Shelby County Arrest Records

In Shelby County, an arrest record is a set of official documents created when a person is taken into custody and booked by a law enforcement agency. These records are essential because of their relevance to transparency and public accountability in the decisions of the justice system under the Tennessee Public Records Act (Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-503). This law allows the public to understand the activities of law enforcement and how each crime is brought to justice. However, certain criminal history information access is governed by a different regulatory scheme under the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), Tenn. Code Ann. § 38-6-120. Arrest records simply provide a basic source of information, which is a starting point to further investigative needs and direct enforcement activities in the county. It also ensures that victims can track their case status and that accurate background checks are carried out for safe future decisions.

Are Arrest Records Public Information in Tennessee?

Yes. Shelby County arrest records are public records. The Tennessee Public Records Act (TPRA) ensures that public records are open for inspection to any citizen of Tennessee. This law applies to all state, city, county, and municipal agencies in the Tennessee Government. TPRA also governs the public examination of other law enforcement records in the custody of criminal justice agencies.

However, the law also makes certain arrest records confidential, sealed, and exempt from public disclosure in the county. This further means that the custodians of these records can deny requests to access in writing within a time frame. The following are some examples of confidential arrest information as stated in T.C.A. § 10-7-504:

• Certain personal information of law enforcement officers, victims, and witnesses will be treated as confidential
• All investigative records and reports of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the internal affairs of the Department of Corrections
• Medical records
• Information related to an individual's physical or mental health
• Sealed or juvenile records.

Shelby County Arrest Search

As governed by T.C.A. § 38-6-120, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) provides Criminal History Record Information (CHRI), which includes arrest records from law enforcement in Tennessee. TBI allows the public to obtain Tennessee adult criminal history on any individual through:

• An online name-based statewide criminal history search for a fee of $29 per request. This includes adult arrests reported to TBI based on fingerprint submissions by law enforcement agencies across Tennessee (including Shelby County).
• Fingerprint-Based Background Checks are primarily for comprehensive results requiring access to FBI databases.

Although the Tennessee Department of Corrections (TDOC) does not provide arrest or booking records, it maintains information on individuals serving a state prison sentence from an arrest in Shelby County, Tennessee. TDOC offers an online Felony Offender Search tool to access information on felony offenders in custody or under the supervision of the department. Information available may include the offender's photo, location, current status, offense, sentence information, parole hearing status, and release details. Individuals can conduct a search by full name, TDOC number, or State ID.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) gives access to the location of federal inmates incarcerated from 1982 to the present. The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) grants the public the authority to request copies of federal inmate records. Anyone may search for an inmate using their full name or number.

Shelby County Inmate Locator

The Shelby County Sheriff's Office (SCSO) maintains an Inmate Lookup tool, which provides access to arrest or booking information in the county. The tool is searchable by the inmate's name (first/last name and date of birth) or unique identifier (booking number, permanent number, and state ID). The results may include name, booking number, photo, charges, offense type, arresting agency, and court dates.

Active Warrant Search in Shelby County

Arrest warrants in Shelby County are legal documents that order an officer authorized by law to arrest the named person on the warrant without delay. In Tennessee, a magistrate or county clerk issues the warrant upon an affidavit of complaint filed to establish probable cause to believe that the defendant has committed an offense (Tennessee Rule of Criminal Procedure 4).

The Shelby County Sheriff's Office, Fugitive Division, maintains the county's warrant documents and handles arrest warrant inquiries. The office also provides an online Warrant Search tool or warrant information system for individuals interested in finding warrants issued within the county. Individuals can also visit the office directly or contact the Fugitive Division at (901) 222-3500 to confirm if the warrant is active.

The arrest warrant should contain the defendant's name or description, the county where the warrant was issued, the offense charged, the order of arrest, and the court clerk or magistrate's signature.

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Shelby County

The Shelby County General Sessions Court provides a Criminal Justice System (CJS) that allows the public to access criminal records in the county for free. Search results for arrest-related information may include the arrest and booking date, affidavit filing date, charges filed, and sentencing details. However, users are required to register through the portal link available on the website.

Individuals can also access free arrest records through the 'Who's in Jail' search tool on the Shelby County Sheriff's Office website. The tool is searchable by the inmate's name (first/last name and date of birth) or unique identifier (booking number, permanent number, and state ID).

Shelby County Arrest Report

An arrest report is a written narrative document that shows the circumstances around the arrest of a person. It serves as a legal background that also describes the probable cause and the evidence or witness statements supporting the arrest charge. A typical report includes the suspect's details, description of the apprehension, evidence seized, and applicable laws violated around the offense. On the other hand, an arrest record is created after someone is detained and booked into a custodial database or jail system in the county. Information in an arrest record includes the defendant's name, arrest date and location, booking number, bond status, and arresting officer.

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Shelby County

Expungement is a court-ordered process where the official record of some criminal cases can be removed under the law. In Shelby County, only certain criminal records can be expunged, and in some cases, they can be expunged without fees. Per T.C.A. § 40-32-101(g), individuals may be eligible for expungement without fees if:

• Charges against the individual are dismissed.
• A grand jury returned a 'no true bill'.
• The individual was arrested and released without being charged.
• The individual went to trial, which resulted in a not-guilty verdict.
• The case resulted in a nolle prosequi

To begin the expungement process, eligible individuals may file a request using the order for expungement form with the court clerk. Next, obtain a copy of the expungement candidate questionnaire and provide a self-addressed stamped envelope for each charge to be expunged. Once the checklist is complete and the required documents are made available, submit to the General Sessions Court Clerk or Criminal Court Clerk. The Court Clerk will mail a certified copy of the order to expunge the record and a certified copy of the charging document in an envelope. All paperwork will be sent to the judge and the right agencies for expungement.

How Do You Remove Arrest Records From the Internet?

A legal expungement or dismissal of an arrest record in court is one of the major steps to removing it from the internet. Once expunged, official online databases will automatically remove the record. This process also creates the legal backup required to request record removal from private websites.

After expungement, some third-party websites may not take down old arrest information. This will require the individual to make a formal record removal request with proof of expungement. If the individual does not qualify for expungement, official takedown requests can still be sent to the government site with the help of hired professionals.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Under the Tennessee Public Records Act, members of the public may find the following information in the Shelby County public arrest records:

• Identification and booking details (name, date of birth, age, booking number)
• Physical description of the subject, such as height, weight, skin, hair, eye color, and race
• Photograph and fingerprints
• Arrest date, time, and location
• Arresting officer
• Charges and bond information
• Warrant details (if any)