Haywood County Background Check
Haywood County background check records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk, General Sessions Court, and the Haywood County Sheriff's Office in Brownsville, the county seat.
Haywood County Quick Facts
Haywood County Circuit Court Clerk
The Circuit Court Clerk in Haywood County handles felony criminal records, civil filings, and appeals from General Sessions Court. This is the primary source for court-based background check information in the county.
The clerk's office is located at the Haywood County Courthouse, 1 North Washington Avenue, Brownsville, TN 38012. The phone number is (731) 772-1432. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The office is closed on state and federal holidays.
Anyone can search court records in person. Bring a valid photo ID and the full name of the person you are searching. Some records are available via a public access terminal. Certified copies cost $5.00 for the first page and $0.50 per additional page. For uncertified copies, the rate is lower. The clerk's staff can help if you don't know the specific case number or docket.
Mail-in requests are accepted. Send the subject's name and date of birth along with a description of the records you need, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and payment. Allow two to four weeks for a response. If you need records quickly, visiting the courthouse in person is the better option.
Haywood County General Sessions Court
General Sessions Court in Haywood County handles misdemeanor criminal matters, traffic cases, and small claims. Many background check results for lesser offenses originate here and are not reflected in Circuit Court records. A complete background search should cover both courts.
The General Sessions Clerk is at the Haywood County Courthouse in Brownsville. Contact the office at (731) 772-1432. General Sessions also holds preliminary hearings for felony charges, so early records on more serious cases may appear here before the case transfers to Circuit Court. Checking both courts is the most thorough approach.
Copy fees follow the same state schedule. Certified copies are $5.00 for the first page and $0.50 per additional page. Because both courts are in the same courthouse, you can address both searches in a single visit.
Haywood County Sheriff's Office
The Haywood County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement for the unincorporated county and operates the county jail. Arrest records, booking logs, and incident reports for cases handled by county deputies are maintained here.
The Sheriff's Office is located at 35 Rawls Avenue, Brownsville, TN 38012. The non-emergency line is (731) 772-1212. Arrest records show the booking date, the charges at the time of arrest, and booking details. They do not show case outcomes. For dispositions, check the clerk's offices at the courthouse.
The Brownsville Police Department handles enforcement within the city of Brownsville and maintains its own arrest records. If an arrest occurred inside the city, the Brownsville Police records may be more relevant. The Brownsville Police can be reached at (731) 772-1212.
Incident reports are generally public under Tennessee law. Standard copy fees of $0.15 per page apply. Reports tied to active investigations may be partially withheld. For statewide sex offender information, the free TBI registry at tn.gov/tbi is the best resource.
Statewide Background Checks Through TBI TORIS
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation runs TORIS, the Tennessee Online Registration Information System. A single TORIS search covers all 95 Tennessee counties, including Haywood County, and returns conviction history from the statewide criminal records database.
The cost is $29.00 for a name-based search. Submit the request at tbibackgrounds.tbi.tn.gov/Toris/. Results generally come back within a few business days. TORIS is the most efficient tool when you need to check criminal history across all of Tennessee rather than searching individual counties.
TORIS depends on courts reporting conviction data to the TBI. Some older cases or those not yet fully processed may not appear. For positions requiring a fingerprint-based FBI check, a different process is needed. The TBI background check page has full details.
Public Records Access in Haywood County
Tennessee's Open Records Act at T.C.A. § 10-7-503 makes most government records available to any person. Court records and most records held by Haywood County agencies are public unless a specific exemption applies.
No reason is required to request records. The custodian must respond in a reasonable time and must cite a specific legal basis for any denial. Common exceptions include active investigation records, sealed court files, juvenile records, and some medical or mental health information.
If a request is improperly denied, the Tennessee Office of Open Records Counsel provides free help and can issue advisory opinions. You can also challenge a denial through the courts if necessary. In smaller counties like Haywood, staff are generally cooperative but may need time to locate older records that are not fully digitized.
Expungement of Haywood County Records
Tennessee law allows eligible criminal records to be expunged under T.C.A. § 40-32-101. Eligible records include dismissed charges, not guilty verdicts, and some completed convictions.
Violent felonies, sex offenses, and certain other crimes are not eligible. Standard rules allow one qualifying conviction to be expunged per lifetime. A filing fee is required, and the court must approve the petition before records are cleared.
To petition in Haywood County, file with the Circuit Court Clerk at the Haywood County Courthouse in Brownsville. Staff can confirm eligibility and provide forms. Once a court order is granted, the TBI updates its database and the record is removed from the public court index.
Expungement removes records from public court access, but some databases maintained by private data companies may still hold the information. Law enforcement agencies may also retain internal records. A Tennessee attorney can help if the eligibility of a specific case is in question.
Felony Offender Records / FOIL
FOIL, the Tennessee Felony Offender Information Lookup, is a free tool from the Tennessee Department of Correction. It shows current information on people who are incarcerated, on probation, or on parole in Tennessee's state correctional system.
Search at apps.tn.gov/foil-app/search.jsp. Results show name, photo, offense description, sentence, and supervision status. Individuals who have finished their sentences and are off supervision do not appear in FOIL. Use this tool together with county court records and a TBI TORIS search for a complete background check.
Cities in Haywood County
Haywood County includes Brownsville (the county seat) and a few smaller communities. None currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page. Background check records for all residents of Haywood County are accessible through the county-level courts and offices described on this page.