Where to Find Tennessee Inmate Records

Tennessee inmate records are a collection of all relevant information about incarcerated individuals. The information contained in the records includes personal information such as the name, age, gender, race, and the booking photo. Other details include all administrative data generated throughout the individual’s encounter with the correctional facilities in Tennessee, such as the arrival of the individual in the correctional facility, the incarceration information, all transfer information, and release information. Tennessee Department of Corrections maintains inmate records.

Are Incarceration Records Public Information in Tennessee?

Yes, the provisions of TN Code § 10–7–503 (The Tennessee Public Records Act) grants citizen of the state access to all state, county, and municipal records, including inmate records. Furthermore, Tennessee residents are authorized to request incarceration records at any level of the Tennessee prison system.

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 records. 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 person resides in or was accused in.

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

What Information is Contained in a Tennessee Inmate Record?

Tennessee inmate records contain two groups of information, personal information and administrative information. Personal details consist of all relevant data to the description of an inmate, such as:

• Name
• Date of birth
• Gender
• Race
• Booking photo

The administrative information on an inmate contains all information which the correctional institution has to keep on each individual committed to the institution by the Tennessee Judicial System for record-keeping purposes. Administrative information includes the records of the inmate’s arrival in a correctional facility, the details of the inmate’s incarceration, all transfer information, and inmate release information.

Where do I Look Up an Inmate in Tennessee?

The Tennessee Department of Corrections (TDOC) keeps all records on felony offenders held in state-run and private prisons. The TDOC website offers an online inmate locator service to access inmates’ records using identifiers such as name, a unique identification code called the TOMIS ID (a unique six-digit number), or the state ID. The service is called the Felony Offender Information (FOIL). The information available includes the inmate’s current status (if in prison, on parole, or probation), the inmate’s location, booking photo, the earliest parole eligibility date, and the active sentence. The online service is also available through MyTN. MyTN is an application that provides access to a wide variety of online services by the Tennessee State Government, including the Felony Offender Information.

For inmates held in city, town, or county jails, information on convicts are obtainable via the online inmate locator services dedicated to these facilities. Interested persons can visit the webpage of local law enforcement agencies in the county of residence. If the jail does not have an online inmate locator service, parties can contact the facility by phone to make inquiries.

How Do I Conduct an Inmate Search in Tennessee?

The Felony Offender Information online inmate locator service provides a means of accessing the records for inmates in state or private prisons. Interested persons must-know information about the inmate, such as the inmate’s name, TOMIS ID, or state ID. Through the Felony Offender Information service, the inmate’s sentence status, parole information, active sentence, and booking photographs are available.

Interested parties can also use the MyTN application, an application that grants access to the state’s government online services. Through this application, requesters can search for inmates’ details. Websites managed by the county or municipality where the correction center holds an inmate are located or by obtaining the jail’s contact information and reaching the facility through a phone call.

How Can I Find an Inmate for Free in Tennessee?

Interested persons can visit Felony Offender Information (FOIL) or download the app for free to find inmates in Tennessee. The app contains all data on convicted felons in the Tennessee Department of Correction, including the ones who are out and those still incarcerated. All necessary data regarding inmates, such as inmates’ current status, photo, name, date of birth, location, and active sentences, are available and easily accessible by the general public on this app for free.

Persons trying to find inmates in Tennessee can also visit the county or municipality website to locate inmates’ files for free. These counties and regional prisons update the websites from time to time with current inmates’ information in the correctional facilities. Interested persons can also contact the local jail or correctional facility by phone.

How to Find Old Inmate Records in Tennessee

To find archived inmate data or already released inmates information, interested persons will need to submit a request to the Tennessee Department of Correction Records Management through phone or in writing:

2nd Floor, Rachel Jackson Building
Nashville, Tennessee
37243–0465
(615) 253–8079

However, requestors must include the following information in the query:

• Requestor’s contact information (name, address, number, email address)
• Reason for request
• Inmate’s full name, date of birth, social security number, and Tennessee offender identification number (TOMIS #).
• A detailed description of the information from the requested record

How do I Find Inmate Death Records in Tennessee?

Inmate death records are under the Tennessee Department of Health, Vital Records Division, and certified copies are released to the immediate family members and legal representatives. Non-certified death records for the past 50 years are available to the general public. Also, a copy of the requestor’s driver’s license is required if the cause of death is mandatory. Requests for public information should be in writing. If the inquirer is not an immediate family member or any eligible individual, the requestor will have to provide documentation on why the death record is needed.

Interested persons can contact Tennessee Vital Records on (615) 741–1763 or visit to request for an inmate death record at;

1st Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower
710 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37243

How do I Conduct a Federal Prison Inmate Search?

To conduct a federal prison inmate search, interested persons can visit the Federal Bureau of Prisons. All updated information on federal inmates is available and easily accessible by the public. To search for a federal inmate, take the following steps:

• Click on the Locate a Federal Inmate tab
• Type in Inmate’s Register number/DCDC number/INS number/FBI number
• Type in Inmate’s First, middle, and last names
• Type in Inmate’s Race, Age, and sex
• Click on the preferred inmate to view more information or check back later if the inmate is unavailable

All incarcerated and released inmate’s information from 1982 till today are available.

How Long Does it Take For An Inmate’s Information to Be Published in Tennessee Inmate Locator?

In the state of Tennessee, the Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) publishes a new Inmate’s Information within a week after the inmate’s incarceration. Information on new inmates can be found on the local law enforcement agency website in charge of the jail or visit the nearby county to inquire. Nevertheless, counties and local prisons update websites from time to time with current inmates’ information in the correctional facilities.