Tennessee Open Records Requests & Process

Tennessee Open Records Request Form (Click to Download)

All Tennessee Open Records Requests should be submitted via email to openrecords@hcsheriff.gov. Once received, the request will be acknowledged within (7) business day in accordance with Tennessee law.

Tennessee Open Records Requests are not for requesting background checks

Any request for information from a member of the media or from a private citizen can be, by law, treated as a Tennessee Open Records Request. Under the Tennessee Open Records Act, once a (TNORR) request has been made, the HCSO has seven (7) working days to respond. Upon such request, normal fees for procurement of information and printing can be charged to the entity or person who requests said information.

The HCSO reserves the right to treat any request from the media as a TNORR . The factors below are examples of when it may be necessary for the HCSO to respond to a media request for information as a Tennessee Open Records Request as opposed to an immediate response from the Public Information Officer:

• The request for information will require extensive review and time to compile information
• The request pertains to personnel records and other HR related issues
• The request will require the printing of information
• The request pertains to a closed Investigative Report (Closed)
• Lack of staff availability

The following information requests must be made to the HCSO via the TNORR process:

• Requests for personnel records, service time, employment status, or salary
• Requests for closed Internal Affairs Investigation Reports
• Inmate Records (booking reports, phone/audio conversations and inmate medical records)
• Investigative Records

• Requests for dash cam, body cam, or any other type of official video record*
  
  

  *If approved by the HCDA, the information will then be requested from the HCSO IT Division and will be supplied to the DA’s office and ultimately to the requestor.