Another type of genealogy record that provides tremendous value is criminal records. Some of our ancestors unfortunately got in trouble with the law. And records were kept from arrests through court cases to prison documents. Now, more and more of these records are being digitized or transcribed and are being made available online.
Types of Records
- Criminal court proceedings
- Police reports
- Prison and jail admission registers
- Arrest records
- Mug books
- Pardon and discharge information
- Hospital record books
- Workhouse records
Types of Information
- Name
- Age
- Birth date
- Height
- Weight
- Complexion
- Eye color
- Hair color
- Nationality
- Occupation
- Education
- Habits (alcohol use)
- Relations (parents living)
- Date incarcerated
- Court where charged
- Recommitments
- How and when discharged
Note: Some of the links listed take you to a FamilySearch Collection of digital images. Near the bottom of the page under Film/Digital Notes is the name of each sub-collection. If there is a camera icon at the right of the name (in the Format column) then the collections’ images are browsable. If there is a camera with a key icon, it is only available at a Family History Center or affiliated library. If there is a film reel icon, then it is only available in microfilm format, not digital. To take full advantage, please make sure that you are logged in to FamilySearch. The results may be different if you are signed in, rather than not.
Listed below are links to criminal records that are available for free online for the state; the first list is for multi-state collections:
(Updated February 2023)
Tennessee Criminal Records
United States
- Before the Needles, Executions in America Database
- Death Penalty USA, Executions 1607-1976 (by state)
- Federal Bureau of Prisons, Inmate Search 1982-
- Freedmen’s Bureau Records Relating to Murders and Outrages
Tennessee
- Blount County Inmates at the TN Penitentiary, 1831-1850
- Blount County Inmates at the TN Penitentiary, 1851-1870
- Bradley County, Court Minutes, 1838-1894
- Campbell County, Crimes and Prisoners 1831-1842
- Carter County, Minutes, Civil and Criminal, 1848-1853, 1871-1916; Index to Minutes, to 1936
- Chester County, Court Minutes, 1882-1903
- Claiborne County, Inmates of the Tennessee State Penitentiary, 1831-1850
- Cocke County, Early State Prison Inmates
- Cocke County, Criminal Court Minutes, 1877-1890
- Coffee County Inmates at the TN State Penitentiary, 1831-1850
- Crockett County, Court Cases 1872 – 1885
- Dickson County Inmates at the TN State Penitentiary, 1831-1850
- Dickson County Inmates at the TN State Penitentiary, 1851-1870
- Fayette County Inmates at the TN State Penitentiary, 1831-1850
- Fayette County Inmates at the TN State Penitentiary, 1851-1870
- Franklin County, Loose Court Records, 1800-1930
- Grainger County, State Penitentiary Inmates, 1831-1850
- Grainger County, Circuit Court Records, 1810-1915
- Greene County, Circuit Court Minutes, 1809-1913; Indexes, 1900-1955
- Hamilton County, Crimes and Murders
- Hardeman County Inmates at the TN State Penitentiary, 1831-1850
- Hardeman County Inmates at the TN State Penitentiary, 1851-1870
- Hawkins County, Criminal Court Records, 1795-1930
- Humphreys County, County Court Case Files, 1881-1951
- Humphreys County, Workhouse Records, 1938
- Inmates of the Tennessee State Penitentiary 1831-1850
- Inmates of the Tennessee State Penitentiary 1851-1870
- Johnson County, Enrolling Books and Minutes, 1836-1912
- Lauderdale County, Inmate Census, 1900
- Lauderdale County, Inmate Census, 1910
- Lewis County, Circuit Court Minutes, Civil and Criminal, March 1846-March 1850
- Madison County Inmates at the TN State Penitentiary, 1831-1850
- Madison County Inmates at the TN State Penitentiary, 1851-1870
- Madison County, Civil and Criminal Court Minutes, 1821-1961
- Maury County, Minute Books, 1810-1913
- Maury County, Minute Books, vols. 1-2, 1899-1908
- McNairy County, Inmates at the Tennessee State Penitentiary 1831-1850
- Memphis Provost Marshal Records, 1863-65
- Memphis, Shelby County, Appearance Docket, 1843-1856
- Memphis, Jail Commissioner’s Minutes, Jan. 1866-Apr. 1867
- Montgomery County, Court Minute Books; Civil and Criminal, 1907-1916, 1960-1967
- Morgan County, Brushy Mountain Prison Cemetery
- Morgan County, Brushy Mountain Prison Cemetery
- Roane County, Minute Books, 1810-1919
- Scott County, Court Minutes, Civil and Criminal, 1850-1879; Witness Docket, 1850-1881
- Shelby County Inmates at the TN State Penitentiary, 1831-1850
- Shelby County Inmates at the TN State Penitentiary, 1851-1870
- Shelby County, Commercial and Criminal Court Dockets, 1846-1850
- Smith County, Minute Books, 1957-1966
- Smith County. Workhouse Minutes, 1908-1928
- Stewart County, Circuit Court Cases – Criminal (State): 1810-1940
- Stewart County, Minutes, 1895-1903
- Tennessee Executions
- Tennessee Executions
- Tennessee, Inmates of the Tennessee State Penitentiary 1831-1850
- Tennessee, Inmates of the Tennessee State Penitentiary 1851-1870
- Tennessee, Madison County Inmates of the Tennessee State Prison 1831-1850
- Tennessee, Tennessee State Prison 1831-1850 Inmates
- Tipton County, Inmates at the Tennessee State Penitentiary 1831-1850
- Washington County, Court Records, 1809-1968
- Wayne County, Circuit Court Minutes, 1837-1840
- White County, Circuit Court Case files, 1806-1902
- White County, Minute Books, 1859-1966
- Wilson County, Minute Books, Civil and Criminal, 1810-1965
For all Free Tennessee Links, click on the category of interest:
Newspapers
Yearbooks
Births
Marriages
Deaths
BMD Records
Alumni Records
Cemetery Records
Church Records
Coroner Records
Criminal Records
Digital Archives
Directories
Divorce Records
Immigration Records
Institutional Records
Military Records
Mortuary Records
Naturalizations
Obituaries
Photos
Probate and Wills
School Records
Tax Records
Voter Records
