Tipton County Background Check
Tipton County background check records are held by the Circuit Court Clerk, General Sessions Court, and the Sheriff's Office in Covington. These records are public and can be accessed in person, by mail, or through free statewide online tools.
Tipton County Quick Facts
Tipton County Circuit Court Clerk
The Circuit Court Clerk in Covington holds felony criminal records, civil circuit filings, and related court documents for Tipton County. The county is in the 25th Judicial District. The clerk's office is located at the Tipton County Courthouse on Court Square in Covington.
In-person searches are available Monday through Friday during regular business hours, typically 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Bring a photo ID and the full name of the person you are searching. Staff will help you find case numbers, docket entries, and judgment records. Viewing public records at the counter is free. Paper copies cost a small per-page fee.
Mail requests are accepted. Write a letter describing what you need, include the subject's full name and date of birth, and add return postage and payment for copy fees. Allow one to two weeks for a response. Call (901) 476-0206 before mailing to confirm fees and the correct mailing address. The clerk's staff can answer questions about what records are available but cannot give legal advice.
Tipton County court cases are also searchable online through the Tennessee AOC free case search portal. This tool covers both Circuit and General Sessions cases and shows case numbers, charges, dispositions, and hearing dates. It is a fast way to check whether a case exists before visiting the courthouse in person.
General Sessions Court
General Sessions Court in Tipton County handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, small claims, and preliminary felony hearings. The clerk works out of the Covington courthouse. These records are public and follow the same access rules as Circuit Court records.
Cases that start in General Sessions and stay there are handled entirely by the General Sessions clerk. Cases bound over to Circuit Court for felony trial transfer to the Circuit Court Clerk at that point. If you are not sure which court handled a case, the AOC online portal will show the court name in the search results.
If you need to know whether a warrant has been issued in Tipton County, ask the clerk. Warrants that have been served are public records. Active unserved warrants may not appear online, so asking in person at the clerk's window is the most reliable way to get current warrant information.
Tipton County Sheriff's Office
The Tipton County Sheriff's Office runs county law enforcement and the county jail. Arrest records are public under Tennessee law. You can call the Sheriff's Office at (901) 476-0255 to ask about recent arrests or to check current jail custody. Booking logs are available for public inspection and typically show the name, charge, and date of arrest for each person booked.
Remember that an arrest record is not the same as a conviction. A person may be arrested and later have charges dropped or be found not guilty. For the final outcome of a case, check with the court clerk. The Sheriff's Office does not issue employment or licensing background checks. Those go through the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
The Covington Police Department handles arrests inside the city of Covington. Both agencies report arrests to the TBI. If you are looking for an arrest made by city police rather than the Sheriff, contact Covington PD directly.
Statewide Background Checks Through TBI
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's TORIS system provides statewide criminal background checks covering all counties, including Tipton. A name-based check costs $29. Order online at tbibackgrounds.tbi.tn.gov/Toris/. Results typically come back within a few business days and include all felony and misdemeanor conviction records on file with the state.
Complete details on background check types, fees, and the ordering process are at tn.gov/tbi/divisions/cjis-division/background-checks.html. Fingerprint-based checks reach the FBI's national database in addition to Tennessee records. These are required for certain licensed positions and are more thorough than a name-only search.
Public Records Access Under T.C.A. § 10-7-503
Tennessee's Public Records Act, T.C.A. § 10-7-503, gives any person the right to inspect public records held by state and local government agencies. Tipton County court records and arrest logs are public under this law. Agencies must respond to records requests within seven business days.
Some records are exempt from disclosure. Juvenile records, sealed court files, active investigation materials, and certain personnel records cannot be released. If a request is denied, the agency must explain why. The Tennessee Office of Open Records Counsel offers free assistance to people who have trouble accessing records or who receive an improper denial.
Expungement Under T.C.A. § 40-32-101
Tennessee's expungement law, T.C.A. § 40-32-101, allows some people to have criminal records removed from public view. Dismissed charges, acquittals, and some low-level first-time convictions may qualify after a waiting period. Violent crimes, sex offenses, and DUI convictions are generally not eligible.
To file for expungement in Tipton County, submit a petition to the Circuit Court Clerk in Covington. A filing fee is required. The judge reviews the petition and, if it is granted, orders all state agencies to remove or seal the record. The TBI updates its database after the order is entered. After expungement, the record will not appear in most public searches. An attorney or legal aid office can help you determine if your record qualifies.
Felony Offender Information Lookup (FOIL)
Tennessee's free FOIL database is available at apps.tn.gov/foil-app/search.jsp. It lists felony convictions from all Tennessee counties, including Tipton. Search by name to see offense type, sentencing date, and supervision status. The database does not include misdemeanors or arrests that did not lead to conviction.
FOIL is a good free starting point for checking felony history. For a full background check with misdemeanor records, use the TBI TORIS system. You can also use the AOC online portal to check on specific cases in Tipton County at no cost.
Cities in Tipton County
Tipton County has no cities that meet the population threshold for individual city pages. Covington is the county seat and largest city. For records in any Tipton County community, contact the county clerk's office in Covington.