Memphis Background Check

Memphis background check records come from multiple sources, including the Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk, the Memphis Police Department, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation statewide database.

Shelby County Court System

Memphis is the county seat of Shelby County. All criminal cases filed in Memphis go through the Shelby County court system. The county operates several criminal courts, including Criminal Court divisions that handle felony cases. Misdemeanor cases go through the Shelby County General Sessions Criminal Court. Both court types produce public records that you can search and request copies of.

The Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk maintains the official case files for all criminal matters. This includes arrest records, charging documents, plea records, jury verdicts, and sentencing orders. The clerk office is the main starting point if you need official court records for a background check in Memphis.

For more detail on the court system, fees, and how to search county records, visit the Shelby County background check records page.

Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk

The Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk keeps all criminal case records for Memphis and the rest of Shelby County. This office is where you go to search for court records in person or to get certified copies of court documents.

You can search Shelby County criminal court records online at no charge through the clerk's public portal. The portal lets you search by name or case number and see basic case details like charge type, court dates, and disposition. To get full documents or certified copies, you need to request them in person or by mail. Bring a valid photo ID when you visit the courthouse in Memphis.

Memphis Police Department Records

The Memphis Police Department (MPD) keeps records of arrests made by city officers. These records are separate from court records. An arrest record shows that someone was taken into custody, but it does not show what happened in court afterward. If you need both pieces, you must request records from both the police department and the court clerk.

MPD arrest records cover incidents handled by city police only. If a sheriff's deputy or state trooper made the arrest, the record will be with a different agency. Local police records are useful for recent incidents and cases that may not yet show up in court databases.

To request Memphis Police records, you can submit a public records request through the city's online portal or in person at the MPD Records Division. Processing times vary. Some records may be available same day; others take several business days. Fees apply for copies. A local police check covers Memphis city incidents only and does not include records from other jurisdictions.

Statewide Background Checks Through TBI

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) runs the state's official background check system. This is called TORIS, the Tennessee Online Records Inquiry System. A TBI background check covers criminal records from all 95 Tennessee counties, not just Shelby County or Memphis. It is the most complete option for a statewide criminal history check.

The fee for a TBI background check is $29 per person. You submit the request through the TORIS portal online. Results typically come back within a few minutes for most searches. The check covers convictions and other court dispositions reported to the TBI statewide repository. Not every local record gets reported to TBI, so court clerk records can fill in gaps for Memphis-specific searches.

You can start a TBI background check at tbibackgrounds.tbi.tn.gov. For more about what TBI checks cover, visit the TBI background checks page.

Public Records Access in Memphis

Tennessee's open records law gives the public the right to inspect and copy government records. This is set out in T.C.A. § 10-7-503. Criminal court records in Memphis are public under this law, with limited exceptions for certain sealed or expunged cases.

To access records, you submit a public records request to the agency that holds them. For court records, that is the Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk. For police records, it is the Memphis Police Department. Each agency sets its own fees for copies, but the inspection of records is generally free. Agencies must respond to requests promptly under Tennessee law.

Some records in Memphis are not available to the public. Juvenile court records are sealed by default. Cases that were expunged are removed from public access. Ongoing investigations may also have restricted records. If you are not sure whether a record is public, you can ask the agency directly.

Expungement in Memphis

Expungement removes a criminal record from public access. In Tennessee, expungement is governed by T.C.A. § 40-32-101. If a Memphis case was expunged, it will not show up in standard public record searches or court clerk lookups. The TBI also removes expunged records from its system once it receives proper notice.

Not all cases qualify for expungement. Generally, dismissed charges, not guilty verdicts, and certain low-level convictions may be eligible. Serious felonies are usually not eligible. The waiting period and eligibility rules depend on the type of offense. If you believe your Memphis case qualifies, you file a petition with the Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk. There is a filing fee unless you are exempt.

After expungement, if a background check shows a record that was expunged, you can contact the TBI or the court clerk to have it corrected. You may also work with a Memphis attorney to enforce your expungement rights under Tennessee law.

Felony Offender Information Lookup (FOIL)

Tennessee operates a free public database called the Felony Offender Information Lookup, or FOIL. It shows current and past felony offenders in the state prison system and those on community supervision. This is a quick check that does not require paying any fee.

FOIL covers people who were convicted of felonies in Tennessee and processed through the state corrections system. It does not cover misdemeanor records or cases that ended in dismissal. It is not a substitute for a full background check. But it is a useful first step if you want to see whether someone has a felony record connected to Tennessee corrections.

You can search FOIL for free at apps.tn.gov/foil-app/search.jsp. Search by name. Results show current custody status, conviction county, and offense information for qualifying records.

Nearby Cities

These nearby Tennessee cities also have background check record pages.

View Major Tennessee Cities

Shelby County Background Check Records

Memphis is in Shelby County. All criminal court records for the city are maintained at the county level. For full details on the court system, clerk contact information, and how to search county records, visit the Shelby County page.

View Shelby County Background Check Records