What are Lauderdale County Public Records?
In Lauderdale County, the term "public records" means all papers, letters, maps, photographs, microfilms, tape recordings, books, electronic data processing files and output, and other materials, regardless of physical form or characteristics, created or received by government employees or officials while conducting official business (Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-503(a)(1)(A)). Public records do not include devices or equipment used to generate or maintain public records.
All citizens of Tennessee may inspect or request copies of Lauderdale County public records. Non-citizens can also access these records. However, they can usually only receive copies of records, plus their requests are not subject to the same statutory timelines as requests from citizens. Still, citizens and non-citizens can only inspect or copy public records to the extent that the law permits. Hence, there are several Lauderdale County public records that government entities cannot release to the public.
The Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury provides a list of Statutory Exceptions to the Tennessee Public Records Act and a searchable public database containing the type of confidential record, the statutory citation, the records custodian, a description of the exception, and exclusions to the statutory exception (including new and amended exceptions). The office has identified 538 exceptions to the Tennessee Public Records Act, including:
- Personally identifying information. For example, the unique identifiers used to register voters, such as a social security number and driver's license number
- Adoption records
- Investigative records
- Tax information
- Medical records
- Military discharge records
- Trade secrets
- Confidential financial information, etc.
In addition to government agencies, some public records may also be accessible from third-party websites. These non-government platforms come with intuitive tools that allow for expansive searches. Record seekers may either opt to use these tools to search for a specific record or multiple records. However, users will need to provide enough information to assist with the search such as:
- The name of the subject involved in the record (subject must be older than 18 or not juvenile)
- The address of the requestor
- A case number or file number (if known)
- The location of the document or person involved
- The last known or current address of the registrant
Third-party sites are not sponsored by government agencies. Because of this, record availability and results may vary.
Lauderdale County Crime Statistics
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) publishes annual crime statistics for all counties in the State of Tennessee. These statistics reveal the arrest and crime totals for the Tennessee counties.
According to the TBI's 2020 crime publication, Lauderdale County - population 25,143 according to the latest U.S. census - reported 520 offenses. These offenses were categorized into three groups:
- Crimes Against Persons: Murder, forcible rape, simple assault, intimidation, negligent manslaughter, forcible fondling, kidnapping, etc.
- Crimes Against Property: Arson, burglary, vandalism, fraud, robbery, motor vehicle theft, theft from building, stolen property, etc.
- Crimes Against Society: Animal cruelty, weapon law violations, pornography/obscene material, drug violations, etc.
The highest reported offense in the Crimes Against Persons category was simple assault (87); 36 of these cases led to an adult arrest and only one to a juvenile arrest. Within the Crimes Against Property group, the most frequent crime was destruction/damage/vandalism (66), which resulted in 10 adult arrests and no juvenile arrests. Meanwhile, drug/narcotic violations (24) had the most crime reports in the Crimes Against Society category; 26 adults were arrested as a result, but there were no juvenile arrests. Statistics from the 2019 crime publication show that the county had a 4.63% increase in crime incidents.
Are Lauderdale County Criminal Records Public?
Yes. Lauderdale County criminal records are classified as public information under the Tennessee Public Records Act. This means that residents of Lauderdale County and other Tennessee citizens can request to inspect or copy the records from the official record custodian: the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. However, the agency only allows public access to adult criminal records. Juvenile criminal records are confidential information, except the juvenile in question was tried as an adult in a criminal court (Tenn. Code Ann § 37-1-134).
Public criminal records from Lauderdale County reveal an offender's full name, age, physical description, misdemeanor and felony arrests, charge(s), mugshot/photograph, and fingerprints.
How to Obtain Lauderdale County Police Reports and Arrest Records?
One way to obtain Lauderdale County police reports and arrest records is to contact or visit the county sheriff's office. Below is the applicable address and contact information:
County Justice Complex
675 Highway 51 South
Ripley, TN 38063
Phone: (731) 635-1311 or (731) 221-3400
Another option to obtain arrest records (not police reports) is to purchase a subject's criminal history from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for $29. The agency provides online and mail request options for interested parties. Online records can be obtained immediately. However, mail requesters must complete a Criminal History Information Request Form and submit it together with a cashier's check or money order of the non-refundable $29 processing fee (or their credit/debit card information) to the following address:
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation – TORIS Unit
901 R.S. Gass Boulevard
Nashville, TN 37216
The processing time for mail-in requests is 3 to 5 business days. Requesters can contact the Tennessee Open Records Information Services (TORIS) at (615) 744-4057 for more information.
How to Find Sex Offender Information in Lauderdale County
Individuals can obtain sex offender information in Lauderdale County by searching the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's Sex Offender Registry. (There is no such registry provided at the county level.) The TBI maintains this registry per the Sex Offender Registry Act to help citizens remain safe in their communities.
Interested county residents can search for a sex offender on the registry using a name (all or part), alias, address, county, city, zip code, offender ID, offender classification, registry status, or offense. Information from the registry includes:
- The sex offender's full name
- Offender ID
- Primary and secondary address
- A map pinpointing the offender's address, as well as the addresses of other offenders in the area
- Photograph
Clicking the offender's image pulls up more data about the individual, including:
- Date of birth
- Sex offender classification and status
- Offenses (including the offense date, description, and statute)
- Vehicles
- Physical description (gender, hair/eye color, height, weight, driver's license number and issuing state, and race)
- Registering agency
- Last update and registration dates
Individuals can also subscribe to receive email alerts when a specific offender's information is updated. To get alerts, one should click the envelope icon next to the offender's name and ID on the offender details page.
How to Find Lauderdale County Inmate Records
To find Lauderdale County inmate records, one must contact or visit the county sheriff's department, the public office responsible for keeping such records. Each record seeker needs to have information that can enable the staff at the sheriff's office to identify the record promptly. This information includes an inmate's full name, ID number, age, and date of birth.
How Do I Visit an Inmate in Lauderdale County Jail?
Inmate visitation in the Lauderdale County jail takes place with the approval of the county sheriff's department, as it is the public agency with custody over inmates housed in the county jail. Loved ones, family members, friends, and other interested individuals can dial the sheriff's office at (731) 635-1311 or (731) 221-3400 to obtain the jail's visitation procedures and times.
Court Records
The Lauderdale County court system includes a Circuit Court, Chancery Court, General Sessions Court, Probate/Juvenile Court, and four Municipal Courts. The Lauderdale Circuit Court is a court of general jurisdiction that presides over civil and criminal cases filed in the county courthouse. The court also has appellate jurisdiction over rulings entered by the General Sessions, Juvenile, and Municipal Courts.
The Lauderdale Chancery Court, on the other hand, hears various legal issues, including divorces, workers' compensation, contractual disputes, civil lawsuits, name changes, adoptions, and more. The Circuit and Chancery Courts often have concurrent jurisdiction over civil cases.
Meanwhile, the Lauderdale General Sessions Court is a court of limited jurisdiction that hears civil and criminal cases. Because of the court's limited authority, it can only handle specific civil cases or civil cases with specified monetary restrictions. Also, the court's criminal jurisdiction only extends to preliminary hearings in criminal cases where the defendant surrenders the right to a trial by jury in the circuit court or a grand jury investigation.
The Lauderdale County Probate and Juvenile Court handles all matters arising from probate (a deceased person's assets and liabilities) and persons under the legal age. The court also oversees proceedings involving conservatorship and guardianship.
Finally, the Municipal Courts (or "City Courts") hear municipal ordinance violations and traffic infractions.
The address and contact numbers of the Lauderdale County courts are listed below:
Lauderdale County Circuit Court
Lauderdale County Justice Complex
675 Highway 51 South
Ripley, TN 38063
Phone: (731) 635-0101
Lauderdale County General Sessions Court
Lauderdale County Justice Complex
675 Highway 51 South
Ripley, TN 38063
Phone: (731) 635-0101
Lauderdale County Chancery Court
Lauderdale County Courthouse
100 Court Square
Ripley, TN 38063
Phone: (731) 635-1941
Lauderdale County Probate and Juvenile Court
Lauderdale County Courthouse
100 Court Square
Ripley, TN 38063
Phone: (731) 635-2561
Below are the locations of the four Municipal or City Courts in Lauderdale County:
Gates City Court
10085 2nd Street
Gates, TN 38037
Phone: (731) 836-7501
Halls City Court
208 North Church Street
Halls, TN 38040
Phone: (731) 836-9653
Henning City Court
105 South Main Street
Henning, TN 38041
Phone: (731) 738-5055
Ripley City Court
110 South Washington Street
Ripley, TN 38063
Phone: (731) 635-5223
Are Lauderdale County Court Records Public?
Yes. Members of the public can access Lauderdale County court records so long as no statute, court rule, or court order prohibits the disclosure of the sought-after court records. In Lauderdale County, requests for public court records go to the official records custodian, the clerk of the court where a proceeding or trial took place. The clerk may require a processing fee for some requests.
How to Obtain Lauderdale County Civil Court Case Records
Lauderdale County civil court case records can be obtained from the applicable court clerk's office. (Also, see city court clerk offices in Lauderdale County.) Usually, a person must submit a written request to the clerk of the court where the civil case was heard. This request can be submitted in person, via mail, or by other means provided by the clerk, but it must contain information that will enable the clerk to find the record. This information includes the record holder's name, date of birth, or case number. No fee is charged to the requester unless the individual wishes to reproduce the civil case file.
How to Obtain Lauderdale County Criminal Court Records
Although the Lauderdale Circuit and General Sessions Courts have jurisdiction to hear criminal cases filed in the county, the General Sessions Court is not a court of record like the Circuit Court. As a result, no one can obtain a criminal court record directly from the General Sessions Court.
Lauderdale County criminal court records, whether generated in the Circuit Court or General Sessions Court, should be obtained from the Circuit Court Clerk. Overall, it is better to call the clerk's office to obtain the procedure for requesting a public Lauderdale County criminal court record. However, it typically involves submitting a written request containing information about the record or its holder (and paying a small sum of money if requiring copies) to the clerk's office.
What are Lauderdale County Vital Records?
Lauderdale County vital records are records of life events (births, deaths, marriages, and divorces) that occurred in the county. Generally, these records are publicly accessible from the custodial government agencies, such as the Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records, Lauderdale County Circuit Court Clerk, Lauderdale County Clerk, and the Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA). However, some vital records are restricted from public access.
Where and How to Obtain Lauderdale County Divorce Records
Individuals can obtain Lauderdale county divorce records from the Circuit Clerk's office at the following address:
Lauderdale County Circuit Court Clerk
675 Highway 51 South
Ripley, TN 38063
Phone: (731) 635-0101
Lauderdale county divorce records can also be obtained from the Tennessee Office of Vital Records. The Vital Records office provides original Lauderdale County divorce certificates from 1972 to the present upon the submission of a completed Application for a Certified Copy of a Certificate of Divorce or Annulment, a $15 fee, and acceptable identification. However, only specific people have permission to access such records. They include the certificate holder, a spouse, child, parent, legal guardian, or a person who has the record holder's authorization and can provide a photocopy of a signed government identification card that belongs to the holder. Below is the Tennessee Vital Records office address for in-person submissions:
Tennessee Vital Records
1st Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower
710 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37243
Eligible individuals can also submit divorce record requests to the Tennessee Office of Vital Records by mail and online. The applicable address and link are available on the Office of Vital Records website.
It is worth mentioning that although the divorce records held by the Office of Vital Records are confidential, members of the public can still obtain informational copies of divorce records through the agency by submitting an Application for Verification of Divorce or Annulment Facts. The charge for the service is $15 per request.
Persons seeking Lauderdale County divorce records over 50 years old are advised to talk to the Tennessee State Library and Archives. The agency outlines the procedure for requesting such records on its vital records website.
Where and How to Get Public Lauderdale County Marriage Records
There are two places to request public marriage records from Lauderdale County, Tennessee. The first is the Lauderdale County Clerk's office:
Lauderdale County Courthouse
100 Court Square
Ripley, TN 38063
Phone: (731) 635-2561
Fax: (731) 635-4301
Similar to all other public record requests, the requester must provide certain information to the clerk that will enable the swift discovery of the record in question. This can include a bride's maiden name, groom's name, and the marriage date.
The second place to obtain public Lauderdale County marriage records is the Tennessee State Library and Archives. The library maintains marriage records prior to 1972. The request procedures and fees can be obtained from the TSLA's website.
Notwithstanding the above methods, a member of the public can still obtain marriage information from the Office of Vital Records by submitting an Application for Verification of Marriage Facts - even though the agency maintains only confidential marriage records. In this scenario, the requester will not obtain the record (the marriage certificate) itself, only an information copy or transcript that may be used to verify a person's marital status or used for research purposes.
Where and How to Get Confidential Marriage Records in Lauderdale County
In Lauderdale County, confidential records are termed so because they contain sensitive or private information whose disclosure may infringe on a person's rights, violate their privacy, or cause them undue harm. However, most marriage records in Lauderdale County do not fall into the "confidential record" category. Such records remain publicly accessible at the County Clerk's office in Ripley City under Tenn. Code Ann. § 68-3-205(d)(2)(A).
Where and How to Find Lauderdale County Birth Records
Individuals seeking Lauderdale County birth records can visit or contact the county health department at:
500 Highway 51, South
Ripley, TN 38063
Phone: (731) 635-4661 or (731) 635-9711
Fax: (731) 635-3630
Every requester is advised to complete the Application for a Certified Copy of a Certificate of Birth and bring it to the office with acceptable identification and $15 for the birth record.
Individuals can also submit their requests directly to the Tennessee Office of the Vital Records. The office's physical and mailing addresses are available on its website. However, only the birth record's subject, a spouse, parent, child, legal guardian, and a representative with the subject's approval can obtain Lauderdale County birth certificates from the Office of Vital Records.
For those who want to obtain Lauderdale County birth records over 50 years, the agency to contact is the Tennessee State Library and Archives. An individual must submit a request form to the State Library and pay $5 (Tennessee resident) or $10 (non-Tennessee resident) to obtain the record. The request form is available on the agency's website.
Where and How to Find Lauderdale County Death Records
The process for obtaining Lauderdale County death records is similar to that used to obtain birth records created in the county. An interested individual must submit a request form and $15 to the Lauderdale County Health Department or Tennessee Office of Vital Records. As well, the requester must provide a valid form of identification to the agency at the time of submission. This ID may be one of the following:
- A notarized application form
- A current passport
- Employment authorization card
- Military ID card
- U.S. Certificate of Naturalization
- Citizenship ID card
A complete list of the identification requirements can be found on the Office of Vital Records website. However, prospective requesters of death records must note that the Lauderdale County death certificates provided by the Office of Vital Records are within a particular year range (under 50 years) and have restricted access. As a result, only these parties can access the records:
- The subject of a record
- The subject's child, spouse, parent, or legal guardian
- An entity authorized by the subject
To obtain Lauderdale County death records over 50 years old, an individual can submit a written request to the Tennessee State Library and Archives. The agency requires an individual's name, date of death (or three-year range), county of death (if known), and the name of a spouse (if known) to retrieve records.
