Shelby County Tennessee Inmate Jail Records

Jail Records – How to Access Public Jail Records

Searching for jail records in Shelby County is not easy, since these files are not listed in the public information folders. In most states, you can perform a search for criminal history information free of charge. However, in Tennessee, jail records are confidential and cannot be freely accessed by the public.

Accessing state of Tennessee’s vital records database requires a nominal fee. This is because jail records are considered as public information, and are supposed to be made available to the general public. In some states, people can request for these files online. However, most people find it more convenient to hire the local law enforcement agencies for these types of records. Also, the process is much faster and efficient.

These records are maintained in separate files in each of the local courthouses. However, they cannot be accessed without proper authorization and a valid reason. Jail records in Tennessee are different from other public records in the sense that they are maintained confidential and restricted for public viewing. Unlike the usual records that are freely available, these files have to be produced without any prior permission. The only exception is if the person in question has something to hide, which is the only instance when the state has to allow the public to view the jail files.

Each of the county courthouses maintain a list of their jail data. Most people rely on this list for general information. However, some people perform an extensive search just to find out if there are any lawsuits pending against a certain individual. They then make the effort of accessing the state and federal public databases to gather all the information they need.

Some people do not want to take the risk of searching for the state jail records on their own. Thus, they hire private detectives and investigators to do the job for them. For a very minimal fee, these detectives can easily access the database. Usually, they have to submit a request to get the information that they need. They can give their request in person, by phone or by fax.

Whatever option that you choose, it is important that you research first. Jail records are considered public information in almost all states. Therefore, the information is freely accessible online. However, there are certain limitations such as the limitation of state access to protected names and the limited date range of the information.