Search Hamilton County Background Check Records
Hamilton County background check records are handled by the Circuit Court Clerk, the Criminal Court Clerk, the General Sessions Court, and the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, all serving Chattanooga and the surrounding area.
Hamilton County Quick Facts
Hamilton County Circuit Court Clerk
Hamilton County has both a Circuit Court Clerk and a separate Criminal Court Clerk. This is uncommon in Tennessee and is worth understanding before you begin your search. The Circuit Court Clerk handles civil cases, appeals, and some criminal matters, while the Criminal Court Clerk handles felony criminal cases. If you are doing a background check, you need to check both offices.
The Circuit Court Clerk's office is located at the Hamilton County Courthouse, 625 Georgia Avenue, Chattanooga, TN 37402. The phone number is (423) 209-6600. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Staff can assist with case searches at the public terminal and with copy requests.
Certified copies of court records cost $5.00 for the first page and $0.50 for each additional page. Mail requests are accepted but take two to four weeks to process. For urgent requests, an in-person visit is more reliable. Bring a photo ID and the subject's full name and date of birth.
Hamilton County Criminal Court Clerk
The Criminal Court Clerk is the primary office for felony criminal records in Hamilton County. This is a separate office from the Circuit Court Clerk and is the one most relevant to background check searches involving serious criminal charges.
The Criminal Court Clerk is located at 600 Market Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402. The phone number is (423) 209-7500. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The clerk maintains case files, docket sheets, sentencing orders, and related records for all felony cases heard in Hamilton County Criminal Court.
Public case search terminals are available. You can look up cases by name, case number, or other identifiers. Certified copies follow the same fee schedule as other Tennessee courts: $5.00 for the first page, $0.50 per additional page. Uncertified copies are less expensive.
If you are unsure whether a case was handled in Criminal Court or Circuit Court, call either office and they can direct you. For cases originating as misdemeanors or handled at a lower level, check the General Sessions Court records instead.
Hamilton County General Sessions Court
General Sessions Court handles misdemeanor criminal matters, traffic offenses, and lower-level civil cases in Hamilton County. Many background check results for lesser offenses originate here rather than in the higher courts.
The General Sessions Clerk is located at the Hamilton County Courthouse, 625 Georgia Avenue, Chattanooga, TN 37402. Reach the office at (423) 209-6600. General Sessions also conducts preliminary hearings for felony cases. That means early-stage records for serious charges may initially appear in General Sessions before the case is bound over to Criminal Court.
Checking General Sessions is essential for a complete background search. Copy fees follow the same general state rate structure as the other courts. Certified copies are $5.00 for the first page and $0.50 per additional page.
Hamilton County Sheriff's Office
The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office patrols unincorporated parts of the county and operates the county jail. Arrest records, booking logs, and incident reports are maintained by the Sheriff's Office for people taken into county custody.
The Sheriff's Office is at 600 Market Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402. The non-emergency number is (423) 209-7090. Arrest records from the Sheriff show custody dates, charges at the time of booking, and booking photos. They do not show case outcomes. For dispositions, check the Criminal Court or General Sessions Clerk.
The Chattanooga Police Department maintains its own arrest records for incidents within city limits. The Chattanooga Police non-emergency number is (423) 698-2525. If you are searching for someone who was arrested in Chattanooga, start with both the city police and the county jail records.
Incident reports are public under Tennessee law unless an active investigation exemption applies. Standard copy fees of $0.15 per page apply. The TBI sex offender registry at tn.gov/tbi provides free statewide sex offender information.
Statewide Background Checks Through TBI TORIS
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation operates TORIS, the Tennessee Online Registration Information System. A TORIS name-based background check covers criminal history from all 95 Tennessee counties, including Hamilton County, and is the most efficient way to get a statewide picture.
The fee is $29.00. Submit the request online at tbibackgrounds.tbi.tn.gov/Toris/. Results typically return within a few business days. The database reflects convictions reported by courts to the TBI. Some older cases or unreported dispositions may not appear.
TORIS is a name-based search. It can return results for common names that require review to confirm identity. Fingerprint-based searches, which are more definitive, are available for certain licensed professions and employer-specific uses. See the TBI background check page for more detail on both options.
Given Hamilton County's large population and busy court system, a TORIS search is particularly useful for catching Hamilton County records without having to search three separate court clerks individually.
Public Records Access in Hamilton County
Tennessee's Open Records Act at T.C.A. § 10-7-503 gives anyone the right to inspect and copy most government records. Court records, arrest logs, and other records held by Hamilton County offices are generally public unless a specific exemption applies.
You do not need to state a reason for your request. The records custodian must respond promptly. Denial requires citing a specific legal basis. Common exemptions include active investigation records, sealed court files, juvenile records, and protected medical or mental health information.
Hamilton County's larger court system means more records are digitized and searchable online. The Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts maintains a statewide case search tool that includes Hamilton County cases. Check the AOC website to see what's available online before making an in-person visit.
If a request is denied improperly, the Tennessee Office of Open Records Counsel provides free guidance and can issue advisory opinions on whether the denial is proper.
Expungement of Hamilton County Records
Tennessee's expungement law, T.C.A. § 40-32-101, provides a process to clear eligible criminal records from public access. Dismissed charges, not guilty verdicts, and some completed convictions may qualify.
Serious felonies, violent offenses, and sex crimes are not eligible. A person may petition for expungement of one qualifying conviction per lifetime under the standard process. There is a filing fee, and the court reviews the petition before granting it.
In Hamilton County, the petition is filed with the court that originally handled the case. For Criminal Court convictions, that means the Hamilton County Criminal Court Clerk at 600 Market Street. For General Sessions matters, file with the General Sessions Clerk. The clerk's staff can confirm eligibility and provide the forms.
After expungement is granted, the TBI updates its database and the public court index removes the record. Some databases maintained by private data companies may retain the information, and law enforcement agencies may keep internal records. An attorney can help navigate the process if eligibility is in question.
Felony Offender Records / FOIL
The Tennessee Felony Offender Information Lookup, FOIL, is a free tool from the Tennessee Department of Correction showing individuals currently incarcerated, on probation, or on parole. It covers the entire state, including people sentenced in Hamilton County courts.
Search at apps.tn.gov/foil-app/search.jsp. Results include name, photo, offense details, sentence, and current supervision status. People who have completed their sentences and are no longer under supervision do not appear in FOIL.
Use FOIL alongside the TBI TORIS system and county court records for the most complete background check on any individual in Tennessee.