HOW DO I OBTAIN A COPY OF A RECORD OF ARREST/JAIL RELEASE/FINGERPRINT CARD AND HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
You may come in person or request a copy of a record of arrest/jail verification through the mail (fingerprint card must be done in person).
Requesting In Person
You must fill out the Records and Identification Request for Service Form, pay the fees, and show proper identification.
Requesting Through the Mail
You must fill out the Records and Identification Request for Service Form, pay the fees, submit a valid state-issued identification (must be notarized if submitting the request through the mail) and provide proper mailing address with a valid contact phone number. (Click here for the Request for Service Form.)
Complete the “Request for Service Form” and submit with a money order or cashier’s check (no personal checks accepted) made payable to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.
Mail to:
Shelby County Sheriff’s Office
Records and Identification
201-271 Poplar Avenue – Jail Annex – Room 10-06
Memphis, TN 38103-1945
Depending upon the nature of the crime you are seeking a record for, you may be re-directed to the General Investigative Division for the record. We DO NOT release any arrest ticket/record that is part of an active case, active investigation, or active prosecution.
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CAN I HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE (I.E. FAMILY MEMBER, FRIEND, OR ATTORNEY) COME IN TO REQUEST A COPY OF MY RECORD OF ARREST?
Yes, once validation has been made that you are eligible to receive these records under the law, unless the record is currently part of an active case/active investigation/prosecution. We CANNOT release any Record of Arrest if there is an active case/active investigation/prosecution.
Your representative must present the following:
- - The representative’s valid state-issued identification (must be notarized if submitting the request through the mail).
WHAT TYPES OF IDENTIFICATION DO YOU REQUIRE?
We accept any one of the following:
- 1. A valid state issued identification with your picture on it such as a Driver’s License or State Identification Card
- 2. A valid government issued passport which has your picture on it. Please note that a verification of the validity of the identification with the issuing agency will be made.
Note: If you do not have any identification, the identification is expired, or you never had any identification, you will need to go to the nearest Tennessee Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to obtain a temporary printout from the DMV indicating your name and address. The Records & Identification Section may also ask for some type of picture and name identification with the printout.
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO OBTAIN A COPY OF A RECORD?
Requesting In Person
Our Records and Identification Section processes requests on a first-come, first-serve basis. The length of time varies based on the type of request of the number of clients being served and whether it is an archived record. Processing times can range from 15 minutes to 2-3 days for an archived record.
Requesting Through the Mail
We handle mail-in requests on a first-come, first-serve basis. Your request may take, on average, a minimum of 7 to 10 business days from the time we receive your request. If you submit your request using any express mail service, your request will still be processed in the same time period from the date of receipt. If you request that the response be sent back to you using any express mail service; you must include a pre-paid express mail return envelope.
CAN I GET JUVENILE ARREST REPORTS?
No, we only have adult Record of Arrests available. You will need to contact the Central Records Department for Juvenile Court for additional information.
Juvenile Court (physical address)
616 Adams Avenue
Memphis, TN 38105
Contact Central Records
Phone: (901) 222-0601
Hours Monday - Friday (except holidays)
8:00 am - 4:30 pm
THE U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT (ICE) IS REQUESTING THAT I GET MY ARREST TICKET AND DISPOSITION OF ARREST AS WELL AS ANY COURT DISPOSITION INFORMATION. CAN I GET THIS INFORMATION FROM YOUR AGENCY?
If it is not an active case/active investigation/prosecution, we can only provide the Record of Arrest. For example, if you were booked and released by our agency, we can provide you with release record(s) and the Record of Arrest.
If you went to court and you received a sentence, probation, etc., this is considered the court disposition information and you will need to get this information from the court of record related to the matter. We are not the keeper of court records.
I WAS ASKED TO GET A BACKGROUND CHECK REPORT (FOR ICE, ADOPTIONS, TRAVEL, ETC.)? DO YOU DO THESE?
No, we do not have this service available here. You can request a state-wide or national Criminal Background Check from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI).
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation
901 R.S. Gass Blvd.
Nashville, TN 37216
Telephone: 615-744-405
I NEED PROOF THAT I WAS RELEASED FROM JAIL, HOW DO I GET THIS?
You may obtain proof of your incarceration either in person or through the mail. Once you have presented valid identification, you will be provided with a document stipulating your name at the time of the arrest, booking number, date of arrest, and release information. You will be required to pay a fee. (Click here for Service Fees)
View Fees Information
DO YOU FINGERPRINT FOR IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICES (ICE), ETC.?
Yes. The applicant agency that referred you must provide you with the form/fingerprint card(s). You will be required to pay a fee. (Click here for Service Fees)
View Fees Details
I WANT TO SUBMIT A TENNESSEE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT (TPRA) REQUEST, DO YOU ACCEPT THEM HERE?
All Public Records Act requests can be submitted by mail, fax or via email. For additional information, visit https://www.shelby-sheriff.org/public-records-requests
Shelby County Sheriff’s Office TPRA Coordinator
Office of the Shelby County Sheriff,
201 Poplar Ave., Room 9-15
Memphis, TN 38103
Phone: (901) 222-5656
Fax: (901) 222-5657
Email: publicrecords@shelby-sheriff.org
WHERE DO I GET A COPY OF MY COURT RECORDS?
Court information has to be provided by the court of record. You will need to contact the clerk of the court that handled your case for all court information. If you are requesting final disposition of your case, that information is also provided by the court.
WHERE DO I GET A COPY OF AN AUTO CRASH REPORT AND/OR INCIDENT/OFFENSE REPORT?
Auto Crash Reports and Incident/Offense Reports can be obtained through the Memphis Police Department Central Records Division. You can pick up a report at Central Records. Reports can be provided by mail, or by fax. Call 901-636-3650 for more information or visit their website at https://www.memphispolice.org/reports.asp
Their office is located at:
Memphis Police Department
CENTRAL RECORDS
170 North Main St.
7th Floor, Suite 7-11
Memphis, TN 38103
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday (except holidays)
8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
HOW DO I EXPUNGE/SEAL MY RECORD?
Expungement is handled through the Shelby County Courts. You will need to contact either General Sessions or Criminal Court Clerk’s Office for further assistance.
Additional information can be obtained through this link at
https://www.shelbycountytn.gov/2368/Expungements
Learn More
HOW CAN I TELL IF I HAVE A WARRANT?
We can only check for warrants issued by courts in Shelby County. Contact the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Division either by phone or visit our website.
You can conduct a search to see if you have a warrant online.
Web address: www.shelbywarrants.org
Phone: 901-222-5620
Search Online
Call WASP
I AM APPLYING FOR A JOB AND WAS TOLD TO GET FINGERPRINTED? DO YOU PERFORM THIS SERVICE?
Yes, we only perform manual ink fingerprints using a tenprint card. You may bring a tenprint card from your prospective employer or we can provide one for you.
We do not provide FBI fingerprint card services. Fees are collected at the time of service. (Click here for Service Fees)
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I SUSPECTED I AM A VICTIM OF IDENTITY THEFT. CAN I VERIFY MY ARREST HISTORY WITH MY FINGERPRINTS HERE?
Yes, we can verify your arrest history with your fingerprints, but only for arrest made in Shelby County. We will require proper identification to run your fingerprints.
I AM A NARCOTICS/ARSON/SEX OFFENDER AND I NEED TO REGISTER. CAN I DO THIS HERE?
No. You will need to go to the appropriate designated location for this service.
MY APPLICATION FOR FIREARMS WAS REJECTED BECAUSE IT WAS REPORTED THAT I HAD A RECORD. HOW CAN I VERIFY THIS?
An arrest can be verified by fingerprint submission through a request for fingerprint review.
The results of this review can be processed on the same day unless the arrest record is archived. You will be required to pay a service rolling fee for the review. (Click here for Service Fees)
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