Nashville Background Check
Nashville background check records are maintained by the Davidson County Criminal Court Clerk, the Circuit Court Clerk, the General Sessions Court, and the Metro Nashville Police Department.
Nashville Quick Facts
Davidson County Court System
Nashville is the county seat of Davidson County, and all criminal court records for Nashville are maintained through the Davidson County court system. The county has both a Criminal Court Clerk and a Circuit Court Clerk. The Criminal Court Clerk, located at 408 2nd Avenue North, handles felony cases and serious criminal records. The Circuit Court Clerk at 1 Public Square handles civil matters.
To get background check records, visit either clerk's office in person or mail a written request. Include the full name, a date of birth, and any case numbers. Standard copy fees apply under Tennessee law. Certified copies cost more per document. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Public access terminals at both offices allow free self-service searches during business hours.
The free online case search at sci.ccc.nashville.gov covers both the Criminal Court and General Sessions Court. You can search by name, case number, or citation number. Results show charges, court dates, and case dispositions at no cost.
Nashville General Sessions Court
The Metropolitan General Sessions Court of Nashville-Davidson County handles civil cases, misdemeanors, felony preliminary hearings, traffic violations, and ordinance violations. One General Sessions division operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week at the jail as a service to law enforcement. The main courts are at the Justice A.A. Birch Building in downtown Nashville.
General Sessions criminal records are part of any complete Nashville background check. These records are searchable through the free online case search at sci.ccc.nashville.gov. You can also visit the General Sessions Court Clerk's office in person for more detailed records or certified copies.
Metro Nashville Police Department Records
Individuals who need Nashville-only criminal records can submit a background check request to the Metro Nashville Police Department's Central Records Division. The agency charges $13 for each request. A police department record shows only Nashville and Davidson County arrests and criminal charges. This is a local check, not a statewide search.
Visit nashville.gov/departments/police for information on how to submit a records request to the Central Records Division. For a statewide Tennessee criminal history check, use the TBI's TORIS system rather than the police department's local records service.
Statewide Background Checks for Nashville Residents
For a statewide Tennessee background check covering all 95 counties, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation runs TORIS at tbibackgrounds.tbi.tn.gov. A name-based search costs $29. Results cover arrests and charges from across Tennessee. The TORIS search does not include records from other states or the FBI.
Fingerprint-based checks through IdentoGO provide stronger identity matching for licensed professionals and other authorized uses. For most public background check requests, the TORIS name search is the standard option available to anyone. You can also mail a request to TBI at 901 R.S. Gass Blvd., Nashville, TN 37216, or call 615-744-4057. See the TBI background checks page for all options.
Public Records Access in Nashville
Nashville and Davidson County courts operate under the Tennessee Public Records Act, T.C.A. § 10-7-503. Any Tennessee citizen may inspect public government records during business hours. Most court records are open to the public without needing to state a reason. Juvenile proceedings and sealed cases are restricted. The Metropolitan Government of Nashville also provides a central portal for public records requests at nashville.gov.
Expungement of Nashville Records
Tennessee law allows expungement of certain criminal records under T.C.A. § 40-32-101. If a charge in Davidson County was dismissed, a grand jury returned no true bill, or a person was released without being charged, they can petition to have those records destroyed at no cost. Conviction expungements are available in limited cases where the offense did not involve physical force, a deadly weapon, or a sex crime requiring registration. Petitions are filed with the Criminal Court Clerk at 408 2nd Avenue North, Nashville.
Nashville Felony Offender Records
The Tennessee Department of Correction's free Felony Offender Information Lookup at apps.tn.gov/foil-app shows status, booking photo, facility, and sentence details for anyone in the state prison system. Nashville residents in the state system appear in FOIL results. Results update within one week. Free and open to the public with no account required.
Nearby Tennessee Cities
Residents of nearby cities file through their own county courthouse. Select a city below to find background check resources in that area.
Davidson County Records
Nashville is located in Davidson County. All criminal court filings go through the Davidson County Criminal Court Clerk and Circuit Court Clerk.