Wilson County Background Check Records
Wilson County background check records are available through the Circuit Court Clerk, General Sessions Court, and the Sheriff's Office in Lebanon. Wilson County has grown quickly in recent years and processes a high volume of court and arrest records. You can access these records in person, by mail, or through free statewide online tools.
Wilson County Quick Facts
Wilson County Circuit Court Clerk
The Circuit Court Clerk in Lebanon maintains felony criminal records, civil circuit filings, and related court documents for Wilson County. Wilson County is part of the 15th Judicial District. The clerk's office is at the Wilson County Courthouse on Public Square in Lebanon. For felony criminal background check records, this is the primary office to contact.
In-person record searches are available Monday through Friday during regular courthouse hours, typically 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Bring a photo ID and the full legal name of the person you are searching. A date of birth is helpful for narrowing results in a county this size. Staff can find case numbers, dockets, charges, and court dispositions. Looking at public records at the counter is free. Paper copies cost a small per-page fee.
Mail requests are accepted. Write a letter with the subject's name and date of birth, describe what records you need, include return postage and payment for copy fees. Call (615) 444-1423 before mailing to confirm current fees and the correct mailing address. Mail responses generally take one to two weeks. For faster access, visit in person or use the AOC online portal.
Wilson County circuit and general sessions cases are searchable at no cost through the Tennessee AOC online case portal. Search by name to see case numbers, charges, and dispositions without going to the courthouse. The portal covers both Circuit and General Sessions dockets and is generally current within a few days of court activity.
General Sessions Court
General Sessions Court in Wilson County handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, DUI charges, and preliminary hearings in felony matters. The clerk works out of the Lebanon courthouse. General Sessions records are public and available through the same access methods as Circuit Court records.
Wilson County's rapid growth has increased the case volume in General Sessions significantly. Cases that start and finish in General Sessions stay with that clerk. Felony cases bound over to Circuit Court transfer to the Circuit Court Clerk. The AOC online portal shows which court holds any specific case. If a misdemeanor was appealed to Circuit Court, check both offices.
Warrant information for Wilson County is maintained at the courthouse. Served warrants are public. If you need to know whether a warrant exists for a specific name, ask in person for the most current answer. Active unserved warrants may not always appear in online search results right away.
Wilson County Sheriff's Office
The Wilson County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement throughout the county and operates the county jail. Arrest records are public under Tennessee law. Contact the Sheriff's Office at (615) 444-1412 to ask about recent arrests or check whether someone is currently in custody. Booking logs show the name, charges at booking, and date of arrest for each person processed into the jail.
Lebanon, Mount Juliet, and other Wilson County cities have their own police departments. Arrests inside city limits are handled by city police, though court records for all Wilson County cases are filed with the county clerks in Lebanon. If you are looking for a specific arrest made by city police, contact that department for the initial booking record. For the court case outcome, check with the county clerks.
An arrest record is not a conviction. Charges can be dropped or reduced before trial, or a person may be acquitted. For case outcomes, check with the Circuit or General Sessions clerk or use the AOC online portal. The Sheriff does not issue employment background check reports. Those go to the TBI.
Statewide Background Checks Through TBI
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation provides statewide name-based criminal history checks through TORIS. A check covering all Tennessee counties, including Wilson, costs $29. Submit requests at tbibackgrounds.tbi.tn.gov/Toris/. Results typically return in a few business days and include felony and misdemeanor conviction records from Tennessee courts.
Full information on check types, fees, and how to order is at tn.gov/tbi/divisions/cjis-division/background-checks.html. Fingerprint-based checks reach the FBI national database as well as Tennessee records. These are required for certain licensed positions and provide the most thorough coverage. Healthcare, childcare, and education 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
Tennessee's 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 in Wilson County are public under this statute. Agencies must respond to records requests within seven business days.
Exempt records include juvenile court files, sealed cases, active investigation materials, and some personnel or medical records. A denial must include a written reason. The Tennessee Office of Open Records Counsel provides free assistance for people who have trouble accessing records or who receive a denial they think is improper.
Expungement Under T.C.A. § 40-32-101
Tennessee's expungement law at T.C.A. § 40-32-101 allows eligible people to remove certain criminal records from public access. Dismissed charges, acquittals, and some low-level first-time convictions after waiting periods may qualify. Violent crimes, sex offenses, and DUI convictions are generally excluded from expungement eligibility.
To file for expungement in Wilson County, submit a petition to the Circuit Court Clerk in Lebanon. A filing fee applies. The judge reviews the petition and, if approved, orders all state agencies, including the TBI, to remove or seal the record. After expungement, the record will not appear in most public searches. Attorneys in Lebanon and Mount Juliet handle expungement cases. Legal aid may be available for those who cannot afford private counsel.
Felony Offender Information Lookup (FOIL)
Tennessee's free FOIL database lists felony convictions statewide. Access it at apps.tn.gov/foil-app/search.jsp. Wilson County felony convictions appear alongside records from other counties. Results show offense type, sentencing date, and supervision status. Misdemeanor records and arrests without convictions are not included.
FOIL is a quick free check for felony history. For a full background report with misdemeanor records or for a certified result, use TBI TORIS. The AOC online portal is also free and covers case-level records in Wilson County at no cost.