Nashville TN Arrest Records Search | Police & Court 2026

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Nashville–Davidson County, Tennessee · Police, booking and court guide

Nashville Arrest Records: Connect the Booking, Police Report and Court Disposition

A Nashville arrest does not create one universal record. The Davidson County Sheriff controls custody and booking information, Metro Nashville Police maintains its incident and arrest reports, and the Criminal Court Clerk maintains filed charges and court dispositions.

This guide brings the important search rules, report fees, record-retention periods, warrant procedures, citation-booking instructions, court-copy costs, jail contacts and expungement path into one page. Outside portals are reserved for live searches and final submissions.

Search active Nashville inmates Search criminal court cases Request a police report
Arrest is not conviction. A booking charge or police allegation does not establish guilt. Charges may be changed, dismissed, retired, declined, resolved through diversion or result in a not-guilty finding. Verify identity and read the final court disposition before describing the outcome.
Current custody

DCSO Active Inmate Search and 24-hour information line.

Recent bookings

MNPD publishes three days of bookings at a time.

Police reports

MNPD Central Records, not the Sheriff’s jail-record office.

Court outcome

Davidson County Criminal Court Clerk case search.

Source review

Official details checked August 5, 2026.

Three-record router

Choose the office that holds the information you need

DAVIDSON COUNTY SHERIFF Is the person in custody?

Use DCSO for current inmate status, recent booking information, control and JMS numbers, facility, unit, security level, charges, bond entries, holds and release-related questions.

Best for: active custody, jail location, inmate identity, mail, calls, deposits and visitation.
METRO NASHVILLE POLICE What allegedly happened?

Use MNPD Central Records for police incident reports, arrest reports, CAD reports, certain photographs, body-camera or in-car-camera requests and Davidson County police arrest checks.

Best for: report narrative, responding officers, incident number and releasable police evidence.
CRIMINAL COURT CLERK What happened to the case?

Use the Clerk for filed charges, General Sessions or State Trial Court cases, hearings, dispositions, fines, costs, certified copies and expungement inquiries.

Best for: dismissal, nolle prosequi, plea, judgment, sentence and certified disposition.
Best full-record workflow: Find the active or recent booking, save the control number and warrant or case identifiers, request the police report only when its narrative is needed, and finish with the Clerk’s disposition.

Choose the problem you need to solve

The article is arranged around real arrest-record tasks rather than a directory of outside pages.

New arrest check

How the Davidson County daily booking list works

Three-day publication

MNPD’s Daily Booking List displays Davidson County bookings for three days at a time rather than maintaining a permanent historical roster on that page.

Weekend and holiday delay

Bookings that occur during a weekend or holiday are posted on the next business day.

Booking date can differ

For misdemeanor citations and some other situations, the booking date can be different from the date of the alleged offense or police encounter.

Which search should you use?

Arrest occurred today Check the active-inmate search first. Intake may appear there before the daily PDF is published.
You need a three-day snapshot Use the MNPD Daily Booking List to review recently processed Davidson County bookings.
The person was cited instead of jailed The booking may occur later on the citation-booking appointment date.
The person was already released Search the Criminal Court Clerk because the active-custody result may no longer be available.
Do not treat a booking list as a conviction list. It records a booking event and initial allegations, not the prosecutor’s final charging decision or the court’s disposition.
View the current daily booking list
Booking-field decoder

What each Nashville inmate-search field means

DCSO result fields and the correct next action
Field What it identifies What it does not prove What to do next
JMS number A record identifier used within the jail-management system. It does not explain the final court disposition. Save it for DCSO custody questions.
Control number / OCA The person’s Davidson County offender-control identifier. It is not the same as every warrant or court-case number. Use it for mail, deposits, calls and record requests.
Facility and unit-pod The current DCSO housing assignment shown by the system. Housing can change after classification, medical review or transfer. Confirm before traveling or scheduling a visit.
Security level A DCSO classification such as minimum, medium or maximum. It is not a finding about guilt or the seriousness of every charge. Use it only to understand housing and service restrictions.
Arrest-booking date When the person entered the booking process for the listed custody episode. It may not equal the incident date or citation date. Use it to separate multiple arrests involving the same person.
Final-booking date When the booking process reached its recorded completion point. It does not mean release is approved or complete. Call DCSO when a very recent record remains unclear.
Arrested charge The alleged charge associated with arrest or intake. The prosecutor may file a different charge or decline prosecution. Search the Clerk’s filed case and disposition.
Convicted charge A conviction-related entry when one is recorded in the custody system. A blank field does not itself explain the status of the pending allegation. Obtain the court judgment when official proof is needed.
Warrant The warrant or charging identifier connected with a listed matter. It may not show every document or later court action. Use the number in the Clerk search or when contacting the court.
Bond The amount displayed for a particular charge at the time of the search. The court can change it, and another hold may prevent release. Confirm every charge and hold with the Clerk or DCSO.
Hold notice A court order, domestic-violence hold, federal warrant, ICE detainer, outside warrant or other release restriction may be displayed. A payable bond on another charge may not remove the hold. Ask which agency or order controls release.
Sentence information Date sentenced, sentence start or sentence length may appear for sentenced matters. The Clerk does not calculate actual release dates or all sentence credits. Contact DCSO Time Computation or TDOC as appropriate.
Official-use warning: DCSO states that the public inmate information should not be relied upon as official legal reporting. Obtain the controlling jail or court document when the information will affect a formal decision.
Same-name protection

Confirm the person before using a Nashville arrest record

Full legal name matches
Middle name, suffix or alias is consistent
Date of birth or age is consistent
Control or OCA number matches another record
Booking date matches the known incident
Warrant or court-case number matches
Arresting agency and location are consistent
Final court disposition belongs to the same person
Use at least two independent identifiers. Never send money, publish an allegation, contact an employer or make a housing decision based only on a matching name, address or photograph.
Same name, different birth date Treat the records as belonging to different people unless the responsible agency confirms a clerical error.
No birth date in the court result The Clerk specifically recommends in-person verification before using that result for an official purpose.
Address is old or unfamiliar The court search displays information originally submitted by the arresting or booking agency. It may not be current.
Photograph appears similar Visual resemblance is not a reliable legal identifier. Use the OCA, birth date and case number.
Troubleshooting

No Nashville arrest result found? Follow this order

The arrest happened within the last few hours The person may still be completing identification, property inventory, medical screening, pretrial screening or final booking.
The name may be entered differently Search the surname alone. Try a former surname, hyphen variation, alias, suffix or shortened first name.
A misdemeanor citation was issued The person may not be booked until the later citation-booking appointment.
The person was quickly released Search the recent booking list and Criminal Court Clerk case system rather than relying only on active custody.
A court case appears but no inmate does The person may be out on bond, cited, released, serving a noncustodial sentence or connected to an older case.
An outside hold or transfer occurred Custody may now be controlled by another Tennessee county, TDOC, a federal agency or an out-of-state jurisdiction.
The arrest occurred outside Davidson County Search the county where the arrest took place, not merely the person’s Nashville residence.
The record was expunged or restricted Expunged information does not appear in the public Clerk search. Juvenile and legally confidential material may also be unavailable.
Useful DCSO call script “I am trying to confirm whether [full legal name], date of birth [date], is currently or recently in Davidson County custody. The arrest or citation may have occurred on [date]. I have [control, JMS, warrant or case number]. Can you confirm the current facility, release status or receiving agency?”
Record lifecycle

What happens after an arrest in Nashville?

Police incident and arrest records begin MNPD or another arresting agency creates incident, arrest, CAD, evidence and related law-enforcement records.
Arrival at the Downtown Detention Center DCSO identifies the Downtown Detention Center as the first stop for every Davidson County arrestee.
Property and money are inventoried Personal property is recorded. Money arriving with the person is placed in the jail commissary account, and the inmate should keep the property receipt.
Pretrial screening occurs DCSO states that arrestees are screened for possible nonfinancial pretrial release during processing. The screening office operates continuously in the DDC booking room.
Medical review and final booking Medical and booking timestamps may appear separately in the inmate search. Failure to cooperate with booking can delay release.
Magistrate, bond and court review Judicial officers may address probable cause, warrants and bail. A displayed bond can later change.
Classification and facility assignment Criminal history, current charges, behavior, safety and health factors can affect the minimum, medium or maximum custody assignment.
Prosecutor and court disposition The filed court charge may differ from the booked allegation. The case may end through dismissal, nolle prosequi, diversion, plea, trial or judgment.
Why the record changes: Facility, unit, security level, bond, charge, hold and release fields may change after classification, a court order, prosecutor review or transfer.
Court timing

Davidson County jail docket schedule by arrest window

The Criminal Court Clerk publishes the following regular review and jail-docket sequence. Holidays, emergency orders and judicial scheduling can affect the actual hearing date.

Published Davidson County jail docket sequence
Arrest window Review docket Jail docket
Friday 4:01 a.m. through Saturday 4:00 a.m. Monday Wednesday
Saturday 4:01 a.m. through Monday 4:00 a.m. Monday Thursday
Monday 4:01 a.m. through Tuesday 4:00 a.m. Tuesday Friday
Tuesday 4:01 a.m. through Wednesday 4:00 a.m. Wednesday Monday
Wednesday 4:01 a.m. through Thursday 4:00 a.m. Thursday Tuesday
Thursday 4:01 a.m. through Friday 4:00 a.m. Friday Wednesday
Do not promise a release date from this chart. Another warrant, hold, sentence, court order or delayed processing can keep a person in custody after the expected docket.
MNPD Central Records

How to obtain a Nashville police arrest or incident report

Police Central Records Division
811 Anderson Lane, Suite 100
Madison, TN 37115
Counter and phone

Monday–Friday: 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

General information: 615-862-7631

Closed on Metro-observed holidays.

Agency division matters: MNPD Central Records handles Metro police reports. DCSO’s jail-record office specifically states that it is not the place to request police reports, accident reports or mugshots.

Ways to submit the request

Online request

Use the MNPD JustFOIA portal for police records, reports, body-worn-camera footage and in-car-camera footage.

In-person request

Bring photo identification to the Central Records public counter. There is no ATM at the office.

Postal request

Send the completed MNPD public-records request form and a copy of the required state-issued photo identification.

No fax requests: MNPD states that Central Records does not accept or send records requests by fax.

Name the exact record you need

Incident report

The primary law-enforcement report describing the reported event and responding-officer information.

Arrest report

Arrest-related information maintained by MNPD for the custodial or citation event.

CAD report

Computer-aided dispatch information connected with a call for service.

Body-worn camera

Video requested through Central Records is forwarded to MNPD Information Technology for processing and review.

In-car-camera video

Specify the officer, date, approximate time, location and incident number when known.

Davidson arrest check

A local MNPD record check showing Davidson County arrests and criminal charges, but not court dispositions.

Information that reduces delay and labor cost

MNPD incident or complaint number
Full legal name and date of birth
Date and narrow time range
Exact Nashville location
Arresting or responding officer when known
Custodial arrest or citation status
Specific report, audio, photograph or video requested
Electronic delivery preference and cost ceiling
Copy-ready MNPD records request
I request an electronic copy of the releasable incident report, arrest report, CAD report and releasable supplemental records for the incident involving [full legal name], date of birth [date if known], occurring on or about [date and time] at [location]. The incident or complaint number is [number], and the arrest or citation occurred through [unit or officer if known]. Please notify me before processing if the estimated charge will exceed $[amount]. I prefer electronic delivery.

Police-report fees

Current MNPD Central Records fee structure
Service Published charge Important limit
Black-and-white report copy $0.15 per page Additional labor can apply to qualifying requests.
Color report copy $0.50 per page Ask whether color is necessary before ordering a large file.
Electronic production No copy fee unless labor is required Review, redaction and production time may still produce a labor charge.
In-person, mail or email labor Labor fee after the first hour Narrow requests reduce staff time and cost.
Davidson County arrest-record check $13 Shows local arrests and charges, not the court disposition.
Do not pay $13 when the question is the court outcome. The Clerk’s online Davidson County criminal-history summary is available without a search fee and includes dispositions when the case has concluded.
Submit the MNPD records request Call Central Records
Video and event records

How long MNPD retains listed recording categories

These periods help determine whether requested body-camera or in-car-camera material may still exist. Retention does not guarantee public release because exemptions, redactions, technical issues and case status may still apply.

MNPD-published event retention periods
Event category Published retention Request tip
Training, test or miscellaneous 120 days Request promptly and describe the event precisely.
Investigative stop 18 months Include location, time and officer when known.
General citizen contact 18 months Provide the call or incident number.
Call for service 18 months Pair the request with the CAD report number.
Non-arrest traffic stop 18 months Include vehicle, driver, location and stop time.
Police-involved crash 42 months Identify the crash-report number.
Vehicle pursuit or use of force 6 years Request the incident, pursuit or force records together.
Evidentiary or search event 7 years Specify the search warrant or evidence event.
Custodial arrest or citation 7 years Include both the incident and arrest identifiers.
Unknown event Indefinite MNPD must still determine whether responsive material exists.
Critical incident or officer-involved shooting Indefinite Disclosure may still depend on investigation and legal review.
Five-business-day rule for self-filed online reports: After MNPD approves an online police report, the department instructs the filer to allow five business days before requesting the official copy.
DCSO jail records

How to request Nashville jail and offender records

The DCSO records center handles general offender jail records. It does not replace MNPD Central Records for police reports, accident reports or mugshots.

Public hours

Monday–Friday, 7:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. No advance appointment is required under the current DCSO instructions.

Information line

615-862-8123 reaches the Offender Information Center or Offender Records Office.

Current published location

610 West Due West Avenue, Madison, TN 37115.

Address conflict warning: Another DCSO page still displays One Jerry Newson Way for the records office. Call 615-862-8123 before traveling so staff can confirm the correct public entrance.

Useful jail-record request details

Full legal name Date of birth Control/OCA number JMS number Booking date Release date Facility Exact record needed
Copy-ready DCSO request
I request the releasable Davidson County jail and booking records for [full legal name], date of birth [date], control/OCA number [number], JMS number [number], for the custody period beginning approximately [date]. Please include the booking summary, charge and hold information, intake and release dates, facility history and releasable property or classification records specifically maintained for that custody episode.
Submit a DCSO inmate-record request Call the records office
Formal proof

Davidson County criminal court copies, recordings and payments

Criminal Court Clerk
Justice A.A. Birch Building
408 Second Avenue North, Suite 2120
Nashville, TN 37201
Office details

Monday–Friday: 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Phone: 615-862-5601

Public record viewing is available without a viewing fee.

Criminal Court Clerk copy charges
Service Published charge Use
Non-certified copy $0.50 per page Personal reference or an ordinary court-file copy.
Certified copy $0.50 per page plus $5 per certification and seal Formal proof requested by a court, agency or institution.
Preliminary-hearing CD $10 per CD Digital audio of available hearings on or after June 19, 2006.
Older cassette recording $5, or provide a qualifying blank cassette Certain preliminary hearings recorded before June 19, 2006.

Mail-order copy steps

Call for the exact total The Clerk instructs mail requesters to confirm the copy and certification charge before sending payment.
Identify the case and document Include the defendant’s name, case number and exact filing, judgment or disposition requested.
Pay the full amount Mail requests use a cashier’s check or money order. The request is not processed until payment is complete.
Include a return envelope Add a self-addressed, stamped envelope for paper return.
Send the request Mail it to the Criminal Court Clerk’s Office, 408 Second Avenue North, Suite 2120, Nashville, TN 37203.

Paying criminal fines and costs

In person

Pay at Suite 2120 during regular Clerk office hours.

By mail
Criminal Court Clerk
Payment Processing
P.O. Box 196324
Nashville, TN 37219-6324
By phone or online

Call 615-862-5601 for card payment or use the live online-payment system.

Payment rules: Checks should be payable to the Criminal Court Clerk and include the case or docket number and defendant’s name. Online card processing includes a nonrefundable 2.25% vendor fee.
Collections account: Once an account has been referred to the Clerk’s contracted collection agency, payment must be made through that agency rather than the ordinary court-payment path.
Search and pay eligible court costs Call the Clerk
Confidential warrant process

How Nashville active-warrant inquiries actually work

There is no ordinary public phone lookup. MNPD states that officers will not discuss outstanding-warrant information over the telephone because warrants contain confidential information.
MNPD Criminal Warrants Division
440 Third Avenue North
Nashville, TN 37201
Published service details

In-person warrant inquiries: 8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m., seven days a week.

Division operation: 8:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m., seven days a week.

Bring government photo identification.

Current-location correction: Some older Clerk pages still display 512 First Avenue North. Current MNPD instructions and 2026 Clerk announcements identify 440 Third Avenue North for the Warrant and Bond Office.
Do not ask for status by phone The Warrants Division will not reveal outstanding-warrant information over the telephone.
Appear during the warrant-information window Go in person between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. and bring photo ID.
Prepare before surrendering MNPD notes that voluntary surrender allows time to speak with an attorney, bondsman, employer and family.
Do not send another person to obtain your information Each person requesting warrant information must personally appear.
Call non-emergency assistance only when the office is unattended MNPD directs visitors to call 615-862-8600 for assistance if no one is available at the office.
Why voluntary surrender may help: MNPD states that it can avoid officers coming to the person’s home or workplace and may prevent vehicle-towing expense connected with an unexpected roadside arrest.
Do not confront a wanted person. Give known information to law enforcement. Do not attempt to detain, transport or threaten anyone based on an arrest or warrant record.
Misdemeanor alternative

Nashville state misdemeanor citation-booking process

A citation can be issued as an alternative to immediate incarceration for a misdemeanor. The person must later complete booking so fingerprints, a booking photograph and identifying information can be entered into the arrest system.

Citation Booking
A.A. Birch Courthouse
408 Second Avenue North, Room 1110
Nashville, TN
Hours and phone

State misdemeanor citations: 7:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.

Phone: 615-880-3781

Calls are answered during booking hours as traffic permits.

Arrive before the appointment time Bring the citation paperwork and wait for staff to collect it.
Initial fingerprints are taken Four initial fingerprints are used to check for a previous Davidson County arrest record.
Complete the required identification process A person without a prior Davidson County arrest record receives a full fingerprint set and photograph. A person with a prior record may need only the photograph.
Allow approximately 30–45 minutes This is the DCSO-published general processing time from start to finish, but line volume can affect it.
Wait for the court date After the photograph, wait until called so the District Attorney’s process can issue the court date.
Appear in court DCSO warns that failure to appear and complete the court process can result in a Failure to Appear warrant.
Missed booking date: The Clerk directs a person who missed citation booking to request an extension or continuance through the MNPD Criminal Warrants Division or DCSO Booking Division.
Custody locations

Main Davidson County detention facilities

DCSO facility addresses, capacities and roles
Facility Published details Family action
Downtown Detention Center 200 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37201
615-862-8224
Capacity: 762
Minimum, medium and maximum 		DCSO identifies DDC as the first stop for every Davidson County arrestee.
Correctional Development Center – Male 5113 Harding Place
Nashville, TN 37211
615-862-8187
Capacity: 768
Minimum 		Confirm the current facility before sending a visitor or making an account transaction.
Correctional Development Center – Female 5115 Harding Place
Nashville, TN 37211
615-862-8187
Capacity: 252
Minimum, medium and maximum 		Use the active-inmate result to verify the exact housing location.
Maximum Correctional Center 5119 Harding Place
Nashville, TN 37211
615-862-8187
Capacity: 508
Medium–maximum 		Some locally sentenced felons and higher-security male inmates are housed here.
Annex 5131 Harding Place
Nashville, TN 37211
615-862-8187
Capacity: 300
Minimum–medium 		Do not confuse the Annex with a DDC visit or court appearance downtown.
One mailing address does not identify the physical jail. DCSO’s general inmate correspondence uses a central P.O. box. Always use the live custody result for the current physical facility.
Bond and release

How pretrial screening, bond and holds affect release

Pretrial screening

The screening office is inside the DDC booking room and operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Nonfinancial release

Pretrial Services evaluates qualified defendants for release under nonfinancial conditions and supervision.

Bond confirmation

DCSO warns that online bond amounts may change. Confirm current figures with the Criminal Court Clerk at 615-862-5670.

Why paying a displayed bond may not cause release

Another criminal charge has no bond
A domestic-violence holding period remains
A court order prevents release
An out-of-county or out-of-state warrant exists
A federal warrant or detainer applies
Sentence or transfer processing is incomplete
Release paperwork and property return remain pending
The court changed the amount after the web update
Pretrial Screening Office

Located in the DDC booking room.

Phone: 615-862-7673

Offender Information Center

Current or released offender questions.

Phone: 615-862-8123

Bond-scam check: Verify the control number, every charge, every hold and the correct payment destination. Do not pay a stranger through gift cards, cryptocurrency or a personal transfer account based on an unsolicited call.
After locating the inmate

Mail, calls, video visits and commissary rules

Inmate personal-mail address

Address every letter exactly
Inmate’s Full Name / OCA Number
Davidson County Sheriff’s Office
P.O. Box 196383
Nashville, TN 37219-6383
The OCA is essential. DCSO states that all incoming and outgoing mail must include the OCA number. Mail without it is returned to the sender or destroyed when it cannot be returned.

How digital mail works

The letter is received and scanned DCSO personnel scan eligible incoming correspondence for electronic delivery through the inmate kiosk or tablet.
The inmate receives a notification The inmate accesses the digital-mail application with the phone PIN.
The physical copy is retained temporarily The 2025 inmate handbook states that the hard copy is maintained for approximately 30 days before destruction.
Released inmates have limited recovery time Scanned mail can be downloaded for 30 days after release using the most recent mail-recovery PIN.

Accepted and rejected mail

Generally accepted
  • Letters
  • Standard greeting cards without glitter or embellishments
  • Permitted photographs
  • Verified legal and court mail
  • Approved immediate-family inmate correspondence
Not accepted through ordinary mail
  • Cash or personal checks
  • Stamps, envelopes, loose paper or pens
  • Books, newspapers or magazines
  • Sexually explicit photographs
  • Glitter or embellished cards
  • Clothing and personal-item packages
Do not place a money order inside a personal letter. The handbook states that letters and account money orders sent together are returned to the sender.

Money-order address listed in the 2025 handbook

Send account funds separately
Inmate’s Full Name / OCA Number
Inmate Trust Fund
5543 Edmondson Pike, Suite 888
Nashville, TN 37211

Account questions: 1-855-836-3364

Conflicting online instruction: Some DCSO facility pages still list the inmate-mail P.O. box for mailed money orders. The 2025 handbook gives the separate Inmate Trust Fund address above. Confirm with 1-855-836-3364 before mailing funds.

Phone and tablet rules families should know

The inmate uses the OCA and assigned phone PIN
Three-way calls are prohibited
Non-attorney calls are recorded and may be monitored
Attorney numbers must be designated with DCSO to avoid recording
Jail staff do not deliver ordinary personal messages
Electronic messages, photos and short videos are monitored
Provider charges may apply to messages and media
Funds moved to a phone/tablet account cannot be moved back to commissary

Video visitation

The inmate handbook directs visitors to register and schedule remote or lobby video visits through the Securus Video Visit Anywhere system. Remote visits carry an additional provider fee.

Current DDC restriction: The Downtown Detention Center currently states that family lobby visits are not being allowed. Remote family video visits are generally listed seven days a week from 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.–9:20 p.m. for eligible units. Third-floor medical housing does not receive video visits.
Phone funding

ICSolutions
1-888-506-8407

Commissary by phone

CorrectPay: 1-855-836-3364
JailATM: 1-636-888-7004

Lobby and retail options

DDC and the Correctional Development Center have public-area kiosks. CashPayToday provides a barcode for participating retailers.

Schedule a video visit Fund a phone account Use CorrectPay Use JailATM Create a retail-deposit barcode
Beyond Davidson County

When to order a statewide Tennessee criminal-history check

A Nashville police arrest check and Davidson County court search are local. Tennessee Open Records Information Services, or TORIS, searches the TBI’s statewide criminal-history repository.

Coverage

Tennessee misdemeanor and felony arrests based on fingerprint submissions from arresting agencies.

Search method

TORIS is a name-based Tennessee search. Aliases are not included in the name-search result.

Published cost

$29 for each request. The charge is nonrefundable.

Local and statewide search comparison
Search Coverage Main limitation
DCSO active inmate Current Davidson County Sheriff custody and booking data. Not a complete historical criminal record.
MNPD arrest-record check Davidson County arrests and criminal charges maintained for the local check. No court dispositions; $13 fee.
Criminal Court Clerk Davidson County filed criminal cases and dispositions. Not a statewide arrest search; expunged records are excluded.
TBI TORIS Tennessee fingerprint-submission-based criminal history. Name-based, aliases excluded, and not an FBI nationwide check.
Name-search limitation: A name-based check can match the wrong person or miss an alias. Juvenile information is not included unless the juvenile was transferred to criminal court as an adult under Tennessee law.
Device tip: TBI warns that the result PDF may not display on every device and recommends using a desktop or laptop.
Order the $29 Tennessee search Call TORIS: 615-744-4057
Record relief

How Nashville criminal-record expungement begins

Expungement is not automatic. An arrest does not disappear merely because the person was released, the case became inactive or the charge was dismissed. The correct court process must be completed.

Davidson County’s published eligibility categories

No-fee listed outcomes
  • Dismissed
  • Nolle prosequi
  • No true bill
  • Not guilty
  • Retired
May qualify
  • Conditional pleas
  • Pretrial diversion
  • Pretrial intervention
  • Certain eligible convictions under Tennessee law
Financial condition

All applicable fines, court costs and any required expungement fee must be paid in full before processing.

Payment hold: The Clerk states that personal checks, money orders and cashier’s checks are subject to a 10-day hold before an expungement request is processed.

Practical expungement workflow

Search every Davidson County case Identify the case number, arrest name, birth date, OCA number, arrest date, original charge and final disposition.
Confirm that the disposition is final A pending charge or incomplete diversion normally requires further court action before expungement can be completed.
Check fines and court costs Resolve applicable balances and verify whether an expungement fee applies.
Submit the Clerk’s expungement inquiry Provide first and last name, date of birth, case number when known, email, phone and any relevant question.
Allow the published response window The Clerk asks users to allow 48–72 hours for someone to respond to an expungement inquiry.
Complete the correct petition or order Use the form and statutory ground that apply to the actual case. Different outcomes and conviction categories can require different documents.
Confirm that the order has been processed Check the Clerk search again after processing. Expunged charges and citations should no longer appear in the public case search.
Publication warning: The Criminal Court Clerk warns that Tennessee law makes it a criminal offense to continue making expunged information public. Refresh old search results before republishing arrest information.
Clerk Compliance Department

Expungement and payment-plan questions.

615-880-3838

Expected inquiry response

Approximately 48–72 hours under the Clerk’s published instructions.

Legal-information notice: Eligibility depends on the exact charge, disposition, prior history and current Tennessee law. This section explains the published process and is not case-specific legal advice.
Submit the expungement inquiry
Problem-based directory

Nashville arrest-record contacts

Call the office that controls the answer
Problem Office and contact Prepare before calling
Current or recently released inmate DCSO Offender Information Center
615-862-8123
Available 24/7		 Name, birth date, control/OCA, JMS and booking date.
General offender jail record DCSO Offender Records
615-862-8123
7:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. weekdays		 Custody dates and exact document requested.
MNPD police or arrest report Central Records
615-862-7631
7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. weekdays		 Photo ID, incident number, date, place and record type.
Non-emergency police assistance MNPD
615-862-8600		 Location, event details and immediate safety information.
Criminal case or certified disposition Criminal Court Clerk
615-862-5601
8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. weekdays		 Defendant name, birth date, case or warrant number.
Current bond amount Criminal Court Clerk bond information
615-862-5670		 Every warrant or case number connected with the booking.
Pretrial screening DDC Pretrial Screening
615-862-7673
Staffed 24/7		 Name, booking information and court status.
Citation booking DCSO Citation Booking
615-880-3781
7:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.		 Citation paperwork and appointment information.
Expungement or payment plan Clerk Compliance
615-880-3838		 All related case numbers, dispositions and balance information.
Tennessee statewide history TBI TORIS
615-744-4057		 Accurate name and demographic information.
Intake location

Downtown Detention Center map

The Downtown Detention Center at 200 James Robertson Parkway is the first DCSO stop for Davidson County arrestees. The Criminal Court Clerk, citation-booking office and Warrant and Bond Office are separate destinations.

DDC: 200 James Robertson Parkway
Criminal Court Clerk: 408 Second Avenue North
Citation Booking: 408 Second Avenue North, Room 1110
Warrant and Bond Office: 440 Third Avenue North
Confirm before traveling. Check current custody, destination, office hours and visitor restrictions. A jail visit, court-copy request, warrant inquiry and citation booking occur at different locations.
Research standard

Official information incorporated into this guide

The operational details above were extracted from official Nashville and Tennessee materials so readers do not have to open multiple government pages merely to understand the process.

Davidson County Sheriff
  • Active inmate search fields and disclaimer
  • Offender information and records hours
  • 2025 inmate handbook
  • Mail, phones, visits and commissary
  • Facilities and citation booking
  • Pretrial screening
Metro Nashville Police
  • Central Records procedures
  • Police-report and arrest-check fees
  • Body-camera retention periods
  • Daily booking publication rules
  • Criminal warrant procedures
Court and state sources
  • Criminal case-search coverage
  • Copies, recordings and payment rules
  • Jail docket schedule
  • Expungement eligibility and inquiry
  • TBI statewide criminal-history rules
Last source review: August 5, 2026. Custody, court, warrant, bond, fee, address, provider and visitation details can change. Live action buttons are included only where a current search, submission, payment or account transaction must occur outside this article.
Frequently asked questions

Nashville arrest-record questions answered

How do I search for a current inmate in Nashville or Davidson County?

Use the DCSO Active Inmate Search. Begin with the last name and add the first name only when necessary. Verify the control number, JMS number, birth date, booking date, facility and charges before relying on the result.

What is the OCA or control number in the inmate result?

The control number is the Davidson County offender identifier. DCSO uses the term OCA in its mail, account and service instructions. Copy it exactly for mail, calls, deposits, visits and record requests.

What is the difference between the daily booking list and active inmate search?

The MNPD list shows three days of bookings and may be delayed after weekends or holidays. The DCSO active search is better for current custody, facility, charges, bonds, holds and control numbers.

How do I request an MNPD arrest or incident report?

Submit an online request through MNPD JustFOIA or request the record by mail or in person from Central Records. Provide photo ID, the incident number, date, place, involved name and the exact record requested. Fax requests are not accepted.

How much do Nashville police reports and arrest checks cost?

MNPD lists black-and-white copies at $0.15 per page, color copies at $0.50 per page and electronic production as free unless labor is required. The local Davidson County arrest-record check costs $13 and does not show court dispositions.

How do I search Nashville criminal court records?

Use the Criminal Court Clerk public search. Spell the name as entered at arrest, add the birth date when necessary, open each case and review the charged offense and final disposition.

Can Nashville police tell me by phone whether I have a warrant?

No. MNPD does not discuss outstanding-warrant information by phone. The person must appear with photo ID at the Criminal Warrants Division during its in-person warrant-information window.

Where is Nashville misdemeanor citation booking completed?

DCSO processes state misdemeanor citations from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the A.A. Birch Courthouse, 408 Second Avenue North, Room 1110. Processing generally takes 30–45 minutes.

How much does a certified Davidson County criminal court record cost?

The Clerk charges $0.50 per page plus $5 for each certification and seal. Non-certified copies are $0.50 per page. An available preliminary-hearing recording costs $10 per CD.

Can a Nashville arrest or criminal charge be expunged?

Some cases qualify. The Clerk lists dismissed, nolle, no true bill, not guilty and retired outcomes as no-fee categories. Diversion and certain other cases may qualify. All applicable fines and costs must be resolved before processing.

Independent information, accuracy and presumption-of-innocence notice

County Arrest Records is an independent informational website. It is not the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office, Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, Criminal Court Clerk, General Sessions Court, District Attorney, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation or a law firm.

Booking, charge, bond, warrant, custody and court information may be delayed, corrected, dismissed, sealed, expunged or otherwise changed. Confirm the person with multiple identifiers and obtain the current official document before making a legal, employment, housing, financial, safety or publication decision.

An arrest or criminal charge does not establish guilt. Do not use record information to harass, threaten, exploit, unlawfully discriminate against or misidentify any person.

Last official-source review: August 5, 2026.

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