Access Putnam County Busted Mugshots
Putnam County busted mugshots and arrest records are managed by the Putnam County Sheriff's Office in Cookeville, Tennessee. With about 80,245 residents, Putnam County is one of the larger counties in the Upper Cumberland region. The sheriff's office has an active online presence and maintains booking records for every person brought into the Putnam County Jail. This page covers how to search for arrest data, find mugshot photos, check bond amounts, and get copies of booking records through online portals and in-person requests.
Putnam County Quick Facts
Putnam County Sheriff's Office
The Putnam County Sheriff's Office runs law enforcement and jail operations for the entire county. Sheriff Eddie Farris leads the department, which includes patrol, criminal investigations, corrections, and court services divisions. The main office is at 421 E. Spring Street in Cookeville. You can call 931-528-8484 for general questions about arrests, warrants, or booking records.
Putnam County is the hub of the Upper Cumberland area, and the sheriff's office handles a higher volume of arrests than many surrounding counties. If you need copies of arrest reports or incident records, contact the Records Division during business hours. They accept requests in person and by mail. Staff can pull up booking data by name, date of arrest, or case number. Fees may apply for copies.
The sheriff's office keeps booking records for every person brought into the Putnam County Jail. That means arrest data going back years is on file. Under T.C.A. § 10-7-503, Tennessee citizens can inspect and copy public records held by government agencies, including arrest records and mugshots.
| Office |
Putnam County Sheriff's Office 421 E. Spring Street, Cookeville, TN 38501 Phone: 931-528-8484 |
|---|---|
| Jail | Phone: 931-528-8484 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
Putnam County Busted Mugshots Online Search
The Putnam County Sheriff's Office has an official website at putnamcountysheriff.org with department news, contact details, and information about programs and services. The site is one of the more detailed sheriff's office websites in the Upper Cumberland region.
For current jail inmates and booking records, contact the Sheriff's Office directly. Staff can provide names, charges, and bond amounts for people held at the Putnam County Jail. The Tennessee Public Case Search also covers court records from Putnam County.
The sheriff's office website may also have an inmate roster or booking log. Check the site directly for the most current data. For records that go beyond what is available online, the Putnam County Public Records Coordinator can be reached at 1 E. Spring Street, Cookeville, TN 38501, or by calling 931-526-2164.
How to Find Putnam County Arrest Records
There are several ways to look up Putnam County busted mugshots and arrest data. The sheriff's office website gives you quick online access for current inmates. For older records, certified copies, or more detail, contact the sheriff's office directly.
To search in person, visit 421 E. Spring Street in Cookeville. Bring a valid ID. Staff at the Records Division can look up arrest records by name or case number. Under T.C.A. § 10-7-503, most arrest records are public in Tennessee. You do not need to be a party to the case.
What you will need:
- Full name of the person you are looking up
- Approximate date of arrest if known
- Case or booking number if you have it
- Your own ID for in-person visits
For state prison inmates, check FOIL at tn.gov. The Tennessee Court System also provides a public case search for court records from participating counties.
Putnam County Public Records Access
Tennessee's Public Records Act gives broad access to government records in Putnam County. The Public Records Coordinator is at 1 E. Spring Street, Cookeville, TN 38501. Call 931-526-2164 to start a request. Written submissions are preferred, and the county has 7 business days to respond.
Fees for copies are set by T.C.A. § 10-7-505. The county charges for the actual cost of making copies. If a request takes more than one hour of staff time, labor charges may apply. Some records are exempt under T.C.A. § 10-7-504, such as active investigation files. But booking records and mugshots are generally available.
The Tennessee Office of Open Records Counsel can help if you believe a request was wrongly denied. They mediate disputes at no cost to the requester.
Putnam County Jail Details
The Putnam County Jail holds inmates awaiting trial and those serving county sentences. The facility handles both misdemeanor and felony bookings. Because Cookeville is the hub of the Upper Cumberland, the jail sees a steady flow of inmates from multiple law enforcement agencies in the area.
Inmates come from arrests by the Putnam County Sheriff's Office, Cookeville Police Department, Algood Police Department, and other local agencies. All mail to inmates goes through inspection. Address letters to the inmate by name at the Putnam County Jail, 421 E. Spring Street, Cookeville, TN 38501. Commissary and visitation details can be confirmed by calling the jail.
The jail roster changes throughout the day as people are booked and released. Check it often for the most current Putnam County busted mugshots and booking data.
Putnam County Mugshot Laws
Tennessee has strong public records laws that apply to Putnam County. The Tennessee Public Records Act at T.C.A. § 10-7-503 makes government records open for inspection by any citizen unless an exemption applies. Booking photos from the Putnam County Jail fall under this law.
Copy fees are governed by T.C.A. § 10-7-505. The TBI charges $0.15 per page for black and white copies and $0.50 for color. County offices set their own rates within what the law allows. For criminal history checks beyond jail roster data, T.C.A. § 38-13-109 controls how that information is shared. Fingerprint-based checks cost $29 through the TBI at Identogo locations around the state.
The Tennessee Sex Offender Registry is another free tool you can use alongside Putnam County arrest records to check a person's history.
Statewide Resources for Putnam County
State databases work alongside Putnam County's local records. The Tennessee Department of Correction runs FOIL at tn.gov for state prison inmates and parolees. If someone from Putnam County was sentenced to state prison, you can find them there. The Tennessee Court System offers public case search for court records from participating counties.
The TBI processes statewide criminal history data and can be reached at tbi.openrecords@tn.gov. They handle records that go beyond what Putnam County holds locally. Putnam County sits in the 13th Judicial District, so court records may also be found through the district clerk's office.
Cities in Putnam County
Putnam County includes Cookeville, Algood, Baxter, and Monterey. Cookeville is the county seat and the largest city in the Upper Cumberland. No cities in Putnam County have dedicated pages on this site at this time. All arrests made within the county are processed through the Putnam County Jail, and busted mugshots appear on the county jail roster.
Nearby Counties
Putnam County borders several Tennessee counties. If you are not sure where someone was booked, check the neighboring counties. Each county runs its own jail and keeps separate busted mugshots records.