Tennessee Statewide Criminal Background Check
Search the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation repository for all 95 counties with one order.
BCS Background Screening LLC runs the TBI name search for you, matches identifiers, and delivers an FCRA-ready report.
What a TBI Background Check Includes
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation keeps the state’s central criminal history repository.
Every county sheriff and police department sends fingerprint-based arrests to it.
As a result, one TBI background check reaches records from Memphis to Johnson City.
Our Tennessee statewide criminal background check searches that repository for you.
In short, you get one clear answer for the whole state instead of 95 county searches.
Felony and Misdemeanor Arrests
The report lists Tennessee felony and misdemeanor arrests backed by fingerprint cards.
Each arrest cycle shows the agency, charge literal, and arrest date.
Court Dispositions
When courts report back, you see the plea, the finding, and the disposition date.
Our team flags every cycle that still lacks a final disposition.
Identifiers and Aliases
Results carry the State ID number, date of birth, and physical descriptors.
Consequently, reviewers can match the record to your applicant with confidence.
How Tennessee Criminal Records Reach the TBI
Tennessee Open Records Information Services, or TORIS, is the public name-search channel of the TBI.
The TBI builds each record from fingerprints that arresting agencies submit.
Therefore, an arrest without a fingerprint card may never reach the state file.
Courts then report dispositions to the TBI, though some reports arrive late.
What the TBI Leaves Out
- Juvenile cases, unless a court transferred the youth to adult court under Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-1-134.
- Records a court expunged under Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-32-101.
- Arrests in other states and federal cases.
- Most citations that never led to a fingerprinted arrest.
Why Name-Based Results Need Review
The TBI itself warns that it cannot confirm a match without a fingerprint comparison.
For that reason, our analysts compare DOB, middle name, and SID before a record reaches you.
Moreover, we flag common-name hits so you never act on the wrong person’s history.
TBI Search at a Glance
Source: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, CJIS Division.
Coverage: All 95 counties and 32 judicial districts.
Record type: Fingerprint-supported arrests with reported dispositions.
Input: Full name, date of birth, and optional SSN.
Price: $20 per name plus a $29 state fee.
Disputes: The TBI resolves disputes by fingerprint comparison.
Where Tennessee Criminal Records Start
Every Tennessee criminal record begins in a local court.
Knowing which court heard a case helps you read the TBI result correctly.
General Sessions Courts
Each county runs a General Sessions Court for misdemeanors.
These courts also hold preliminary hearings in felony cases.
Criminal and Circuit Courts
Felony trials move up to a Criminal Court or a Circuit Court.
Which one depends on the judicial district.
Municipal Courts
City courts mostly hear ordinance and traffic cases.
Because many never involve fingerprints, they rarely reach the TBI.
Who Orders a Tennessee Criminal History Check
Employers across Tennessee order this search before they make a final hiring decision.
Property managers, staffing firms, and volunteer groups use it as well.
Healthcare, logistics, and manufacturing teams in Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, and Chattanooga rely on it daily.
Meanwhile, schools and child care centers often need a fingerprint check under separate state rules.
Tennessee Criminal History Check With BCS Background Screening LLC
You could request a TORIS search yourself.
However, a raw state result still leaves you with identity checks, FCRA notices, and follow-up work.
Real-Time Ordering
Place the order online and track status inside your secure account.
FCRA-Ready Reports
We deliver a clean report that supports your pre-adverse and adverse action steps.
County Follow-Up
Missing dispositions? We confirm them at the county court on request.
| Feature | DIY TORIS request | BCS Background Screening LLC |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per name | $29 TBI fee, paid by you | $20 + $29 state fee, billed at cost |
| Identity matching | You compare records alone | Analyst matches DOB, SID, and name |
| FCRA disclosure and consent | You build the forms | Built into the online order |
| Missing dispositions | You call the county clerk | County court search on request |
| Other states and federal | Not included | Add nationwide and federal searches |
Tennessee Statewide Criminal Background Check Price
Our Tennessee statewide criminal background check costs $20 per name.
In addition, the state charges a $29 TBI fee that we pass through at cost.
You pay no setup fee and no monthly minimum.
Need a wider view? Pair this search with add-ons that fill the gaps in state data.
- County criminal court search for missing dispositions.
- Nationwide criminal database search for other states.
- Federal criminal search for U.S. District Court cases.
- Motor vehicle records for driving roles.
Tennessee Rules That Shape Criminal Record Checks
Tennessee sets no state lookback cap on convictions for private employers.
Instead, the federal FCRA limits most non-conviction records to seven years.
That limit lifts for jobs paying $75,000 or more a year.
Ban-the-Box for State Jobs
Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-50-112 stops state agencies from asking about records on the first application.
Private employers, by contrast, may ask earlier, but EEOC guidance still applies.
Expunged and Diverted Cases
Courts expunge dismissed charges and some eligible convictions under § 40-32-101.
Likewise, a completed judicial diversion under § 40-35-313 can lead to expunction.
Once expunged, a record should not appear on a TBI result.
Read the Full Guide
Our Tennessee guide covers ban-the-box, expungement, credit checks, and drug testing.
Order a TBI Background Check in Four Steps
Open an Account
Sign up online, and we verify your business use.
Get Consent
Send the FCRA disclosure and collect the signed authorization.
Place the Order
Enter the full name, DOB, and aliases, then choose Tennessee.
Review Results
Read the analyst-reviewed report in your secure dashboard.
Tennessee Criminal History Sample Report
Below is a fictitious sample of a TBI result with one record.
All names, numbers, and addresses are invented for illustration.
Tennessee Criminal History Records Request
Tennessee Open Records Information Services · Tennessee Bureau of Investigation
Request Summary
Caveats
THIS RECORD IS BASED ONLY ON THE SID OR FBI NUMBER IN YOUR REQUEST (3417726). ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS MAY BE MADE AT ANY TIME, SO REQUEST A NEW COPY FOR LATER USE. USE OF THIS RECORD IS REGULATED BY LAW. IT IS FURNISHED FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY AND ONLY FOR THE PURPOSE REQUESTED. FOR AN EXPLANATION OF A CHARGE OR DISPOSITION, CONTACT THE AGENCY THAT CONTRIBUTED THE FINGERPRINTS. (TBI; 2024-02-19)
Identification
Arrest
Court Disposition (Cycle 001)
Final disposition: CONVICTED — GUILTY PLEA
Arrest / file date: 2024-05-26 · Disposition date: 2025-02-11
Sentence: Not reported to the TBI for this cycle. BCS Background Screening LLC can retrieve the full sentence from the county court on request.
Index of Agencies
ANDERSON COUNTY SO · TN0010000
* * * END OF RECORD * * *
Records source: Tennessee Open Records Information Services, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, 901 R.S. Gass Blvd., Nashville, TN 37216.
Tennessee Statewide Criminal Background Check FAQs
What does a Tennessee statewide criminal background check show?
It shows Tennessee felony and misdemeanor arrests that the TBI holds on file.
It also lists court dispositions, charge literals, and identifiers when courts report them.
How much does a TBI background check cost?
Through BCS Background Screening LLC, the search costs $20 per name plus a $29 state fee.
That makes the total $49 per name, with no setup fee.
Is the TBI search a fingerprint check?
No, TORIS runs a name-based search against fingerprint-supported records.
For this reason, our analysts match DOB, SID, and name before we report a record.
Does the TBI search cover all 95 Tennessee counties?
Yes, every Tennessee agency sends fingerprinted arrests to the TBI.
Still, an arrest without a fingerprint card may be missing from the state file.
How far back does a Tennessee criminal history check go?
The TBI file has no set cutoff date.
However, the FCRA limits most non-conviction records to seven years for jobs under $75,000.
Will expunged records appear on a TBI result?
No, an expunged record under Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-32-101 should not appear.
Similarly, juvenile records stay off unless the case moved to adult court.
Do I need the applicant’s consent for a Tennessee criminal record search?
Yes, the FCRA requires a stand-alone disclosure and signed authorization for employment use.
Our order form collects both before we run the search.
What if a Tennessee record shows no disposition?
First, we flag the open cycle in your report.
Then, on request, we confirm the outcome with a county criminal court search.
Run Your Tennessee Statewide Criminal Background Check
Open a free business account and order your first TBI search in minutes.
Every user account also offers optional Multiple Authentication Factor (MAF) sign-in.
The sample report above is fictitious. Any resemblance to a real person is coincidental. This page offers general information, not legal advice.