Tennessee Background Check
Tennessee background checks are run through the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, which serves as the state's central repository for all criminal history records. The TBI operates TORIS, a public search system that lets anyone request criminal history information on individuals across the state. You can search online, send in a request by mail, or call the TBI directly. County court records, the state sex offender registry, and a free felony offender database round out the main sources available for background check searches across all 95 counties in Tennessee.
Tennessee Background Check Quick Facts
How Tennessee Background Checks Work
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is the state's official source for criminal history records. The Information Systems Division within TBI gathers and keeps all criminal records for the state. That includes arrests, misdemeanor charges, felony charges, guilty pleas, and convictions statewide. When someone runs a Tennessee background check through the TBI, results reflect what is officially linked to the name and details submitted. Because name-based searches don't use fingerprints, the TBI notes that results are accurate but can't guarantee a match to a specific individual with certainty.
The TBI gives the public access through two main paths. A name-based search through TORIS is what most people use. The other option is a fingerprint-based search through IdentoGO, a company the TBI has authorized to run these checks. Fingerprint searches provide stronger confirmation that the records belong to the right person. Some agencies require fingerprint checks for this reason. Those organizations are issued an originating agency identifier number, called an ORI number, by the TBI to access that level of search.
The TBI's background checks division page explains both the public name-based search and the fingerprint-based options available through the bureau.
The page walks through who can request what, how to submit a search, and what records the TBI includes and excludes from its results.
TORIS - Tennessee's Criminal History Search System
TORIS stands for Tennessee Open Records Information Services. It is the public-facing portal the TBI runs for criminal history requests. You can reach it at tbibackgrounds.tbi.tn.gov. Each search costs $29 and is non-refundable. The system takes Visa, Mastercard, and Discover. Organizations with billing accounts can use TN-FlexCheck for higher-volume requests.
The TORIS portal is where you submit a public background check request and pay online through the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's system.
From the TORIS portal you can pay, submit your request, and check back on a pending search. The TBI recommends using a desktop or laptop since results come back as PDF documents that may not load on all devices. A TORIS result states whether or not the person has a Tennessee criminal history. No juvenile records appear in results unless the juvenile was transferred to adult court under Tenn. Code Ann § 37-1-134. The search stays within Tennessee and does not pull FBI records or records from other states.
You can also send your request by mail. Download the Criminal History Information Request Form from the TBI website, fill it out, and mail it with a $29 check or money order to: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation - TORIS Unit, 901 R.S. Gass Blvd., Nashville, TN 37216. For phone help, call 615-744-4057. The TBI has held international accreditation since 1994.
The TnFlexCheck main system is available for organizations with billing accounts that need to submit multiple background check requests through the TBI at volume.
The TnFlexCheck interface is designed for higher-volume users and authorized agencies running multiple searches in a session.
Firearm Background Checks Through Tennessee TICS
The Tennessee Instant Check System, called TICS, handles background checks for firearm purchases and pawn redemptions. All licensed dealers in Tennessee must run a TICS check before completing a gun sale or returning a firearm from a pawn shop. The TBI manages TICS. A check typically takes 10 to 15 minutes.
The TICS system page on the TBI website covers how dealers submit requests, what records are checked, and how appeals work when a purchase is denied.
TICS checks pull information including full name, driver's license number, criminal history, felony convictions, restraining orders, and mental health records. To be eligible to own a firearm in Tennessee, a person cannot have a felony conviction, a domestic violence charge, or be prohibited from handgun ownership in any state. If a purchase is denied, the buyer has 30 days from the notice to file an appeal. Appeals go to the TBI by fax at 615-744-4660. You can check appeal status online by entering your state transaction number and date of birth.
Free Felony Offender Lookup Through FOIL
The Tennessee Department of Correction runs the Felony Offender Information Lookup, known as FOIL. This tool is free and open to the public. You can search at apps.tn.gov/foil-app. Searches work by full name, TOMIS ID (a unique six-digit number assigned by the state), or state ID number.
The FOIL search page at the Tennessee Department of Correction gives free public access to felony offender records in the state prison system.
A FOIL result shows current status, facility location, booking photo, earliest parole eligibility date, and active sentence. Records include name, age, gender, race, and all data generated from arrival through release. The TDOC publishes new inmate records within one week of the person entering the system. The MyTN app also gives access to FOIL data and works on mobile devices for anyone who prefers that format.
Tennessee Sex Offender Registry
The TBI maintains Tennessee's sex offender registry under the Tennessee Sexual Offender and Violent Sexual Offender Registration, Verification and Tracking Act of 2004. That law is found at TCA 40-39-201 et seq. and took effect August 1, 2004. Anyone who meets the definition of a sexual offender or violent sexual offender and who lives, works, goes to school, or has any physical presence in Tennessee must register.
The registry is a searchable public database. It shows name, aliases, identifying details, the offense or offenses, conviction dates, current home and work addresses, physical descriptions, and photos. Registration lasts 10 years or for life depending on the offense. Violent offenders must report in person quarterly. Others update annually. Any change in address, job, or school must be reported within 48 hours of the change. Offenders cannot live within 1,000 feet of schools, parks, daycares, or other places where children regularly gather.
Offenders must also submit fingerprints, a photograph, and a DNA sample when they first register. After an initial registration, the frequency of updates depends on the classification of the offense.
Tennessee Public Records Access
Under T.C.A. § 10-7-503, all state, county, and municipal records in Tennessee are open for inspection by any citizen during business hours. The legislature wrote this law to give citizens the fullest possible access to public records. Tennessee courts have held that a "presumption of openness" applies to government documents in the state.
The Tennessee public records statutes page from the County Technical Assistance Service at the University of Tennessee covers how the Public Records Act applies across county offices and what types of records fall under it.
The page also explains the process for challenging a denial and what legal bases a custodian can use to withhold records. Some records are kept from public view. Social Security numbers, financial account data, and certain records involving minors are protected. A records request must identify the specific records you want clearly enough for the agency to find them. Agencies are not required to search broadly or compile summaries in response to vague requests.
TBI Open Records Requests
The TBI has its own process for open records requests. This is not the same as a TORIS background check. If you need specific documents held by the TBI that fall outside a standard criminal history search, an open records request is the path to take. The TBI handles these under the Tennessee Public Records Act.
The TBI open records request page has the official request form and instructions for getting documents from the bureau.
You download the form, complete it, and return it by mail, in person, or by fax. The TBI is located at 901 R.S. Gass Boulevard, Nashville, Tennessee 37216-2639. The office fax number is 615-744-4289.
Expungement of Tennessee Background Check Records
Tennessee law gives people the right to petition for expungement of certain records under T.C.A. § 40-32-101. If a charge was dismissed, a grand jury returned no true bill, or a person was arrested and released without being charged, they can petition the court to have those records removed. In these situations, there is no cost for the petition.
The T.C.A. § 40-32-101 expungement statute sets out who qualifies and what showing the court needs before granting an order to remove criminal records in Tennessee.
The statute covers both dismissed charges and certain convictions. For convictions, you must never have had a previous expungement, and the offense cannot involve physical force against another person, use of a deadly weapon, or a sex crime requiring registration on the registry. Once a court grants expungement, all public records of the conviction are destroyed. The legal effect restores the person to the same status they had before the arrest occurred. After an expungement order, the person is not required to disclose the matter. Not mentioning it does not constitute perjury under Tennessee law.
Department of Safety and Driving Records
The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security holds records related to driving history, traffic violations, and license status. These records are separate from criminal history kept by the TBI. The department works alongside the TBI on certain record-keeping matters in the state.
The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security website provides access to motor vehicle records, license verification, and other public safety data maintained by the state.
Motor vehicle records from the department show driving history, violations on file, and current license status. These records can be requested separately from the TBI criminal history system and are used for different purposes than a standard background check.
Tennessee Court Records and Case History
Court records are a key source for background information in Tennessee. The Administrative Office of the Courts provides the Public Case History tool for case research at the appellate level. This tool covers the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and Court of Criminal Appeals through a case management system called C-Track.
The Tennessee Public Case History portal at tncourts.gov lets anyone search for appellate case information by party name or case number at no cost.
At the county level, Tennessee has General Sessions Courts, Circuit Courts, and Criminal Courts. General Sessions handles misdemeanors, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings for felony cases. Circuit Courts and Criminal Courts handle more serious matters. Each county clerk maintains records from these courts and provides copies to the public. Some counties offer online access to their case records.
In Knox County, the Criminal Court Clerk provides direct background check services through their office. Davidson County offers free case searches at ccc.nashville.gov. In Shelby County, the online case search runs at cjs.shelbycountytn.gov. Hamilton County's criminal court clerk is accessible at hamiltontn.gov. Start any court record search at tncourts.gov to find the right county clerk.
Browse Background Checks by Tennessee County
Each of Tennessee's 95 counties maintains court records, arrest records, and other background check sources through its own court clerks and Sheriff's Office. Select a county below to find local resources and contact information.
View All 95 Tennessee Counties
Tennessee Background Checks by City
Residents of major Tennessee cities can access background check resources through both the state TBI system and local court and police records. Select a city to find the specific resources serving that area.