Arrest Records in Davidson County
An arrest record is created at booking. When a person is arrested in Davidson County, the arresting agency sends the booking data to the Sheriff's Office and the Criminal Court Clerk systems. The record lists the person's name, the charges as booked, and the booking details. The Sheriff's Office keeps the jail custody record. The Criminal Court Clerk keeps the criminal court file. These are not the same thing.
This page leads with arrest and booking data. Broader criminal court history, with pleadings and dispositions, is covered on the court records page. Start here for a recent arrest, then move there for the full case.
How to Search Davidson County Arrest Records
The Davidson County Sheriff's Office runs the active inmate search at dcso.nashville.gov. It covers people currently in custody. The Recent Bookings view lists arrests from the last 48 hours, which is the fastest way to find a recent arrest. For criminal court history, use the Criminal Court Clerk public search at sci.ccc.nashville.gov.
- Open the Sheriff's active inmate search.
- Enter a first and last name, or use Advanced Search for DOB and OCA.
- Check Recent Bookings if the arrest was within 48 hours.
- Open the profile for charges, bond, and booking dates.
The Sheriff's offender information page explains the search tools and the 24-hour information line.
For criminal court records, spell the name exactly as it was entered at arrest. The clerk's search depends on that spelling.
Arrest Records vs Criminal Court Records
An arrest record begins at booking. A criminal court record begins when charges are formally filed and the case opens with the court. The Sheriff holds the jail record. The Criminal Court Clerk holds the court file. Keeping them apart saves confusion when a name shows up in one system but not the other.
| Arrest Record | Criminal Court Record | |
|---|---|---|
| Source | Sheriff's Office | Criminal Court Clerk |
| Created When | Booking | Charges filed |
| Contents | Booking data, charges, bond, facility | Filings, hearings, disposition |
Charges vs Convictions
A charge is an accusation. A conviction is a finding of guilt by plea or verdict. Many charges never become convictions. They can be dismissed, dropped by the prosecutor, or resolved through diversion. An arrest record alone does not tell you the outcome. For that, you read the disposition in the court record.
| Charge | Conviction | |
|---|---|---|
| Stage | Accusation | Verdict or plea |
| Burden of Proof | Probable cause | Beyond a reasonable doubt |
| Public Record | Yes | Yes, unless expunged |
Sealed vs Expunged Records in Davidson County
These two terms are not the same. A sealed record is hidden from public view but still exists. An expunged record is removed and treated as if it never happened. In Tennessee, expunction is rarely automatic. A person usually petitions the court that handled the case. A law effective July 1, 2012 lets people convicted of certain offenses ask to have that incident expunged. Many violent, sexual, and serious offenses do not qualify.
| Sealed | Expunged | |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility | Hidden from public | Removed and treated as never existed |
| Law Enforcement | Limited access | Very limited |
| Eligibility | Set by court order or statute | Petition required; many serious crimes excluded |
The Criminal Court Clerk publishes expungement guidance for Davidson County cases.
To check eligibility, contact the District Attorney at 615-862-5500 or the Criminal Court Clerk at 615-880-3838.
CJIS and Legacy Data in the Criminal Search
The Criminal Court Clerk public search splits its data into two sets. CJIS data covers General Sessions dispositions from January 11, 2000 and State Trial Court dispositions from July 11, 2000. Legacy data covers records posted between 1980 and those dates. For records before 1980, you contact the office directly. Expunged charges are not included in either set.
The site warns that some results may lack a date of birth and that data can change. Refresh a search before you rely on it for any official use.
What a Davidson County Arrest Record Shows
A booking profile carries more than a name and a charge. The Sheriff's inmate record groups booking data, classification, and each charge into one view. Reading those fields helps you tell one person from another and track the status of a charge. The fields below come from a Davidson County inmate profile inspected for this research.
| Field | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Control Number / OCA | The booking identifier, also used to address inmate mail. |
| Booking Dates | Admitted, arrest booking, medical, and final booking dates. |
| Facility and Unit-Pod | Where the person is held and the housing assignment. |
| Arrested Charge | The charge as booked, with felony or misdemeanor class. |
| Warrant and Bond | The warrant number and the bond set for each charge. |
| Disposition / Status | The status of each charge, often blank while pending. |
Note: Bond amounts can be changed by the court, so confirm a current bond with the Criminal Court Clerk before acting on it.
Mugshots and Booking Photos
Davidson County does not publish a public mugshot gallery. The Sheriff's inmate profile inspected for this research showed booking data, charges, bond, and facility, but no mugshot in the output. The Sheriff's jail records request page also states that jail records requests are not the place for Metro police reports, accident reports, or mugshots.
If you need a booking photo, it may be part of a police report held by the arresting agency, not the jail record.
Statewide Criminal Records Search
A Davidson County search only covers Davidson County. For a statewide criminal history, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is the state repository, and the Criminal Court Clerk offers criminal background checks as a service. For people sentenced to state prison, the Tennessee Department of Correction felony offender search, FOIL, lists status and location. The TBI also runs the state sex offender registry.
These state tools fill gaps that a county jail search cannot. Use them when a case moved beyond the county.
District Attorney and Public Defender
Criminal cases in Davidson County are prosecuted by the District Attorney General for the Twentieth Judicial District. The office handles felony, misdemeanor, and juvenile crimes and runs a Victim Witness Services Division that explains court stages and case status. People who cannot afford an attorney are represented by the Metropolitan Public Defender.
The District Attorney's office also provides expungement guidance for those checking whether an old charge can be removed.
Background Check Considerations
A casual online lookup is not a certified background check. The Criminal Court Clerk warns that its public data may lack a date of birth and should be verified at the office before official use. For employment, licensing, or housing decisions, use a proper certified source and follow the law that governs those checks.
Important: This site is not a consumer reporting agency under the FCRA, and its information may not be used for credit, employment, tenant, or insurance decisions.
Restricted Criminal Records in Davidson County
Some criminal records are not open. Juvenile records are restricted by state confidentiality law and do not appear like adult cases. Sealed records require a court order to view. Expunged charges are removed from public display, and republishing them can be a criminal offense under Tennessee law. Pending investigative records may also be withheld under the public records exceptions.