Search Memphis 72 Hour Booking
Memphis 72 hour booking records are managed by the Shelby County Sheriff's Office, which operates several jail facilities across the county. The Memphis Police Department makes the arrests, and booking data goes into the Shelby County jail system. You can search for recent bookings and current inmates through free online portals or by contacting the jail directly. Memphis is the second largest city in Tennessee with a population over 630,000, and its jail system processes thousands of bookings each month. All of these records are available to the public under Tennessee's open records law.
Memphis Quick Facts
Memphis 72 Hour Booking Search
The Shelby County Sheriff's Office runs the primary inmate search system for Memphis. You can access jail and booking information through the Shelby County jail information page. This system lets you search by inmate name, booking number, or date range. You can also filter results to show just the last 72 hours of bookings. The records show the person's full name, booking number, date of birth, charges, bond amount, housing location, and arresting agency.
For felony offenders who have been in state custody, the SCDC Inmate Records portal provides additional details. This covers current status, parole eligibility, and supervision information. It also lists release schedules. Offenders are released Monday through Friday at 3:00 PM, Saturdays at 2:45 PM, and Sundays at 1:45 PM.
You can also track custody status changes through VINELink, a free notification system that covers all Shelby County jail facilities.
VINELink sends alerts by phone, email, or text when an inmate is released or transferred from any Shelby County facility.
How Memphis Arrests Get Booked
The Memphis Police Department is the main law enforcement agency in the city. When MPD officers make an arrest, the person goes to one of the Shelby County jail facilities for processing. Memphis has a unique policy that requires officers to let the person complete a phone call before booking starts. The department gives up to one hour for that call. This means there can be a slight delay between the arrest and when the booking record actually appears in the system.
The main jail sits at 201 Poplar Avenue in downtown Memphis. There is also a Jail Annex at 1129 Jail Annex Road and an Intake and Reception Center at 961 Sycamore View. Inmates may be moved between these facilities during the 72 hour period, which is different from most Tennessee cities that use a single jail location. During booking, staff record the person's name, date of birth, charges, arresting agency, and bond information. Each person gets a booking number for tracking.
Tennessee law requires an initial court appearance within 48 to 72 hours of arrest. The judge reviews probable cause, presents the charges, and sets bail. Under Tenn. Code Ann. 10-7-503, the booking records created during this process are public. You have a right to request them.
Requesting Memphis Booking Records
If you need copies of Memphis booking records that are not available online, you can request them directly. The Memphis Police Department Records Division is at 170 North Main Street. They are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Call them at 901-636-4479 to ask what you need to bring. You will need a valid photo ID and may need to fill out a public records request form.
For jail-specific records, contact the Shelby County Sheriff's Office at 901-222-5500. They handle all booking and detention records. Put your request in writing and include the inmate's full name, booking date, and booking number if you have it. The Memphis Police Department website has more details about their records process and how to submit requests.
Fees for Memphis records include:
- Police reports cost $10.00 per report
- Accident reports cost $5.00 each
- TBI background checks cost $29.00
- Jail records fees vary based on scope
Note: The Memphis Police crime tips line at 901-528-2274 is for reporting crimes, not for requesting records.
Statewide Booking Resources for Memphis
Several state-run databases can help you find Memphis arrest and booking data. The TBI runs the TORIS portal for criminal history checks. This is a name-based search that costs $29 and covers all adult criminal activity within Tennessee. It shows arrests and convictions but not juvenile records or out-of-state cases. You pay by credit card online and get results as a PDF.
The Felony Offender Information Lookup from the Tennessee Department of Correction covers people serving felony sentences. You can search by name, TOMIS ID, or state ID. FOIL shows sentence dates, parole eligibility, custody status, and booking photos. It only covers felony-level offenses. Misdemeanor arrests processed in Memphis city courts will not appear here.
VINELink is a free victim notification tool. You can track any inmate in the Shelby County system and get alerts when their status changes. Alerts come by phone, email, or text. The system runs 24 hours a day and covers all Tennessee jails and prisons. Many people use VINELink to stay informed about someone's custody status after a Memphis arrest.
Memphis Jail Procedures
Shelby County runs a weekender program for some inmates. These people report to the Intake and Reception Center at 961 Sycamore View in Memphis. If a weekender shows up more than one hour late, they get turned away and a warrant is issued. This is a strict policy. Arriving up to one hour late means the person has to make up the lost time.
Family members can bring discharge clothes for inmates who are set to be released within 48 hours. Clothes are accepted Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM at the N-building. Released inmates can also get bus passes, but those must be purchased while the person is still in custody. The Shelby County jail system handles post-convicted offenders serving sentences up to 12 years. Felons get monthly good behavior credits that reduce their time. Misdemeanor inmates serve 50 percent of their sentence unless a judge says otherwise.
Under Tenn. Code Ann. 40-7-118, officers in Memphis now have broader authority to arrest rather than cite for certain misdemeanors. Officers must document why they chose arrest over citation. This change affects the volume of Memphis 72 hour booking records created.
Memphis Booking Record Limits
Some records are off-limits. Juvenile records stay sealed. Active investigation files may be held back. Medical information is always confidential. Under Tenn. Code Ann. 10-7-504, certain categories of records are exempt from public disclosure. These exemptions apply the same way in Memphis as they do everywhere else in the state.
Memphis hosts large events like Memphis in May and the BBQ Festival that can spike booking volumes. During these times, processing can slow down and records may take longer to appear in the online system. If you are searching for a recent booking during a major event, try again later in the day or call the jail information line at 901-222-4700.
Shelby County 72 Hour Booking
Memphis is the county seat of Shelby County. All jail operations and booking records go through the Shelby County Sheriff's Office. For more about the county's full booking system, fees, and related resources, visit the Shelby County page.
Nearby Tennessee Cities
Several cities near Memphis are also in Shelby County or nearby counties. Pick a city below to search 72 hour booking records for that area.