Trace a Memphis Police Arrest From the Incident Record to the Shelby County Booking
If Memphis Police arrested someone and you want a mugshot or current booking record, the search usually moves from MPD to the Shelby County jail system. MPD handles the police incident and arrest-side records, while the Shelby County Sheriff operates the main local jail facilities and inmate lookup.
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Court, Criminal, Marriage, Divorce, Property
A booking photograph or jail entry records an arrest and detention event. It does not prove guilt, and the original booking charge may not match the charge ultimately filed or resolved in court.
Which Record Should You Search?
A Memphis police report, jail booking, mugshot, warrant and criminal court case are separate records. Knowing which agency maintains each one can save time and prevent a current-jail search from being mistaken for a complete arrest-history search.
Is the person in jail now?
Use the Shelby County Sheriff inmate-search route. MPD itself directs visitors looking for inmates to the Shelby County jail system.
Shelby County jail information →Need the booking photograph?
Start with the jail booking record. If you need a separate police-maintained image or record, Central Records is the MPD records route.
See mugshot options →Need the underlying MPD incident?
MPD Central Records provides incident/offense reports and auto crash reports and accepts requests online, in person, by mail or fax.
See MPD report procedures →What happened after booking?
Use Shelby County criminal court resources when you need filed charges, hearings or case history rather than the initial jail allegation.
Find the correct court →Was the person transferred?
Use Tennessee’s Felony Offender Information system if someone has entered TDOC custody or supervision.
Search Tennessee custody →Need detailed Shelby County jail help?
Use our separate county-level guide for jail locations, inmate lookup and Shelby County-specific booking information.
Shelby County jail mugshots guide →How to Search a Memphis Police Arrest and Booking
Start with the question you are trying to answer. A person arrested by MPD can generate both a police record and a separate jail booking record, followed later by court records.
Confirm that Memphis Police made or handled the arrest
If another agency made the arrest, its incident report may be maintained outside MPD even when the person was later booked into the Shelby County jail.
Search Shelby County custody
Use the Sheriff’s inmate-search route when the person may currently be held at 201 Poplar or Jail East. Verify the full name carefully before relying on a match.
Review the booking information
Check the available booking number, charges, custody location, bond information and photograph where those fields are publicly displayed.
Request the MPD report if you need the police-side record
The incident or offense report addresses the police event rather than merely the person’s jail status. Use MPD Central Records for that record.
Follow the case into court
Use General Sessions or Criminal Court records for subsequent proceedings. The booking entry should not be treated as the final legal outcome.
Where Memphis Arrest Mugshots Come From
A booking photograph is normally connected to the jail intake process rather than being a separate list of “Memphis Police mugshots.” The booking system and MPD police records serve different purposes.
Booking-side photograph
Check the Shelby County inmate or booking record first when the person is or was processed into local custody. The jail system is the relevant starting point for current inmate information.
MPD record or photograph request
Memphis Central Records handles police reports and related record requests. The City of Memphis fee schedule separately lists mug shots or booking photos at $5 each where the requested record is available.
How to Check Recent Memphis Police Arrests
There is an important difference between a current jail population and a historical list of every recent MPD arrest. Someone who was booked yesterday may no longer appear in a current-custody search after release or transfer.
| What you need | Best starting point | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Person who may be jailed now | Shelby County inmate search | Answers the current-custody question. |
| MPD incident or offense | MPD Central Records | Provides the police-side record instead of just jail status. |
| Recently released person | MPD/Sheriff records + court | A live jail roster may no longer display the person. |
| Charges formally prosecuted | Shelby County court records | The filed case can differ from the initial arrest allegation. |
| Person transferred into Tennessee corrections custody | TDOC FOIL | State custody is separate from the Shelby County jail. |
Do not relabel the current Shelby County inmate system as a guaranteed “last 24 hours,” “7 days” or “30 days” archive unless the official service specifically provides that historical window.
How to Request a Memphis Police Incident or Offense Report
MPD says incident/offense reports and auto crash reports can be obtained through Central Records. Requests may be made online, in person, by mail or by fax.
Central Records office
Memphis Police Department Central Records170 North Main Street
7th Floor, Suite 7-11
Memphis, TN 38103
Phone: 901-636-3650
Published hours: Monday–Friday, excluding holidays, 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Current published report fees
- Tennessee resident police reports: $0.15 per page with valid ID.
- Non-resident report fee: $15.
- Photo CD: $10 per accident/incident.
- Individual photo pickup price: $1.50 per photo.
- Photos sent by email: $5.
Where Memphis Arrests Are Booked and Housed
The Shelby County Sheriff operates the principal jail system serving Memphis. The Sheriff reports that men are housed at the Main Jail downtown and women at Jail East.
Main Jail — men
Shelby County Jail201 Poplar Avenue
Memphis, TN 38103
The downtown facility is part of the Criminal Justice Center and is closely connected with local criminal court operations.
Jail East — women
Jail East Women’s Facility6201 Haley Road
Memphis, TN 38134
The Sheriff identifies this east Memphis facility as the women’s jail location.
Bond and Release After a Memphis Arrest
Bond and release depend on the charge, court process and individual case. The General Sessions Court provides public guidance for people trying to arrange release from the Shelby County jail.
Check the specific case
Do not assume that two arrests with similar charges carry the same bond. Use the current jail or court information for the individual case.
Release is not immediate
The Sheriff says there is no exact release time. Its inmate FAQ notes that physical release may take several hours after release is ordered because processing steps still have to be completed.
General Sessions resources
The court provides separate public instructions about bond, release on recognizance and the release process.
Official bond & release guidance →Where to Follow a Memphis Criminal Case
Shelby County maintains separate court systems for different stages and types of criminal matters. The court record is the appropriate place to follow the case after the arrest and initial booking.
General Sessions Criminal Court
201 Poplar AvenueSuite LL-81
Memphis, TN 38103
Phone: 901-222-3500
Published office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
General Sessions handles early criminal proceedings and other matters within its jurisdiction.
Shelby County Criminal Court
201 Poplar AvenueSuite 3034
Memphis, TN 38103
Main office: 901-222-3200
Case status / record requests: 901-222-3376
Published office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Shelby County Criminal Justice System Portal
The District Attorney’s Office directs users to the Shelby County Criminal Justice System Portal for case and hearing searches. An account is required to access case histories and hearing schedules.
If the Person Has Left the Shelby County Jail
Someone who later enters Tennessee Department of Correction custody or supervision should be searched through TDOC’s Felony Offender Information system rather than the county jail database.
What TDOC FOIL can show
Tennessee says the database covers felony offenders currently or formerly in TDOC custody or supervision. Available information may include a photograph, current status, location, offense, sentence information, parole information and release information.
Search methods
The official system allows searches by name, TDOC ID or State ID. It also provides an option to include matching aliases in a name search.
Use TN SAVIN When Release or Transfer Notifications Matter
For victims or family members who need custody-status notifications, Shelby County provides access to Tennessee’s Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification Service rather than requiring repeated manual jail searches.
What TN SAVIN can notify you about
Shelby County says registered users can receive notifications when a jail inmate is released, transferred, escapes, returns to custody, dies while in custody or is placed in a work-release facility.
The service is described as free, anonymous and confidential and is available 24 hours a day.
Why You May Not Find a Memphis Arrest or Mugshot
Failure to find someone in a current jail search does not necessarily mean that no arrest occurred. Custody, jurisdiction, spelling, release status and record type can all affect what you see.
| Problem | Possible explanation | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No inmate result | The person may not be in current Shelby County custody. | Check MPD records, the court case and TDOC if a transfer is possible. |
| No mugshot displayed | A public record may exist without a publicly displayed photograph. | Check the booking information and ask the responsible records office about available records. |
| Several people have the same name | Name alone is not a reliable identifier. | Compare booking number, age or date of birth, arrest date, facility and case information. |
| Need the arrest narrative | The jail record primarily answers custody and booking questions. | Request the MPD incident/offense report from Central Records. |
| Person was released | Current inmate systems can change after release. | Use police records and court records for the historical event and later case. |
| Jail charge differs from court charge | The case can change after arrest. | Use the court record for the later procedural status. |
Police, Jail and Criminal Court Contact Information
Use the agency responsible for the type of information you need. Emergency lines should not be used for routine record or inmate-search questions.
MPD Public Safety Building
170 N. Main StreetMemphis, TN 38103
Headquarters: 901-636-3700
Non-emergency: 901-545-2677
MPD Central Records
170 N. Main Street7th Floor, Suite 7-11
Memphis, TN 38103
Phone: 901-636-3650
Shelby County Main Jail
201 Poplar AvenueMemphis, TN 38103
Use the Sheriff’s official Jail & Inmate Information page for current contact and inmate-search options.
Sources Used for This Memphis Arrest and Booking Guide
Operational details on this page were checked against Memphis Police, Shelby County Sheriff, Shelby County courts and Tennessee government resources. Record fees, portals and procedures can change, so confirm time-sensitive details on the linked official source before acting.
- Memphis Police Department
- MPD — How Do I?
- MPD — Central Records
- MPD — Reports & Public Information
- Shelby County Sheriff — Jail & Inmate Information
- Shelby County Sheriff — Main Jail
- Shelby County General Sessions — Bond & Release
- Shelby County Criminal Court
- Shelby County District Attorney — Case Information
- Tennessee Department of Correction — FOIL
- Shelby County — Victim Information & Notification Service
Official-source review date: October 2, 2026.
Memphis Police Arrest and Mugshot FAQs
Where can I find Memphis Police mugshots?
For a person booked into local custody after a Memphis arrest, start with the Shelby County jail and inmate system. MPD itself directs people searching for inmates to the Shelby County jail. If you need a separate police record or available photograph, use MPD Central Records.
Does Memphis Police operate the Shelby County Jail?
No. Memphis Police handles city policing and arrests, while the Shelby County Sheriff operates the principal county jail system. An MPD arrest can therefore lead to a Shelby County booking record.
Where is the main Memphis jail?
The Shelby County Sheriff identifies the Main Jail at 201 Poplar Avenue in downtown Memphis. The women’s Jail East facility is at 6201 Haley Road.
How do I get a Memphis Police arrest or incident report?
Use MPD Central Records at 170 North Main Street, 7th Floor, Suite 7-11. MPD says incident/offense reports can be requested online, in person, by mail or by fax.
What is the MPD Central Records phone number?
Memphis Police currently publishes 901-636-3650 for Central Records.
Can I search Memphis arrests from the last 24 hours?
A current inmate search answers whether someone is presently in county custody but should not automatically be treated as a complete 24-hour historical arrest archive. For someone already released, use police records and court records as well.
How do I see what happened to the charges after arrest?
Use Shelby County court resources. The Criminal Justice System Portal and the appropriate General Sessions or Criminal Court record can provide later case information that is not contained in the original booking entry.
What if the person was transferred to Tennessee state custody?
Use the Tennessee Department of Correction Felony Offender Information search. It covers felony offenders who are or have been in TDOC custody or supervision.
Does a Memphis Police mugshot prove the person committed a crime?
No. A mugshot or jail booking documents an arrest and detention event. It does not prove guilt or establish the final outcome of the case.