Putnam County Background Check
Putnam County background check records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk, Criminal Court Clerk, and the General Sessions Court in Cookeville, the county seat.
Putnam County Quick Facts
Putnam County Circuit and Criminal Court Clerks
Putnam County has both a Circuit Court Clerk and a Criminal Court Clerk. The Criminal Court Clerk handles felony criminal cases and serious misdemeanors. The Circuit Court Clerk handles civil matters and some criminal cases. Both offices are at the Putnam County Courthouse in Cookeville. Office hours run Monday through Friday during regular business hours.
To get background check records, visit the appropriate clerk in person or send a written request by mail to the Putnam County Courthouse in Cookeville. Include the full name, date of birth, and any case numbers. Standard copy fees apply. Certified copies cost more per document. Call ahead to confirm fees before mailing payment. Public access terminals at the courthouse allow free searches during business hours.
Cookeville is home to Tennessee Technological University, which means Putnam County processes a significant volume of court records. Both clerk offices are experienced handling public records requests efficiently.
Putnam County General Sessions Court
The Putnam County General Sessions Court handles misdemeanors, traffic matters, civil cases under the jurisdictional limit, and felony preliminary hearings. All General Sessions records are public and part of any complete Putnam County background check. Contact the General Sessions clerk at the Cookeville courthouse for access and copy requests.
Putnam County Sheriff's Office
The Putnam County Sheriff's Office holds arrest records and incident reports for county law enforcement activity. A records check through the Sheriff's Office shows Putnam County arrests only. This is not a statewide search. For a full Tennessee criminal history, use TBI TORIS. Contact the Sheriff's Office in Cookeville for fees and procedures. The office may provide online jail roster information for recent bookings.
Statewide Background Checks for Putnam County Residents
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation runs TORIS at tbibackgrounds.tbi.tn.gov. A name-based search costs $29 and covers all 95 Tennessee counties including Putnam. Results do not include out-of-state or federal records. Fingerprint-based checks through IdentoGO are available for authorized agencies. You can 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 full details.
Public Records Access in Putnam County
Putnam County courts operate under the Tennessee Public Records Act, T.C.A. § 10-7-503. Any Tennessee citizen may inspect public records during business hours. Most court records are open. Juvenile matters and sealed cases are restricted. Denied requests may be appealed to the Tennessee Office of Open Records Counsel.
Expungement of Putnam County Records
Tennessee law allows expungement of certain records under T.C.A. § 40-32-101. Dismissed charges, no true bill cases, or releases without charge may be expunged at no cost. Conviction expungements are available in limited cases not involving physical force, deadly weapons, or sex crimes. Petitions are filed with the Criminal Court Clerk in Cookeville.
Putnam County Felony Offender Records
The Tennessee Department of Correction's free Felony Offender Information Lookup at apps.tn.gov/foil-app shows status, photo, facility, and sentence details for state prison inmates. Putnam County residents in the state system appear in FOIL. Updates within one week. Free and public.
Cities in Putnam County
Cookeville is the county seat and major city in Putnam County. Background check records for all Putnam County residents are handled through the county courthouse.