Yes, arrest records are public in Madison County, Tennessee. This accessibility is governed by the Tennessee Public Records Act (T.C.A. § 10-7-503), which establishes that all governmental records shall be open for personal inspection by any citizen of Tennessee unless otherwise provided by state law. Arrest records maintained by the Madison County Sheriff's Office and other local law enforcement agencies fall under this provision as public records. The Tennessee Public Records Act serves to promote governmental transparency and accountability by allowing citizens to monitor the activities of law enforcement agencies and the judicial system.
Public access to arrest records is subject to certain limitations. Records pertaining to ongoing investigations may be temporarily withheld, and information regarding juvenile offenders is typically sealed pursuant to T.C.A. § 37-1-153. Additionally, certain personal identifying information may be redacted to protect privacy interests while still maintaining the public nature of the arrest record.
Yes, arrest records can be found online in Madison County through several official digital platforms. The City of Jackson Police Department maintains an online database of daily arrest reports that is accessible to the public. This resource provides a convenient method for citizens to access arrest information without the necessity of visiting physical government offices.
The Madison County Circuit Court also offers limited online access to case information through their public access portal. Users may search for criminal cases by name, case number, or filing date. While the full arrest record may not be available online, basic information regarding charges and court appearances can be accessed through this system.
It should be noted that online records may not be comprehensive or immediately updated. For the most current and complete arrest record information, individuals may need to contact the appropriate law enforcement agency or court clerk directly.
To obtain Madison County arrest records in 2025, several methods are available to members of the public. Each method varies in terms of comprehensiveness, convenience, and potential fees:
Visit the Madison County Sheriff's Office in person: Madison County Sheriff's Office 546 E College Street Jackson, TN 38301 Phone: (731) 423-6000 Official Website Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Request records from the Madison County Circuit Court Clerk: Madison County Circuit Court Clerk 100 E Main Street, Room 200 Jackson, TN 38301 Phone: (731) 423-6033 Official Website Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Access the Tennessee Court Information System (TnCIS) public portal for case information.
Utilize the public access terminals available at the Madison County Courthouse: Madison County Courthouse 100 E Main Street Jackson, TN 38301 Phone: (731) 988-3960 Official Website Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Submit a formal public records request pursuant to T.C.A. § 10-7-503 to the records custodian of the appropriate agency.
Requestors should be prepared to provide identifying information about the subject of the search, including full name and date of birth if available. Fees may apply for copies of records in accordance with T.C.A. § 10-7-503(a)(7)(C)(i), which permits charging reasonable costs for reproduction of public records.
A Madison County arrest record typically contains comprehensive information about an individual's arrest and booking process. These records are maintained in accordance with Tennessee Code Annotated § 40-7-123 and include the following standard elements:
The General Sessions Court of Madison County processes criminal cases issued through the Madison County Sheriff's Department and maintains these records as part of their official court files. These records serve as the official documentation of an individual's entry into the criminal justice system and form the basis for subsequent court proceedings.
In Madison County, individuals may petition for expungement of arrest records under specific circumstances as provided by Tennessee Code Annotated § 40-32-101. Expungement effectively removes the record from public access, though certain governmental agencies may retain limited access for official purposes.
Eligibility criteria for expungement in Madison County include:
The expungement process requires filing a petition with the court that handled the original case. In Madison County, this petition must be filed with either:
Madison County Circuit Court 100 E Main Street, Room 200 Jackson, TN 38301 Phone: (731) 423-6033 Official Website
Madison County General Sessions Court 100 E Main Street Jackson, TN 38301 Phone: (731) 423-6075 Official Website
Pursuant to T.C.A. § 40-32-101(g)(1), there is no filing fee for expungement petitions related to charges that were dismissed, no true bill was returned by a grand jury, a verdict of not guilty was rendered, or the conviction was reversed on appeal. For other eligible expungements, a fee may be required as established by state law.
Upon approval of an expungement petition, the court will issue an order directing all relevant agencies to remove the record from public access, including physical and electronic databases maintained by the Madison County Sheriff's Office, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and other law enforcement agencies.