Arrests.org TN – Tennessee Arrest, Inmate & Mugshot Records

Arrests.org TN allows regular people to view Tennessee arrest records quickly. The site collects data from local sheriff offices and police departments to show who is in jail. You can use this tool to see if a friend, family member, or neighbor was taken into custody. The system connects to public databases and puts the names, mugshots, and charges in one place. This makes looking up Tennessee jail lists faster than checking every county website one by one.

Tennessee law says most police records are open to the public. Arrests.org TN uses this law to show you booking logs. You do not need to be a lawyer or a police officer to use it. You just need a name and a location. But you must know that this data comes from third parties. Always check the official county sheriff’s page to be 100% sure the information is correct. The records show an arrest, not a final guilty verdict.

How the Tennessee Arrest Lookup Works

The Tennessee arrest lookup process relies on public transparency laws. When police officers arrest someone, they create a paper trail. This trail starts with a booking report. The report lists the person’s name, the time of arrest, the location, and the specific laws they broke. This data goes into the county jail management system.

Arrests.org TN pulls this data from those systems. It organizes the files so you can search by name. Without this tool, you would have to know exactly which of the 95 counties in Tennessee holds the record. This site lets you search broadly. You type a name, and it scans available records to find matches. This saves time when you do not know where an arrest happened.

The Difference Between Arrests.org TN and Official Sites

You must know the difference between a private site and a government site. Arrests.org TN is a private website. It copies data from the government. Sometimes, the government updates a record, but the private site has not updated yet. This means a person might be out of jail, but the site says they are still in.

Official sites end in .gov. These are run by the county sheriff or the state. The data on a .gov site is the legal record. If you need a document for court or a job application, you must use the official government source. Arrests.org TN is good for a quick check, but it is not a legal document provider.

Tennessee Public Records Law and Your Rights

Tennessee Code Annotated § 10-7-503 is the law that opens these records. It says that records made by government workers are open for inspection. This includes arrest logs, jail rosters, and warrant lists. The state believes that citizens have a right to see what the police do. This keeps the justice system open and honest.

Some records stay private. You cannot see records for minors (people under 18). You cannot see details of an ongoing investigation if releasing them would hurt the case. But for a standard adult arrest, the name, mugshot, and charges are public. You have the right to view them without giving a reason.

What Information is in a Public Arrest Record?

A standard record contains specific data points. When you look up a file, you will see:

• Full Name: The first, middle, and last name of the person.
• Booking Date: The exact day and hour the police processed them.
• Agency: The name of the police department or sheriff’s office.
• Charges: The specific crimes the police say the person committed.
• Bond Amount: The money required to get out of jail before trial.
• Mugshot: The photo taken at the jail.

This data helps you identify the person. Common names like “John Smith” will have many results. You use the age, mugshot, and middle name to pick the right one.

Arrest Records vs. Criminal Records

Many people think an arrest record and a criminal record are the same. They are different. An arrest record only means the police took a person to jail. It does not mean a judge found them guilty. The person might be innocent. The charges might get dropped later.

A criminal record shows the final result. It lists convictions. A conviction happens when a person pleads guilty or a court finds them guilty. Employers care more about convictions than arrests. An arrest is an accusation. A criminal record is a judgment. You should check the court outcome to know the full story.

How to Search Each Tennessee County

Tennessee has 95 counties. Each county keeps its own jail list. To find a person, you must know where the police arrested them. A person arrested in Nashville goes to the Davidson County jail. A person arrested in Memphis goes to the Shelby County jail. The systems do not always talk to each other.

Shelby County (Memphis)

Shelby County has the largest jail population. The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office runs the jail. They have a “Jail Log” on their website. You can type a name or a booking number. The results show the housing location, which tells you which building the inmate is in.

Davidson County (Nashville)

The Davidson County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) manages inmates in Nashville. Their tool is the “Inmate Search.” It updates often. You can see if a person has a court date coming up. The system also lists the bond amount. If the bond is $0, the person might be released on their own recognizance.

Knox County (Knoxville)

Knox County lists inmates on the Sheriff’s website. They show a 24-hour arrest list. This list is good for seeing who got arrested last night. It is a simple list with names and charges. For older records, you use the main search bar.

Hamilton County (Chattanooga)

Hamilton County provides a “Corrections” section. You can see the booking date and the release date. If the release date is blank, the person is still in custody. This helps families know if their loved one is still in jail.

Checking City Jails and Police Departments

Most people go to county jails. But some cities have small holding cells. These are city jails. Police keep people here for a short time before moving them to the county jail. If you cannot find a person in the county list, check the city police.

City jails hold people for minor crimes or traffic stops. They might stay there for only a few hours. The records for these stays are harder to find online. You often have to call the city police desk. Ask for the “booking desk” or “records division.” They can tell you if a person is there.

Step-by-Step Guide to Using the Tennessee Inmate Locator

Follow these steps to find an inmate accurately. This method works for most county websites and third-party tools.

1. Identify the Location: Ask where the arrest happened. Knowing the county is the most important step.
2. Get the Correct Spelling: Jail systems need exact spelling. “Jon” and “John” are different. If you get no results, try just the last name.
3. Use the Sheriff’s Website: Go to the county sheriff’s page first. Look for “Inmate Search” or “Jail Roster.”
4. Check the Status: Look for the word “Active” or “Released.” Active means they are in a cell. Released means they went home.
5. Note the Booking Number: Write down the booking number or inmate ID. You will need this to pay bail or visit.

How to Get Official Copies of Records

Sometimes you need a paper copy of a record. You might need this to correct an error or for a legal case. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) handles official state background checks. This is the “gold standard” record.

The TBI background check costs money. It is usually $29.00 for a name-based search. This search checks the whole state, not just one county. It shows arrests and convictions. Employers use this check because it is official. You can request this online through the TBI website.

For a certified copy of a specific arrest report, go to the local court clerk. The Court Clerk keeps the official legal file. They can stamp the document to prove it is real. This costs a small fee per page.

Active Warrant Search in Tennessee

A warrant is an order from a judge to arrest someone. Warrants are serious. If you have a warrant, you can be arrested at any time. Searching for warrants is different from searching for arrest records. An arrest record is past history. A warrant is active status.

Most counties do not publish full warrant lists online. They do not want people to run away. However, some counties list “Most Wanted” or active warrants for minor crimes. To check for a warrant, you can call the court clerk. Be careful. If you have a warrant and you go to the police station, they will arrest you.

The Tennessee Department of Correction publishes a list of escapees and absconders. These are people who ran away from prison or probation. This list is public for safety reasons.

Tennessee Sex Offender Registry Search

The TBI keeps a specific list for sex offenders. This is a safety tool for families. You can search this list by name, city, or zip code. The law requires offenders to register their address. If they move, they must tell the police.

This registry shows the person’s photo, address, and the crime they committed. It labels them as “Violent” or “Non-Violent” based on the law. You can sign up for email alerts. If an offender moves into your zip code, the system sends you an email. This is a free service from the state.

Expungement: Removing an Arrest Record

A record can hurt your job chances. But Tennessee allows you to remove some records. This is called expungement. If the judge dismissed your case, you can erase the record. If you were found “not guilty,” you can erase the record.

Expungement is not automatic. You must file a petition. You go to the court clerk where the case happened. You pay a fee (sometimes it is free for dismissed cases). The judge signs the order. Then, the court tells the jail and the TBI to destroy the file. Once expunged, it is like the arrest never happened. You can legally say “no” if an employer asks if you were arrested for that crime.

Who is Eligible for Expungement?

You can apply for expungement if:

• The police released you without charging you.
• The Grand Jury did not indict you (No True Bill).
• The judge dismissed the charges.
• A jury found you Not Guilty.
• You completed a diversion program successfully.

Some low-level convictions can also be expunged after 5 or 10 years. This applies to non-violent crimes. You must pay all your fines first. Violent crimes and sex offenses usually cannot be expunged.

Understanding Bail and Bonding Out

When you see an arrest record, you often see a “Bond” amount. Bond is the money you pay to leave jail while waiting for court. If the record says “$5,000 Bond,” you must pay that amount to get out.

You have three ways to pay:

1. Cash Bond: You pay the full $5,000 to the court. You get it back after the trial if the person shows up.
2. Bail Bond Company: You pay a company 10% (like $500). They pay the rest. You do not get the $500 back. This is their fee.
3. Property Bond: You use a house or land as collateral. This takes more time to set up.

If the bond says “No Bond,” the person cannot leave. This happens for serious crimes or if the judge thinks the person will run away.

Inmate Communications and Visitation

Once you find the person on the jail list, you might want to talk to them. Jails have strict rules. You cannot just call the cell. Inmates can make outgoing calls, but they are collect calls. You have to set up an account with a phone provider like Securus or GTL.

Visitation is often video-based now. You go to the jail or use an app on your computer. You see the inmate on a screen. Physical contact visits are rare in county jails. Always check the visitation hours on the sheriff’s website before you drive there. You need a valid ID to visit.

Tennessee Sheriff Office Contact Directory

Use this table to contact the main sheriff offices in Tennessee for record verification.

Official State Resource: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation – (615) 744-4000. Open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is Arrests.org TN a free service?

Arrests.org TN is generally free to view. You can see names, photos, and charges without paying. However, some third-party sites that link from there might ask for a fee for “premium” reports. These premium reports often include extra data like phone numbers or address history. The basic jail data is public and free. If a site asks for money just to see a mugshot, you should try the official county sheriff’s website first, as that is always free.

How often is the arrest data updated?

The update speed depends on the county. Big counties like Shelby and Davidson update their systems every few hours. Smaller rural counties might only update once a day or once a week. Arrests.org TN pulls data automatically, but there is always a delay. A person might be released from jail at 10:00 AM, but the website might still show them in custody at 5:00 PM. Always call the jail to confirm the real-time status before taking action.

Can I remove my mugshot from the internet?

Removing a mugshot is difficult. If the arrest is a public record, websites have a legal right to publish it. However, Tennessee law prohibits companies from demanding money to remove a photo. This is called a “mugshot racket” and is illegal. If your case was expunged, you can send the expungement order to the website administrator. They legally must remove the record if it was expunged by a court. If they refuse, you may need a lawyer to send a takedown notice.

What does “Released on Recognizance” mean?

Released on Recognizance (ROR) means the judge let the person go without paying money. The person signs a paper promising to come to court. This happens for minor crimes or if the person has a job and ties to the community. It shows the judge trusts the person will not run away. If you see $0 Bond on a record, it usually means ROR. If they miss court, the judge issues a warrant and sets a high money bond.

Why can’t I find a recent arrest?

If you cannot find a record, a few things might be happening. First, the booking process takes time. It can take 2 to 6 hours for a person to be processed and entered into the computer. Second, they might be in a city jail, not the county jail. Third, the name might be spelled wrong in the system. Finally, for very serious cases or protective custody, the police might hide the record from the public view temporarily for safety.

Are juvenile arrest records public in Tennessee?

No. Juvenile records are confidential. If a person under 18 is arrested, their name and photo are not put on public websites. The law protects minors to give them a chance to grow up without a permanent record. The only exception is if a juvenile is charged as an adult for a very severe crime, like murder. In that rare case, the record becomes public. Otherwise, you will not find youth arrest logs online.

Does an arrest record show up on a job background check?

It depends on the type of check. A simple check might show pending cases. However, the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) limits how far back an arrest can show up if there was no conviction (usually 7 years). But if you were convicted, it stays forever unless expunged. Tennessee has “Ban the Box” laws for state jobs, meaning they cannot ask about criminal history on the initial application. Private employers have different rules.