the criminal-history result was inaccurate.
A TBI public-records request is not the same as a criminal-history check
TBI accepts Tennessee public-records requests, but it specifically directs requests for criminal-history reports to its Background Checks service.
For other qualifying TBI public records, the agency currently accepts requests:
- in person
- by mail
- by email
TBI Public Records Request Coordinator
Tennessee Bureau of InvestigationProfessional Standards Unit
901 R.S. Gass Boulevard
Nashville, TN 37216
Email: TBI.PublicRecords@tbi.tn.gov
Federal criminal cases require a separate search
A Tennessee state criminal-history check does not replace federal court research. Federal criminal prosecutions use the U.S. federal court system.
Use PACER for federal district and appellate court records.
If you do not know which federal court handled the case, PACER’s nationwide Case Locator can help identify the filing court.
Search Federal Court RecordsEmployment and licensing background checks can require a different process
An ordinary public TORIS check is not automatically the correct background-check procedure for every employer, licensing board or volunteer organization.
TBI performs fingerprint-based checks for numerous legally authorized employment and licensing purposes, including certain school personnel, healthcare employees and people working with vulnerable populations.
Qualified organizations use the TBI-approved fingerprint process and the correct ORI information for their statutory purpose.
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation contact information
Public criminal-history checks
Tennessee Bureau of InvestigationTORIS Unit
901 R.S. Gass Boulevard
Nashville, TN 37216
Phone: 615-744-4057
General headquarters
901 R.S. Gass BoulevardNashville, TN 37216
Use the agency’s division contacts for background checks, public records, registry questions and other specialized services.
Department of Correction
Rachel Jackson Building, Sixth FloorNashville, TN 37243-0465
Main phone: 615-741-1000
Administrative Office of the Courts
511 Union Street, Suite 600Nashville, TN 37219
Phone: 615-741-2687
TBI headquarters map
TBI’s main headquarters and TORIS mailing location are at 901 R.S. Gass Boulevard in Nashville. Most ordinary criminal-history requests can be handled online or by mail, so confirm that an in-person visit is actually necessary before traveling.
Tennessee criminal-record search tips that prevent common mistakes
TBI first for statewide history
Use TORIS when you want a Tennessee-only statewide criminal-history check rather than starting with random county websites.
Court second for the case
Once the county is known, go to the clerk for the actual judgment, docket and certified disposition.
Do not expect aliases in TORIS
TBI specifically says aliases are not included in the ordinary public criminal-history result.
Wrong person?
Use TBI’s fingerprint-comparison dispute procedure instead of arguing from the name alone.
Prison question?
Move to TDOC FOIL. TORIS is not an offender-location service.
Appeal question?
Use the statewide Tennessee Appellate Case Search instead of the local trial-court system.
Police report?
Request it from the agency that created it; TBI’s background check is not the incident-report file.
Expunged record?
Keep the certified expungement order because private background databases may not update immediately.
No TBI result?
Do not conclude that no case exists anywhere; check known counties, other states and federal records when relevant.
Common questions about Tennessee criminal records
1. Can the public request a Tennessee criminal-history check?
Yes. TBI allows members of the general public to request a Tennessee adult criminal-history check on an individual through its public background-check service.
2. How much does a Tennessee TBI criminal-history check cost?
TBI currently lists the Tennessee-only general-public criminal-history check at $29. The fee applies to both online and mail request options and is non-refundable.
3. Is TORIS a fingerprint background check?
No. TBI describes TORIS public criminal-history checks as name-based Tennessee checks that do not use fingerprints.
4. Does a TBI public check include other states?
No. The standard $29 general-public check is Tennessee criminal history only. Nationwide fingerprint-based FBI checks use a separate process.
5. Can I search someone else’s Tennessee criminal history?
Yes. TBI states that the general public can request a Tennessee adult criminal-history check on an individual. The ordinary public check is name-based rather than fingerprint-verified.
6. Where do I find the actual Tennessee criminal court docket?
Contact or search the clerk for the court where the case was filed. Tennessee trial-court criminal files are maintained locally, while the state’s online appellate case search is separate.
7. How do I search a Tennessee prison or parole record?
Use the Tennessee Department of Correction Felony Offender Information Lookup, commonly called FOIL. It covers felony offenders who are or were in TDOC custody or under TDOC supervision.
8. How can I dispute a TBI criminal-history result that is not mine?
TBI allows a fingerprint comparison for disputed TORIS results. Its current instructions list a $24 fee and require fingerprints plus a written request explaining the dispute.
9. Can an expunged Tennessee charge disappear from TBI records?
Yes. TBI states that after receiving a valid court expungement order, qualifying charges are deleted from its criminal-history record and the processed order is forwarded to the FBI.
10. Does a Tennessee criminal-history search include federal cases?
No. Federal prosecutions are separate. Use PACER to research federal court cases and use the appropriate federal fingerprint process when a nationwide FBI history check is required.
Official Tennessee sources used for this guide
- Tennessee Bureau of Investigation — Background Checks
- TBI — Tennessee Open Records Information Services (TORIS)
- TBI — Criminal Justice Information Services Division
- TBI — Diversions, Expungements & Dispositions
- TBI — Public Records Requests
- TBI — Tennessee Criminal Justice Directory
- Tennessee Courts — Court Clerks Directory
- Tennessee Courts — Appellate Case Search
- Tennessee Department of Correction — Offender Search
- TDOC — Felony Offender Information Lookup
- TDOC — Sentence Information
- TBI — Tennessee Sex Offender Registry
- PACER — Federal Court Records