Washington County Background Check Records
Washington County background check records are available through the Circuit Court Clerk, General Sessions Court, and the Sheriff's Office in Jonesborough. As the county seat of the largest county in the Tri-Cities region, Jonesborough's courthouse handles a substantial volume of criminal and civil records.
Washington County Quick Facts
Washington County Circuit Court Clerk
The Circuit Court Clerk in Jonesborough holds felony criminal records, civil circuit filings, and related court documents for Washington County. Washington County is part of the 1st Judicial District. The clerk's office is at the Washington County Courthouse on College Street in Jonesborough. Johnson City, the largest city in the county, does not have its own courthouse for county court matters. All felony cases for Johnson City residents are filed in Jonesborough.
In-person searches are available Monday through Friday, typically 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Bring a valid photo ID and the full name of the person you are searching. A date of birth helps narrow results in a county this size. Staff can locate case numbers, docket sheets, charges, and court outcomes. Viewing records at the counter is free. Paper copies cost a small per-page fee.
Mail requests are also accepted. Include the subject's name and date of birth, describe what records you need, add return postage and payment for copy fees. Call (423) 753-1621 before mailing to confirm current fees and the correct address. Processing times for mail vary, but typically take one to two weeks. For faster results, use the online search portal or visit in person.
Washington County court cases are available for free through the Tennessee AOC online case search portal. Search by name to find case numbers, charges, and dispositions for public cases. This is a fast way to check case status without driving to Jonesborough. The portal covers both Circuit and General Sessions cases and is updated regularly.
General Sessions Court
General Sessions Court in Washington County handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, DUI charges, and preliminary hearings for felonies. The clerk's office is in the Jonesborough courthouse. General Sessions records are public and accessible through the same channels as Circuit Court records.
Washington County's size means General Sessions sees significant case volume. Cases that start and finish in General Sessions stay with that clerk. Cases bound over to Circuit Court for felony proceedings transfer records to the Circuit Court Clerk at that point. The AOC online portal will show which court holds a specific case, saving you a phone call.
Warrant information for Washington County is available at the clerk's office. Served warrants are public records. If you need to know whether an active warrant exists for a specific person, ask in person. The clerk can confirm whether a warrant was issued, though some details on unserved warrants may be withheld for operational reasons.
Washington County Sheriff's Office
The Washington County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement outside Johnson City and operates the county detention center. Arrest records and booking logs are public under Tennessee law. Contact the Sheriff's Office at (423) 753-1610 to ask about recent arrests or to confirm whether someone is currently in the county jail. Booking records show the name, charges, and date of arrest for each person booked.
Johnson City has its own police department that handles arrests inside city limits. Both the Sheriff's Office and Johnson City PD submit arrest records to the TBI. If you are searching for a Johnson City Police arrest, contact that department separately. For court case outcomes in either case, the Circuit Court or General Sessions clerk in Jonesborough will have the records.
An arrest record is not a conviction. Charges can be dropped, reduced, or dismissed before trial. Always check with the court clerk to see how a case concluded before drawing conclusions from a booking record alone.
Statewide Background Checks Through TBI
Tennessee's Bureau of Investigation offers statewide criminal history checks through TORIS. A name-based check covering all counties, including Washington, costs $29. Submit your request at tbibackgrounds.tbi.tn.gov/Toris/. Results typically return in a few business days and cover felony and misdemeanor conviction records from across Tennessee.
Full details on check types, fees, and how to order are at tn.gov/tbi/divisions/cjis-division/background-checks.html. Fingerprint-based checks, which reach the FBI national database in addition to Tennessee records, are available for positions that require them. Healthcare, education, and childcare employers often need fingerprint checks. The TBI also offers a free sex offender registry search.
Public Records Access Under T.C.A. § 10-7-503
The Tennessee Public Records Act at T.C.A. § 10-7-503 gives any person the right to inspect public records held by government agencies. Court records and arrest logs maintained by Washington County offices are public under this law. Agencies must respond to requests within seven business days.
Exempt records include juvenile court files, sealed cases, ongoing investigation materials, and some personnel records. If a request is denied, the agency must state the reason in writing. The Tennessee Office of Open Records Counsel provides free help to anyone who has trouble accessing records or receives a denial they think is improper.
Expungement Under T.C.A. § 40-32-101
Tennessee's expungement statute at T.C.A. § 40-32-101 allows eligible people to remove certain records from public access. Dismissed charges, acquittals, and some low-level first-time convictions may qualify after a waiting period. Violent offenses, sex crimes, and DUI convictions are generally excluded.
File an expungement petition with the Washington County Circuit Court Clerk in Jonesborough. A filing fee applies. The judge reviews the petition, and if approved, orders the TBI and all relevant agencies to delete or seal the record. After expungement, the record does not show up in most public searches. Legal aid organizations in the Johnson City and Jonesborough area can help people who cannot afford private counsel.
Felony Offender Information Lookup (FOIL)
Tennessee's free FOIL database lists felony convictions from all counties. Find it at apps.tn.gov/foil-app/search.jsp. Washington County felony convictions appear alongside records from other counties. Results show offense type, sentencing date, and supervision status. Misdemeanor records and uncharged arrests are not in this database.
FOIL is a good free starting point for checking felony history. For full background check results with misdemeanor history, use TBI TORIS. The AOC online portal is also free and useful for looking up specific case records in Washington County.