DeKalb County Background Check

DeKalb County background check records are held by the Circuit Court Clerk in Smithville and can also be searched statewide through the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Use the tools below to find criminal history, court case records, and arrest information for individuals in DeKalb County.

Circuit Court Clerk - Criminal Case Records

The DeKalb County Circuit Court Clerk maintains records for felony criminal cases, civil matters, and jury trials filed in the 13th Judicial District. This office is your primary point of contact for getting case files, dispositions, and sentencing records tied to felony charges in DeKalb County.

The clerk's office is located in the DeKalb County Courthouse at 1 Public Square, Smithville, TN 37166. You can call them at (615) 597-5177. Office hours are generally Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. In-person records requests are handled during those hours. Written requests by mail are also accepted.

To search case records in person, bring a full name and ideally a date of birth. The clerk can pull records by defendant name. Copies of court documents typically cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies run higher. For most background check needs, a case printout is sufficient unless you need certified documents for legal proceedings.

The Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts also maintains an online case search tool at tncourts.gov. This tool covers DeKalb County Circuit and Criminal Court filings and is free to use. It shows case numbers, charges, filing dates, and disposition information. It does not always include every detail from the full case file, but it is a solid starting point for most searches.

Tennessee criminal background check records search

General Sessions Court - Misdemeanor and Civil Records

The DeKalb County General Sessions Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, small claims, and preliminary hearings for felony charges. If someone was arrested on a misdemeanor charge in DeKalb County, that case will be in Sessions Court, not Circuit Court.

The General Sessions Clerk's office is also in the courthouse in Smithville. Contact them at (615) 597-5148 for records inquiries. Sessions Court records are part of the public record in Tennessee and can be requested at the clerk's office. These records include traffic citations that went to court, DUI charges, domestic assault charges at the misdemeanor level, and similar offenses.

When doing a thorough background check in DeKalb County, you need to check both Circuit Court and General Sessions Court records. A person may have felony cases in Circuit Court and misdemeanor cases in Sessions Court, and neither office shares records with the other. Checking only one source can give you an incomplete picture.

DeKalb County Sheriff's Office - Arrest Records

The DeKalb County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement throughout the county and maintains arrest records and jail booking logs. The sheriff's office is located at 712 S Congress Blvd, Smithville, TN 37166. The main line is (615) 597-4935.

Arrest records are different from court records. An arrest record shows that someone was taken into custody; a court record shows what happened with the case afterward. For a full background check, you want both. Someone may have multiple arrests with some charges dropped before trial. Those arrests may still appear in records even if no conviction resulted.

The sheriff's office can provide information on current inmates held in the DeKalb County Jail. For historical booking records, a written public records request is typically the most effective approach. Under Tennessee law, booking records and mugshots are generally public unless the release would compromise an ongoing investigation.

The Smithville Police Department handles law enforcement within the city limits of Smithville specifically. If you need records from incidents that occurred inside town, contact their office directly. However, for county-wide arrest searches, the sheriff's office is the right starting point.

Statewide Background Checks - TBI TORIS System

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation runs the state's official background check program through its Tennessee Online Records Information System, known as TORIS. This is the most complete official source for Tennessee criminal history records.

You can submit a name-based background check request through the TBI at tbibackgrounds.tbi.tn.gov. The fee is $29 per search. Results typically come back within a few minutes for name-based checks. The search covers all counties in Tennessee, including DeKalb County, and pulls from the TBI's central criminal history repository.

The TBI background check is the right choice when you need a statewide search, not just a county-level search. Someone may have a criminal record in Putnam County or Wilson County even if they currently live in DeKalb County. The TBI search catches records across all Tennessee jurisdictions. Learn more about TBI background check services at tn.gov/tbi.

Fingerprint-based checks are also available through the TBI for employers and licensing agencies that require them. These are more accurate than name-based checks since they cannot be fooled by name variations or aliases. Fingerprint checks cost more and require an in-person fingerprinting session.

Public Records Access - T.C.A. § 10-7-503

Tennessee's public records law is found at T.C.A. § 10-7-503. Under this law, all public records held by government agencies are open to inspection by any citizen unless a specific exemption applies. Court records, arrest records, and most criminal justice records in DeKalb County are public under this statute.

To request records, you can appear in person at the relevant office or submit a written request. Agencies are required to respond promptly. There is no specific form required by state law, though some offices may have their own forms. Your request should identify the records you want clearly enough for the agency to locate them.

Fees for copies are set by state law and by individual agencies. For most standard documents, expect to pay a small per-page fee. If you are inspecting records in person without requesting copies, no fee can be charged for the inspection itself. Exemptions do exist for certain records, including some juvenile records, active investigation files, and records protected by court order.

Expungement in DeKalb County - T.C.A. § 40-32-101

Tennessee's expungement law is codified at T.C.A. § 40-32-101. Expungement allows eligible individuals to have certain criminal records removed from public view. Once a record is expunged, it does not appear in standard background checks or public records searches.

Who qualifies? In Tennessee, people with dismissed charges, not-guilty verdicts, or certain low-level convictions may be eligible. First-time offenders who complete a diversion program are often eligible as well. The list of eligible offenses has expanded in recent years, so even someone who was told they did not qualify years ago may qualify now.

The process involves filing a petition in the court where the case was heard. In DeKalb County, that means the Circuit Court or General Sessions Court depending on the charge level. There is a filing fee, though fee waivers are available for those who cannot afford it. The court will notify the TBI and other relevant agencies once the expungement is granted.

If you are searching background check records and find something you believe should be expunged, contact a Tennessee attorney or a local legal aid organization for help. The expungement process can be done without an attorney but having legal help reduces errors and delays.

Felony Offender Information - FOIL Database

The Tennessee Felony Offender Information Lookup system, known as FOIL, is a free public tool run by the Tennessee Department of Correction. You can search it at apps.tn.gov/foil-app. FOIL shows information on individuals who have been incarcerated in a Tennessee state prison for a felony conviction.

A FOIL search shows sentence information, release dates, supervision status, and current custody status for felony offenders. It is a useful tool when you need to know whether someone served time in a Tennessee state facility. Not every felony results in state prison time, so FOIL will not show every felony conviction. Those who served local jail time or received probation only will not appear.

FOIL does not charge any fee and is available 24 hours a day online. For the most complete picture of a person's criminal history, use FOIL in combination with the TBI TORIS system and county court records. Each source captures different pieces of the record. No single source shows everything.

Cities in DeKalb County

Smithville is the county seat of DeKalb County. No cities in DeKalb County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page. For county-wide background check records, use the DeKalb County Circuit Court Clerk and Sheriff's Office resources listed above.