Tennessee 24 Hour Booking
Tennessee 24 hour booking records list everyone arrested and booked into a county jail within the last day. All 95 counties in Tennessee run their own detention facilities. Most sheriff offices post recent booking data on their websites. You can search by name or browse the full daily jail roster from any county. State databases from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Tennessee Department of Correction give you even more ways to look up records. This page covers where to find 24 hour booking records in Tennessee, what systems each county uses, and how state law protects your right to access these public records.
Tennessee 24 Hour Booking Quick Facts
What Tennessee 24 Hour Booking Records Show
A 24 hour booking record lists each person processed into a Tennessee county jail within the past day. Law enforcement brings someone in after an arrest. Jail staff then create the booking entry. This record is public. Every county jail in Tennessee generates these records as part of daily operations. Most counties make them available through an online portal or by phone request at the sheriff's office.
A typical Tennessee 24 hour booking record includes the person's full name, date of birth, and a booking photo. You will see the charges filed and which agency made the arrest. Bond amounts show up too. The record notes the date and time of intake at the jail. Some Tennessee counties go further and publish the housing unit, court dates, and projected release dates in their online booking systems. Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-503, all government records in Tennessee must be open for public inspection during business hours. Jail rosters and booking logs fall under this law. You do not need to give a reason to view them. The Tennessee Office of Open Records Counsel can help if an agency denies your request for 24 hour booking data.
Tennessee booking records do not include sealed juvenile data or protected medical details. But the core arrest, charge, and intake data is always public under Tennessee law.
How to Search Tennessee Booking Records
Tennessee runs two main state databases for looking up arrest and custody records. The Tennessee Department of Correction operates the Felony Offender Information Lookup (FOIL) system. FOIL lets you search for felony offenders held in state prisons. You can search by name or TDOC ID number. The system shows the inmate's current status, facility, booking photo, and parole eligibility date. FOIL does not include county jail inmates or misdemeanor offenders. It only covers people serving time in state custody. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation maintains the Tennessee Open Records Information Services (TORIS) system. TORIS is the central repository for criminal history data in Tennessee. Name-based checks cost $29 and you can request them online or by mail. Send requests to the TBI at 901 R.S. Gass Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37216. Call (615) 744-4057 for questions about TBI background checks.
The FOIL search portal is one of the most used tools for finding Tennessee inmates in state custody.
The FOIL system updates on a regular basis but recent bookings may have data entry delays. For county jail inmates and misdemeanor arrests, you need to search the individual county's booking portal. Each county in Tennessee manages its own jail roster separately. The FOIL database is also available through the MyTN mobile app, which gives you access to Tennessee state government services from your phone.
To search Tennessee 24 hour booking records online, you typically need:
- Full name of the person (first and last)
- County where the arrest may have occurred
- Approximate date range if searching older records
The TBI runs the TORIS portal for statewide criminal history searches across Tennessee.
For a broader search, VINELink tracks inmates across many Tennessee county jails. The system lets you search by name and set up notifications when an inmate moves or gets released. Not all Tennessee counties participate in VINELink. The Tennessee Court System website provides access to court records after the booking phase. You can look up case numbers, charges, and court dates through that portal. Use it alongside county 24 hour booking records for full case information in Tennessee.
Tennessee 24 Hour Booking by County
Each of Tennessee's 95 counties operates its own jail and booking system. Some have advanced online portals that update in real time. Others require a phone call to get current booking information. Several software platforms handle jail management across the state. The ISOMS (Inmate Security and Offender Management System) is used by counties like Anderson County. Their portal at tnac.isoms.cloud lets you view 24 hour, 48 hour, and 72 hour arrest lists with details on charges, bond, and intake time. Blount County uses the InmateNOW system which updates every 24 hours with the current roster and booking photos. Bradley County relies on the JailTracker platform for its booking reports. Davidson County offers an active inmate search through the Nashville sheriff's office website.
Not every Tennessee county has a web portal for 24 hour booking. Rural counties with smaller jails often handle booking inquiries by phone only. Bedford County, for example, does not have an online inmate roster. You need to call their jail at 931-684-4566 for current booking data. When a county lacks an online system, you can still file a public records request. Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-503, the records custodian must respond within 7 business days. Fees for copies cannot exceed the actual cost of producing them.
The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press has a detailed guide to Tennessee open records law and how it applies to jail booking data.
Counties with larger jail populations tend to have the best online booking tools in Tennessee. Shelby, Knox, Hamilton, and Davidson counties all offer real-time or daily updated inmate search portals for public use.
Tennessee Booking Records and State Law
The Tennessee Public Records Act gives you the legal right to inspect booking records at any county jail. The law is broad. It covers documents, electronic files, photographs, and any other material made in connection with official government business. Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-505(d) says the act must be "broadly construed" in favor of public access. This means agencies cannot deny your request without a specific legal exception. There are over 50 exceptions listed under T.C.A. § 10-7-504, but standard 24 hour booking data is not among them. Juvenile records are protected under separate statutes in Tennessee. Medical and mental health records gathered during the booking process are also private. But the arrest itself, the charges, bond amounts, and intake data are all part of the public record.
The Tennessee Sex Offender Registry is another public database connected to criminal records and booking history. The TBI maintains it and you can search by county, name, or address. The registry shows offender photos, residential addresses, and offense details. Tennessee Code Annotated Section 39-17-436 also requires registration for methamphetamine offenders convicted after March 2005. These registries supplement 24 hour booking records and give a fuller picture of criminal history in Tennessee. The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security keeps records on traffic-related arrests and DUI cases that may connect to county jail bookings.
Note: Tennessee agencies must respond to public records requests within 7 business days. If they refuse, contact the Office of Open Records Counsel for assistance.
Statewide Criminal Record Tools
Several other Tennessee agencies provide data related to arrests and 24 hour booking. The Tennessee Highway Patrol maintains crash reports and arrest records for traffic offenses. DUI arrests made by state troopers may not show up in county booking systems right away. The Knox County Sheriff and Hamilton County Sheriff both offer direct online access to their booking lists. These are two of the busiest jail systems in Tennessee.
For state prison records only, use FOIL. For county jail records, go to the county sheriff's website. For court records after booking, check the Tennessee courts portal. Each tool covers a different part of the process from arrest to sentencing in Tennessee.
Browse Tennessee 24 Hour Booking
Tennessee Counties
Each of the 95 counties in Tennessee runs a jail with its own booking system. Select a county below to find 24 hour booking records and contact details for that area.
Major Tennessee Cities
Residents of Tennessee cities file through their county sheriff's office. Pick a city below to find 24 hour booking information for that area.