Execute a Davidson County mugshot search to view booking photos and stay informed of the recent arrests within the county.
Law enforcement agencies — local and state level — take photographs of individuals arrested as part of the booking process. These photographs are known as mugshots or booking photos, which are useful for arrestee or inmate identification.
This article provides helpful instructions on how mugshots can be accessed and outlines the available resources to view these records, specifically in Davidson County, Tennessee.
Free Resources To Search Mugshots Online
Mugshots are usually included in arrest documents, which are compiled in the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO). The DCSO serves as the record repository of county-wide arrests, inmate records and any other documents concerning public safety, including those from various city police departments within the county.
The DCSO makes arrest or criminal records available to the general public through an online jail roster; however, mugshots are not shared or posted online. Interested individuals may need to send a records request to be able to view such information.
Additionally, mugshots can also be found through the local police department who made the arrest, especially for those recently arrested offenders.
Furthermore, mugshots are not only for local inmates; individuals incarcerated in the state prisons also capture photos for prisoners’ identification. These images are accessible via the Tennessee Department of Corrections.
How To Find Davidson County Mugshots at No Cost
Knowing individuals who have been sentenced to jail or prison or recently arrested is beneficial for public safety.
Davidson County, Tennessee allows the public to view arrested offenders through a freely accessible database — Active Inmate Search, hosted by the county sheriff’s office; however, their mugshots are not posted online.1 Online search results only show the offender’s description, arrest details and charge information. Additionally, Davidson County Sheriff’s Office also provides Online Recent Booking Lists.
Curious individuals seeking any arrestees’ mugshot can obtain it by sending a public record request or by calling the office at 615.862.8123.3
Davidson County Sheriff’s Office
One Jerry Newson Way
Nashville, Tennessee 37201
The Davidson County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) has jurisdiction over the county jail. In relation, inmate information — including details of offenders incarcerated in all detention facilities across the county — can be obtained from the Offender Information Center by calling 615.862.8123.
Alternatively, records may also be retrieved by going in person to any of the Davidson County Detention Facilities directly.4
The general public can also consider utilizing third party providers. One such provider is VINELink, and this tool provides access to records of individuals held in county jail or state prisons for free. However, similar to the county search tool, mugshots are not included in the search results.
You can also refer to the instructions for finding arrest records in Davidson County for more information.
Inmate Services in Davidson County (TN)
In Davidson County, inmates held in detention facilities can stay connected with their loved ones through the available inmate services at their respective locations.
These services help inmates maintain meaningful connection with their families, friends, community and legal authorities.
Provided below is a brief outline of inmate services in Davidson County, Tennessee.
Inmate Visitation: Inmate visits are video-only, except for attorney visits. To schedule a video visit, create a Securus account or use the onsite option without an account. The process involves logging in, selecting the visit type and scheduling a session.5
Inmate Mail: To send mail to confined individuals in Davidson County Detention Facilities, senders must specify the inmate’s name and OCA number (Control Number) and send it to the below address.
Davidson County Sheriff’s Office
PO Box 196383
Nashville, TN 37219-6383
Only letters, standard greeting cards, and legal mail (which will be verified) are accepted. Physical mail is scanned and distributed electronically to inmates via tablets and kiosks.6
Inmate Accounts: Loved ones are able to send money to inmates’ accounts online through CorrectPay.com, via phone 1-855-VendEng (1-855-836-3364) or the kiosks located at the Davidson County Facilities.7
Money orders have a $300 limit only and must be sent to:
Davidson County Sheriff’s Office
Inmate Name/ OCA #
5543 Edmondson Pike, Ste. 888
Nashville, TN 37211
Contact Inmates by Phone: Like most jails, inmates in Davidson County can be contacted through phone services offered by Securus Technologies.
How To View Mugshots via Cities in Davidson County
Mugshots or police photographs are not always available at the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office, especially for recent arrests.
In such instances, citizens can contact the arresting police department. However, the process may vary, depending on the agency, so it’s advisable to reach out in advance for specific instructions.
The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department provides law enforcement services for most urban areas in Nashville and Davidson County, but the larger cities do have their own police departments.
The table below displays some of the cities in Davidson County with links to relevant pages which are helpful for viewing arrest details and mugshots.
City Police Departments | Address | Contact Information |
Metropolitan Nashville Police Department | 600 Murfreesboro Pk Nashville, TN 37210 |
615.862.8600 |
Belle Meade Police Department | 4705 Harding Pike Nashville, Tennessee, 37205 |
615.297.0241 |
Forest Hills Police Department | 6300 Hillsboro Pike Nashville, TN 37215 |
615.372.8677 |
Berry Hill Police Department | 698 Thompson Lane Nashville, TN 37204 |
615.297.3242 |
If it happens that the arresting agency does not belong to the list above, you can search online by entering the name of the police department that you believe made the arrest, then look for their contact information or specific instructions on how to request arrest mugshots of the individual of interest.
However, for individuals held in state prisons, prisoners’ information —including mugshots— can be obtained from the Tennessee Department of Correction. The following section explains the process of accessing mugshots at the state level.
How To Access Prison Mugshots Online (TN State & Federal Inmate Images)
Law enforcement agencies take photographs of individuals not just after an arrest, but also for individuals confined in the state prisons. However, note that these photos are not accessible via county-level resources. In Tennessee, interested individuals should perform a state-level search to view prisoner’s mugshots.
To access information, including mugshots of incarcerated individuals, you can turn your search to the Tennessee Department of Corrections (TDOC).8 The Tennessee Department of Corrections operates the state prisons and ensures security and supervision of offenders confined in all state correctional facilities, including maintaining inmate records.
The general public may be able to obtain these records online by utilizing the Felony Offender Search, which has three search options: by name, by TDOC ID and by State ID. Knowing the inmate’s TDOC ID or state ID will lead to accurate results.9 However, if you have limited information about the person of interest, use the name search option instead.
To search by name, fill in the offender’s first and last name. You can also choose to include matching aliases and, if known, specify the offender’s race to further narrow the results. Complete the captcha, then hit the “Search” button.
Search results will display all matching records, including the TDOC ID, mugshot, offender name, birthdate, status and assigned location. To view a larger image or mugshot, click on the hyperlinked TDOC ID, which will also display more detailed information about the prisoner.
If you prefer submitting an on-site request, visit the below address:
Tennessee Department of Correction
320 Sixth Avenue North
Nashville, Tennessee 37423-0465
Phone: 615.741.1000
On the other hand, federal prisoners’ records can be accessed from the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). The bureau also hosts an online database —Find an Inmate, but mugshots are not included in the search results.11 Therefore, searchers may need to direct their federal mugshot inquiries to the BOP office.
Overall, arrest and inmate records — including mugshots — are accessible by the public in Tennessee in accordance with the State’s Open Records Act.12 This act allows the public to view and copy records maintained by any government agencies in the state.
Despite the public availability of mugshots, the general public should be aware of the rights and laws related to accessing public records — particularly the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which is enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). It is important to understand that the public must not use these records for any illegal activities or any professional purposes.
Now that you are aware of the available resources, information required, and restrictions and laws that surround the access to booking photos, you can now perform a Davidson County mugshot search in no time.
References
1Davidson County Sheriff’s Office. (2024). Active Inmate Search. Retrieved October 23, 2024, from <https://dcso.nashville.gov/>
2Davidson County Sheriff’s Office. (2024, October 23). Recent Bookings. Retrieved October 23, 2024, from <https://dcso.nashville.gov/Search/RecentBookings>
3Davidson County Sheriff’s Office. (2024). Inmate and Other Public Records. Jail Records. Retrieved October 23, 2024, from <https://sheriff.nashville.gov/inmate-and-other-public-records-requests/>
4Davidson County Sheriff’s Office. (2024). Facilities. Retrieved October 23, 2024, from <https://sheriff.nashville.gov/facilities/>
5Davidson County Sheriff’s Office. (2024). Inmate Visitation Schedules. Retrieved October 23, 2024, from <https://sheriff.nashville.gov/inmate-visitation-schedules/>
6Davidson County Sheriff’s Office. (2024). Inmate Mail. Retrieved October 23, 2024, from <https://sheriff.nashville.gov/inmate-mail/>
7Davidson County Sheriff’s Office. (2024). Inmate Trust Account Deposits. Retrieved October 23, 2024, from <https://sheriff.nashville.gov/inmate-trust-account-deposits/>
8Tennessee Department of Corrections. (2024). Department Overview. Retrieved October 23, 2024, from <https://www.tn.gov/correction/about-us/department-overview.html>
9Tennessee Department of Corrections. (2024). Search. Retrieved October 23, 2024, from <https://foil.app.tn.gov/foil/search.jsp>
10Tennessee Department of Corrections. (2024, October 23). Offender Details. Retrieved October 23, 2024, from <https://foil.app.tn.gov/foil/details.jsp>
11Federal Bureau of Prisons. (2024). Find an inmate. Retrieved October 23, 2024, from <https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/>
12Open Records Counsel. (2024). Tennessee Public Records Act. Retrieved October 23, 2024, from <https://comptroller.tn.gov/office-functions/open-records-counsel/open-meetings/frequently-asked-questions/tennessee-public-records-act-faqs.html>