Find Background Check Records in Fayette County

Fayette County background check records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk in Somerville and are also available statewide through the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. This page covers how to access criminal court records, arrest information, and official background check services for Fayette County.

Circuit Court Clerk - Felony Case Records

The Fayette County Circuit Court Clerk handles felony criminal records and civil case filings under the 25th Judicial District. The courthouse is at 16755 US-64, Somerville, TN 38068. Phone: (901) 465-5215. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

Felony charges processed in Fayette County go through Circuit Court. If you are searching for records on serious criminal matters, the Circuit Court Clerk is the right starting point. Staff can look up cases by defendant name or case number and provide case histories, charge details, and sentencing records.

The free online case search at tncourts.gov covers Fayette County filings. This tool shows case numbers, charges, hearing dates, and dispositions. It is available any time and is a good first step before making an in-person visit. For complete records or certified copies, you will need to visit the clerk's office directly.

Fayette County borders Shelby County, which includes Memphis. Some individuals with roots in the Memphis area may have records in both Fayette County and Shelby County courts. A county-level search in Fayette alone may miss activity from across the county line. The TBI statewide search catches records from both jurisdictions together.

Tennessee criminal background check records search

General Sessions Court - Misdemeanor Records

The General Sessions Court in Fayette County processes misdemeanor criminal cases, civil matters below the jurisdictional limit, and preliminary hearings on felony charges. Common cases handled in Sessions Court include misdemeanor assault, petty theft, minor drug offenses, and traffic matters that proceed to court.

The General Sessions Clerk can be reached at the Somerville courthouse. Sessions Court records are public under Tennessee law. You can review them in person or request copies. These records often include warrants issued by the court, which show up as unresolved matters if a warrant was never served.

When running a background check in Fayette County, always check both Circuit Court and General Sessions Court. A person may have a clean felony record but multiple misdemeanor convictions in Sessions Court. Missing the Sessions Court check can leave significant gaps in the record picture.

Fayette County Sheriff's Office - Arrest Records

The Fayette County Sheriff's Office patrols unincorporated areas and runs the county jail. The office is at 1 Court Square, Somerville, TN 38068. Call (901) 465-3456 for general inquiries. The sheriff's office is the primary source for arrest records and booking logs throughout Fayette County.

Booking records from the jail document each person who was taken into custody, the charges at the time of arrest, and the date and time of booking. These are public records in Tennessee. You can request copies of booking records or check whether a specific individual was held at the Fayette County Jail by contacting the sheriff's office directly.

The Somerville Police Department handles arrests within Somerville city limits. For incidents that occurred specifically inside town, contact them at (901) 465-3252. For county-wide arrest history, the sheriff is the right office. Both operate independently and do not share booking records with each other automatically.

Fayette County has no large cities, so the vast majority of law enforcement activity falls under the sheriff's jurisdiction. This means the sheriff's office is likely the most comprehensive source for local arrest records compared to individual municipal police departments.

Statewide Background Checks - TBI TORIS

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation operates TORIS for statewide criminal background checks. Submit a name-based search at tbibackgrounds.tbi.tn.gov for $29. Results are returned promptly online and cover all 95 Tennessee counties, including Fayette County.

A TBI search is particularly valuable here. Fayette County sits east of Memphis, and many residents have ties to Shelby County, Tipton County, Haywood County, or other nearby counties. A person could have a significant criminal record in Shelby County that does not appear at all in a Fayette County court search. The TBI pulls from the full statewide repository and catches records wherever they were filed in Tennessee.

The TBI also offers fingerprint-based background checks for a higher fee. These are more precise than name searches and are required for some professional licenses, childcare employment, and certain regulated industries. Learn more at tn.gov/tbi.

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

Tennessee's open records law at T.C.A. § 10-7-503 opens government records to any citizen who requests them. Court records, arrest records, and criminal justice records in Fayette County are public under this statute. You do not need an attorney or a court order to request them.

Walk into the clerk's office or sheriff's office and ask for the records you need. Identify what you want clearly by name, date, or case number if you have it. The office must respond promptly. In-person requests at the clerk's office are usually handled on the same day for routine matters.

Copy fees apply. The rate is set by state law and by individual agency policy. Most offices charge a small per-page fee, typically under $0.50. You pay nothing if you are just reviewing records at the office without making copies. The right to view public records is free; only copies cost money.

There are exceptions to public access. Juvenile records, active investigation files, sealed court records, and some victim information are not public. If a record you are seeking falls under an exemption, the agency will tell you what exemption applies. You can challenge an improper denial by filing a complaint with the Office of Open Records Counsel.

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

Tennessee's expungement statute at T.C.A. § 40-32-101 allows eligible individuals to have certain criminal records removed from public access. After a successful expungement in Fayette County, the record is removed from court files and from the TBI database.

File the expungement petition in the court where the original case was heard. In Fayette County, that means either the Circuit Court or the General Sessions Court. The court clerk can tell you which court handled your case if you are not sure. Include the case number, the charge, and the disposition in your petition.

Eligible records include dismissed charges, acquittals, and certain eligible convictions designated by Tennessee law. Diversion agreements successfully completed also qualify. A filing fee applies, currently set by Tennessee statute. Fee waivers are available for those who cannot afford the cost. Contact the clerk's office or a legal aid organization for help.

West Tennessee Legal Services provides free legal help to income-eligible residents in Fayette County. They can assist with expungement petitions and other civil legal matters. Contact them at (731) 423-0616 or through their website. Getting legal help can speed up the process and avoid common filing errors.

Felony Offender Records - FOIL

Search the free Felony Offender Information Lookup at apps.tn.gov/foil-app to find records of individuals who served time in a Tennessee state correctional facility. FOIL is available 24/7 at no cost.

A FOIL search shows the offense, sentence length, admission and release dates, and current supervision status if the person is still under TDOC oversight. It is a quick way to check for Tennessee prison history. The search is by name, so exact spelling matters. Try multiple spellings if you do not get results on the first try.

FOIL covers state prison only. It does not include records for people who received probation only, served county jail time, or had their sentences expunged. For a full background check in Fayette County, combine FOIL results with TBI TORIS and local court records. No single database is complete on its own.

Cities in Fayette County

Somerville is the county seat of Fayette County. No cities in Fayette County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page. For background check records throughout Fayette County, use the county-level resources listed above.