What Are Tennessee Inmate Records?

Inmate records are issued and maintained by several correctional facilities in Tennessee. These records contain detailed information on individuals confined to a prison or jail in the state. Inmate records are created when the offender is first received at the facility. Information contained in inmate records consists of:

• Name
• Gender
• Race
• Date of Birth
• Booking photo 
• Inmate’s arrival time
• Incarceration details
• Information on all transfers
• Release date, if applicable

The Tennessee Department of Corrections is responsible for providing access to information regarding inmates incarcerated in the state’s correctional facilities. However, inmate records that contain sensitive or confidential information may be exempt from public disclosure.  The following are exceptions to inmate details accessible to the general public, according to the Tennessee Public Records Act:

• Medical information of inmates who may have been exposed to life-threatening diseases or pathogens
• Parole information, based on social, physical, mental, psychiatric, and criminal data
• Information regarding acts of violence committed against any guard, employee, or inmate
• Medical information of deceased inmates, as well as the funeral home where the body was sent
• Identifying information which may place the safety of an inmate in jeopardy

How Do I Find An Inmate In Tennessee?

All inmates in the Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) facilities have unique 6-digit identification numbers registered in the Tennessee Offender Management Information System (TOMIS). The TDOC provides an online Felony Offender Information Database where an inmate’s TOMIS ID, state ID, full name, and race may be inputted to request information such as:

• Inmates’ current status
• Parole eligibility
• Location

The TDOC recommends that extensive inmate records be obtained from the originating agency as information provided in the database may arrive late or may be incomplete. The TDOC website also provides access to official statewide criminal background checks from the Tennessee Bureau of investigations where only citizens may obtain a criminal record on any Tennessee adult individual. Note that each request costs $29.

The desktop version of the Felony Offender Information database provides photos (if available) and active sentences of inmates. Citizens may also download the Felony Offender Information mobile app on Google Play or App Store. However, users on the mobile app are currently unable to access booking photos. To find inmates in county/local jails that do not provide an online database, interested persons may contact the jail using the contact information provided on the law enforcement section of the county website. Alternatively, requestors may directly contact the specific jail with information available on the jail’s website.

How To Find A Federal Inmate In Tennessee?

The Federal Correctional Institution, Memphis (FCI Memphis), houses federal inmates in Tennessee and is operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), a division of the United States Department of Justice. The BOP maintains records of federal inmates incarcerated from 1982 to date. Information regarding inmates incarcerated before 1982 are held by the National Archives Records Administration (NARA).

The records available in the BOP’s database may contain information about individuals who were detained but never served a federal sentence. Requestors may use the Inmate Locator tool provided by the BOP to search for inmate records using the following queries:

•   BOP register number
•   District of Columbia Department of Corrections (DCDC) number
•   Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) number
•   Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS) number

Requestors may also search for inmates using the first name, middle name, last name, race, age, and sex of the offender. Search results display inmate information, including current location and release date.

Requestors seeking information from NARA may submit an online application for NARA records. This requires registering an account and paying a fee using a credit card. Requestors may also contact NARA using the contact us link on the NARA website. The following information should be provided when making requests:

• Inmate name
• Date of birth or approximate age at the time of incarceration
• Race
• Approximate dates in prison

How Do I Find Inmates Records In Tennessee?

The Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) maintains records on inmates incarcerated in several prisons and jails in the state. Written requests for public records may be submitted to the TDOC in writing to the following address:

Tennessee Department of Correction
Records Management
2n Floor, Rachel Jackson Building
Nashville, Tennessee 37243–0465
(615) 253–8079

Persons submitting a written request will be required to include the following information:

• Contact Information—name, mailing address, phone number, and email address
• Reason for request
• Full name of the offender, Tennessee Offender Identification Number (TOMIS), date of birth, and social security number
• A detailed description of the information being requested from the record

The TDOC also allows interested persons to request for archived records on old inmates. Requests are submitted online through the portal provided in the TDOC Request Center. Requestors should create an account by providing their personal information and location. Submitted requests for archived records will attract charges which depend on the records requested. The user will be notified of the charges after the request is completed. 

Records that are considered public may be accessible from some third-party websites. These websites often make searching simpler, as they are not limited by geographic location, and search engines on these sites may help when starting a search for a specific or multiple record(s). To begin using such a search engine on a third-party or government website, interested parties usually must provide:

• The name of the person involved in the record, unless said person is a juvenile
• The location or assumed location of the record or person involved. This includes information such as the city, county, or state that the person resides in or was accused in

Third-party sites are independent of government sources and are not sponsored by these government agencies. Because of this, record availability on third-party sites may vary.

How To Put Money On Jail Inmates Book In Tennessee?

There are several ways through which family and friends may deposit money into an inmate’s account in the state of Tennessee. These include:

• Money Order
• Online 
• Walk-in   
• Phone

Money Order

Individuals seeking to send money to an inmate in Tennessee may do so by mail through a money order. Money order deposits are made available to the offender within three business days of receipt at the lockbox. Note that money orders sent directly to a TDOC facility will not be accepted. Persons interested in sending funds via a money order may do so by filling a deposit slip.

Completing the slip requires information about the inmate, such as the ID number, full name, and the institution where the inmate is held. The form also requires information on the requestor, such as a first name, last name, phone number, date of birth, address, city, and the amount of money to be deposited. Note that the amount must not exceed $999.99. Send the deposit slip by mail to:

JPay
P. O. Box 279010 
Miramar, FL 33027. 

Online

Through JPay’s online services, funds may be deposited into an inmate’s account using a credit or debit card. Users may visit the JPay website or download the JPay mobile app for iOS and Android. Note that the lowest fee for online payment is $3.90 for a deposit between $0.01 and $20. The highest fee is $10.90 for a deposit between $200 and $300. A complete list of transaction fees is available on the Offender Trust Fund Account section of the TDOC website. 

Walk-in

Individuals seeking to deposit money into an inmate’s account may walk into a nearby MoneyGram location and use “6188” as the code for payment processing. Walk-in deposits attract a flat-fee of $8.95. 

Phone

Family and friends may also send money to an inmate by speaking with a live agent. To make a deposit, call JPay’s 24-hour toll-free line at (800) 574–5729. Payments are posted to the facilities by the next business day. Note, the lowest fee for phone deposit between $0.01 and $20 is $4.90, while the highest fee is $11.90 for a deposit between $200 and $300. 

Individuals sending money online to any inmate in Tennessee must provide the following information about the inmate: 

• Full name
• State
• TOMIS ID number
• BOP Register number (Federal inmates only)