Search Carter County Busted Mugshots
Carter County busted mugshots and arrest records are managed by the Carter County Sheriff's Office in Elizabethton, Tennessee. The county sits in the northeast corner of the state near the North Carolina border. With a population of about 56,000 people, Carter County is one of the mid-size counties in the Tri-Cities region. Sheriff Mike Fraley runs law enforcement and corrections. The Sheriff's Office has an online inmate roster where you can look up current jail inmates and booking photos. This page covers all the ways to search Carter County arrest records.
Carter County Quick Facts
Carter County Sheriff's Office
The Carter County Sheriff's Office handles all law enforcement and corrections for the county. Sheriff Mike Fraley leads the department, which includes patrol, criminal investigations, and corrections divisions. The main office is at 900 E. Elk Avenue in Elizabethton. You can call 423-542-1845 for general questions or reach the jail at 423-542-2512.
The Records Division handles requests for arrest reports and incident records. You can make requests in person or by mail. Written requests are preferred. Include specific details about what records you need. Fees apply for copies of reports. The Sheriff's Office keeps booking records for every person brought into the Carter County Detention Center. Data goes back years in their files.
| Office |
Carter County Sheriff's Office 900 E. Elk Ave, Elizabethton, TN 37643 Phone: 423-542-1845 |
|---|---|
| Jail | Phone: 423-542-2512 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
Carter County Busted Mugshots Online Search
Carter County provides an online inmate roster through the Sheriff's Office. This is a good way to find Carter County busted mugshots and booking records from home. The roster shows current inmates at the Carter County Detention Center. It updates regularly throughout the day as inmates are booked and released.
Each inmate entry shows their name, booking date, charges, and bond information. Photographs are included in the online roster. You can see release dates when they have been set. The system is free to use and does not need a login or account. It is one of the most direct ways to check who is currently in the Carter County Jail.
The Carter County government website provides links to various county departments and services.
The county site links to the Sheriff's Office and other departments.
The Tennessee Court System website also has Carter County case records searchable by name. You can find charges, hearing dates, and case outcomes there. For state inmates from Carter County, the TDOC Felony Offender Information Lookup shows facility location, sentence dates, and parole eligibility.
How to Find Carter County Arrest Records
You have several options for looking up Carter County busted mugshots and arrest data. The online inmate roster is the fastest for current inmates. For older records or certified copies, contact the Sheriff's Office or county offices directly.
To search in person, go to 900 E. Elk Avenue in Elizabethton. Bring your ID. Staff can look up records by name or case number. Under T.C.A. § 10-7-503, most arrest records in Tennessee are public. Anyone can ask to see them.
The Tennessee Court System has a public case search for court records from participating counties. Carter County court records can show charges, court dates, and outcomes. Use both the jail roster and the court system to get a complete picture of a case.
- Full name of the person you are looking up
- Date of arrest if known
- Case or booking number if available
- Your ID for in-person requests
Carter County Public Records Access
Tennessee law gives the public broad access to government records. Under T.C.A. § 10-7-503, any citizen can request to view or copy public records held by state and local agencies. The Carter County Public Records Coordinator is at the County Mayor's Office at 801 E. Elk Avenue, Elizabethton, TN 37643. You can call 423-542-1831 to start a request.
Written requests are preferred. Include a clear description of the records you need. The county has 7 business days to respond. Fees may be charged for copies and staff time. Some records are exempt under T.C.A. § 10-7-504, such as active investigation files. Most booking records and mugshots from Carter County are public though. Contact the Tennessee Office of Open Records Counsel if a request is wrongly denied.
Carter County Jail Roster Details
The Carter County Detention Center holds adults charged with misdemeanors and felonies. Some inmates are waiting for trial. Others serve county sentences. The facility is on Elk Avenue in Elizabethton near the Sheriff's Office. It handles a steady volume of bookings.
Inmates come from the Carter County Sheriff's Office, Elizabethton Police Department, and other local agencies. Every booking creates a record with the person's name, charges, bond amount, and photo. That data feeds into the Carter County busted mugshots file. The jail roster updates throughout the day as people get booked and released. You can check it any time for the latest information on who is in custody.
Carter County Mugshot Laws
Tennessee has strong public records laws that apply to Carter County mugshots and arrest records. The Tennessee Public Records Act at T.C.A. § 10-7-503 says government records are open for inspection unless a specific exemption applies. Booking photos from the Carter County Detention Center fall under this law. Anyone can request copies.
Copy fees are governed by T.C.A. § 10-7-505. Carter County can charge for making copies. If a request takes more than an hour of staff time, labor charges may apply. The TBI charges $0.15 per page for black and white copies and $0.50 for color. County offices may set their own rates within legal limits.
For criminal history checks beyond the public roster, T.C.A. § 38-13-109 controls data sharing. Fingerprint-based checks cost $29 through the TBI at Identogo locations. The Tennessee Sex Offender Registry is another public tool you can use alongside Carter County records.
Statewide Resources for Carter County
Several state databases work alongside Carter County's local records. The Tennessee Department of Correction runs FOIL at tn.gov. It covers state prison inmates and parolees but not county jail inmates. If someone from Carter County went to state prison, FOIL is where you find them.
The TBI processes open records requests at tbi.openrecords@tn.gov. They handle statewide criminal history data that goes beyond what Carter County holds. Fingerprinting services are at Identogo locations across Tennessee for formal background checks.
Cities in Carter County
Carter County includes Elizabethton and several smaller communities. None of the cities in Carter County meet the population threshold for their own page. All jail bookings go through the Carter County Detention Center. Busted mugshots for arrests anywhere in the county appear on the jail roster.
Nearby Counties
Carter County borders several counties in upper East Tennessee and also touches the North Carolina state line. If you need to check another county's records, follow the links below. Each county runs its own jail and keeps separate busted mugshots.