DeKalb County 24 Hour Booking
DeKalb County 24 hour booking records are kept by the Sheriff's Office in Smithville. The jail holds up to 104 inmates and logs each new arrest around the clock. If you need to check on a recent booking or find out who was brought in last night, the county has an online tool for that. You can search by name or booking number to pull up charge details, bond amounts, and more. The DeKalb County detention site also shows current inmates with their status. This page walks you through how to look up 24 hour booking data and what to expect when you search DeKalb County arrest records.
DeKalb County Quick Facts
DeKalb County Sheriff and Booking Records
Sheriff Patrick Ray runs the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office. The office sits at 100 Public Square in Smithville. It serves more than 300 square miles of rural land in central Tennessee. The jail is part of the same complex. It has four cell blocks in the main building and two more in a jail annex. Roughly 90 inmates stay there on any given day, and 16 full-time correctional officers work 12-hour shifts to keep things moving. A licensed nurse visits once each day, and a doctor is on call at all times.
Every booking at the DeKalb County Jail creates a record. That record holds the person's name, charges, bond amount, and booking date. New arrests show up on the 24 hour booking log as they happen. Staff process each intake, take a photo, and enter the data into the system. You can reach the jail at 615-597-4043 or the main office at 615-597-4935 if you need help with a booking search. Under T.C.A. § 10-7-503, these records are public in Tennessee and most people can get access to them.
The DeKalb County Sheriff's Office also has a tip line at 615-464-6400. You can share info on crimes or wanted persons. Tips can be left with no name attached.
Search DeKalb County 24 Hour Booking Online
The best place to check recent bookings in DeKalb County is the detention center website. The DeKalb County Detention Center site lets you look up inmates by name or booking number. You can see current charges, bond info, and release status all in one spot. The tool is free and open to the public. It pulls from the same data used by the jail, so results are up to date.
You can also check the DeKalb County Sheriff's website for an inmate lookup link. The sheriff's site has general info on the office, staff, and services. For a broader search that covers more than just DeKalb County, the state-level Tennessee jail roster sites sometimes list inmates too. Keep in mind that third-party sites may not update as fast as the official county portal. Always verify what you find by calling the jail at 615-597-4043.
The DeKalb County government site also links to the sheriff's page. That page has contact info and general jail details. It can help you find the right phone number or address if you want to reach out in person.
The screenshot below shows the DeKalb County Sheriff's official site where you can begin your booking search.
The site provides links to the jail, inmate services, and contact details for the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office.
DeKalb County Booking Record Details
Each 24 hour booking record in DeKalb County holds a set of standard data points. When someone is arrested and booked at the jail, staff enter the person's full name, date of birth, and physical description. They note the charges, the bond set by the court, and the date and time of the arrest. A mugshot is taken in most cases. All of this goes into the booking file that stays on record at the DeKalb County Jail.
When you search the online roster, you will see most of this data. Bond amounts tell you what a person needs to pay to get released before trial. Charges list each offense. Some inmates face one charge while others have several. The status field shows if someone is still in custody or has been released. Under Tennessee law, arrest records stay on file unless a court orders them erased through the expungement process. If you need a full copy of a booking record, you can file a public records request with the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office.
Note: Mugshots may not be available for every booking in DeKalb County.
Requesting DeKalb County Arrest Records
If the online search does not give you what you need, you can request records from the DeKalb County government. The Tennessee Public Records Act gives residents the right to ask for government records. The county has seven business days to respond to your request. You can submit it by phone, mail, or in person at the sheriff's office in Smithville.
To make a request, you should have the person's full name and date of birth. A case number helps too if you have one. Send your request to the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office at 100 Public Square, Smithville, TN 37166. You can also call 615-597-4935 or fax your request to 615-597-2536. The email address for the sheriff is sheriff21@dekalbsheriff.net. Keep in mind that Tennessee residency may be required for some types of records.
| Office |
DeKalb County Sheriff's Office 100 Public Square Smithville, TN 37166 Phone: 615-597-4935 |
|---|---|
| Jail | Phone: 615-597-4043 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, business hours |
| Website | dekalbsheriff.org |
DeKalb County Booking Expungement
Some arrest records in DeKalb County can be erased. Tennessee law allows expungement for cases that ended without a conviction. If charges were dropped, dismissed, or resulted in a not guilty verdict, you may qualify. The process starts at the court clerk's office. You file a request using the proper form and wait for a judge to review it.
Under T.C.A. § 40-32-101, eligible cases include those where all charges were dismissed, the grand jury returned no true bill, or the person was found not guilty at trial. Once the court grants the order, the booking record is removed from the public roster. The DeKalb County Sheriff's Office and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation both process their copies. If you are not sure whether your case qualifies, call the DeKalb County court clerk for help.
Note: Expungement does not happen on its own in DeKalb County; you must file a request.
Tennessee Statewide Booking Resources
Beyond the DeKalb County jail roster, Tennessee has state-level tools for searching arrest and booking data. The Tennessee Court System lets you search court records by name or case number. This covers criminal cases across many counties. It is free to use for basic lookups. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation also keeps a criminal history database, though access to that requires fingerprints and a formal request.
Here is a look at the DeKalb County government page linking to the sheriff's office, where you can find jail and booking resources.
The page shows contact info and links for the DeKalb County Sheriff and jail operations.
The Tennessee Department of Correction tracks state inmates but does not cover county jail bookings like those in DeKalb County. For county-level booking records, the sheriff's office is your best bet. If you want to track an inmate's status after they leave the DeKalb County Jail for a state prison, the TDOC offender lookup tool can help with that step.
Cities in DeKalb County
DeKalb County includes Smithville, Alexandria, Liberty, and Dowelltown. None of these cities meet the population threshold for a dedicated page. All arrests within DeKalb County are processed at the county jail in Smithville regardless of which town the arrest occurs in.
Nearby Counties
DeKalb County sits in the upper Cumberland region of Tennessee. If you live near a county line, your booking may have been processed in a neighboring county. Check the right jurisdiction before searching.