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TBI implements workaround for inmate release delays amid ongoing crime database outage


Keys in jail cell door. Getty Images.
Keys in jail cell door. Getty Images.
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UPDATE:

The TBI says they have provided a workaround for an outage of the state crime database that has caused delays in inmate releases from Tennessee jails for over 48 hours.

While law enforcement can now complete wanted persons checks, the database outage still continues to affect gun shops in the area.

"We were assured back then that if they created this, versus us going to the national system, that there would be a backup server to where we wouldn't have any outages. This year, 2025, we've probably had, I think this is the sixth outage."

Gun shop owner Philip Arrington says he depends on the NCIC system to sell firearms at his store.

While law enforcement can now complete wanted persons checks, the database outage still affects Arrington's business.

"This means that there's no firearm sales in the state of Tennessee coming from Memphis to Johnson City to Chattanooga to Nashville," Arrington says. "We've gotten an update from the TBI about an hour ago that they didn't have an ETA on when they would get it resolved."

Arrington says he feels like this situation could have been avoided.

"At the end of the day, the citizens of Tennessee, the dealers in Tennessee, opted to go with our own system, which cost us $10 a transaction, instead of the federal system, which is free."

Meanwhile, McMinn County Sheriff Joe Guy confirmed Thursday night that they were no longer experiencing delays, saying...

"TBI and the vendor have provided a method for wanted persons checks that will operate in place of the NCIC checks. No more delays in jail release."

According to Amistad Bail Bonds, most defendants get released from jail between 30 minutes and four hours after posting bail.

EARLIER:

Multiple jails in our viewing area are experiencing delayed release of inmates due to a technical issue with the Tennessee's crime database. That's according to officials with several law enforcement agencies.

We became aware of the issue when a viewer reached out, expressing concerned that their family member had yet to be released despite a full 24 hours passing.

The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office told us they are experiencing delays "due to a technology issue that the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is experiencing."

McMinn County Sheriff Joe Guy tells us they are experiencing the same issue.

Sheriff Guy says the vendor that connects Tennessee with the NCIC (National Crime Information Database) was attempting to do an update and it failed.

"So our access to NCIC has gone down. TBI manages it through the vendor, so they are overseeing the fix," Sheriff Guy says.

Sheriff Guy says they were notified of the outage at 10 a.m. Wednesday.

"It’s not uncommon for the system to go down for a few minutes to a few hours every now and then, so we weren’t too concerned at first."

Sheriff Guy says this has delayed the release of inmates because they cannot check to see if that person has warrants in another jurisdiction.

"We are evaluating anyone that we feel like we can release into the public safely," Sheriff Guy says. "We were just in an online meeting with the TBI Director. Hopefully it will only be a short delay."

Several gun shop owners reached out to tell us this has affected their sales as they use the database to search a potential buyer's criminal background.

We reached out to the TBI, who tells us...

"TBI is currently working to resolve an outage supporting a variety of key functions in our Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division. This outage includes the systems providing access to NCIC, which provides law enforcement access to criminal history information. We are working to develop a workaround to provide agencies access to this information at this moment and hope to communicate more details to the state’s law enforcement agencies as soon as possible."

We reached out to other law enforcement in our area to see if they are experiencing the same issue.

Rhea, Meigs, Polk, and Sequatchie County confirmed their NCIC is down as well.

The Bradley County Sheriff's Office says...

"We are not experiencing any delays with jail releases."
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