Search Hamilton County Booking Releases
Hamilton County booking releases are available through the sheriff's office in Chattanooga. The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, led by Sheriff Austin Garrett, runs the jail and maintains all booking records for the county. Hamilton County is one of the few Tennessee counties that offers a full online booking report system, which makes it easy to search recent arrests from home. Whether you need to check on a recent booking or pull records from a past arrest, this page explains every method to access Hamilton County booking release data, from the online portal to formal records requests.
Hamilton County Quick Facts
Hamilton County Online Booking Reports
Hamilton County stands out because it has a dedicated online booking report system. You can view booking releases by visiting the Hamilton County Booking Report System directly on the sheriff's office website. The system lets you search by date to see who was booked into the Hamilton County Jail. This is one of the most accessible booking search tools in Tennessee.
The screenshot below shows the Hamilton County booking reports portal where you can look up recent arrests by date.
In addition to booking reports, Hamilton County offers an Inmate Information lookup tool on the same website. This lets you search for people currently in custody at the jail. You can call the jail at 423-209-7050 for booking or inmate questions if you prefer to speak with someone directly.
Here is the Hamilton County inmate information system, which shows who is currently held at the jail.
Mugshots from Hamilton County bookings are generally available within one to two hours after the booking process is complete. Local media can access mugshots through the HCSO mugshot system.
Hamilton County Sheriff's Office Records
The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office handles records requests through its Records Office at the West Annex, 6230 Dayton Boulevard. You can call 423-209-7111 to ask about booking releases, incident reports, or arrest reports. Hard copies can be picked up at the HCSO West Sector at 6233 Dayton Boulevard during business hours, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office website is the main hub for all records and services. The sheriff's office also has a free mobile app on Apple and Android stores. The app lets you search active warrants, request an incident report, deposit funds for inmates, and submit tips. It is a good tool if you need quick access to Hamilton County booking data on the go.
The image below shows the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office main website where you can access booking reports and other public records.
Keep in mind that over seven law enforcement agencies have jurisdiction in different parts of Hamilton County. Make sure the report you need was filed by the sheriff's office. If it was filed by another agency, such as the Chattanooga Police Department, you may need to contact that agency directly for their records.
| Jail |
Hamilton County Jail Chattanooga, TN Phone: 423-209-7050 |
|---|---|
| Records |
Records Office: 423-209-7111 West Annex, 6230 Dayton Blvd Mon-Fri, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
| openrecords@hcsheriff.gov |
Records Requests in Hamilton County
You can submit a formal open records request to the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office by emailing openrecords@hcsheriff.gov. Under the Tennessee Public Records Act, T.C.A. § 10-7-503, the office has seven working days to respond. Normal fees for printing and processing may apply. The standard rate is $0.15 per page for black and white copies.
Incident and traffic reports can also be requested online through the Hamilton County online report request system. Internal reports can take up to 48 hours or longer to process. Reports tied to ongoing investigations may not be released until the investigation wraps up. Juvenile records require court approval before they can be released.
For court-related records like affidavits, contact the General Sessions Court Clerk at 423-209-7600. For orders of protection, reach the Circuit Court Clerk at 423-209-6700. Cash bonds can be paid at the Hamilton County Courts Building at 600 Market Street in Chattanooga through the Criminal Court Clerk's Office at 423-209-7500.
Note: Requests for dash cam, body cam, or video tied to an active case must go through the Hamilton County District Attorney's Office first.
What Hamilton County Booking Records Include
A booking record from Hamilton County shows the person's full name, date of birth, race, sex, charges, and the date and time of booking. The booking report system online displays this data in a searchable format by date. The inmate information tool adds current custody status and bond amounts.
Booking releases are not the same as court records. A booking record shows what happened at the time of arrest. It does not show whether someone was convicted or what the final outcome of the case was. For case results, check with the Hamilton County Criminal Court Clerk or search the Tennessee Courts portal. The court system tracks charges filed, hearings, pleas, and final dispositions.
Clearing Booking Records in Hamilton County
Tennessee law allows some people to erase their booking records through expungement. Under T.C.A. § 40-32-101, you may qualify if the charge was dismissed, the grand jury returned no true bill, you were acquitted, or you completed a pretrial diversion program. You file a petition with the court in the county where the case was heard.
Once a court grants an expungement in Hamilton County, the booking record should be removed from public view. This applies to the online booking system and physical files at the sheriff's office. The Tennessee Court System has forms and guides if you want to handle the process yourself.
Cities in Hamilton County
Hamilton County includes Chattanooga and several smaller cities. All bookings for the county go through the Hamilton County Jail, though multiple law enforcement agencies operate within the county.
Chattanooga is the county seat and largest city. The Chattanooga Police Department makes its own arrests, but all bookings go through the Hamilton County Jail.
Nearby Counties
Hamilton County sits in southeastern Tennessee near the Georgia border. If you are not sure where a person was booked, check the surrounding counties. Each one runs its own jail and keeps separate booking records.