# Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-10-207: Children's fingerprint card file

> Tennessee · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T37_C10_S37-10-207

## Section

- **Citation:** Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-10-207
- **Heading:** Children's fingerprint card file
- **Jurisdiction:** Tennessee
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** TN Code / Title 37 / Chapter 10 / Section 37-10-207

## Text

The Tennessee bureau of investigation shall maintain a separate fingerprint card file for "Children", which shall consist of the "children" fingerprint cards submitted to it pursuant to § 37-10-206 , together with any latent prints believed to be children's prints that have been submitted to it for purposes of identifying missing children. Once each year the bureau shall remove and return to the parent or destroy all fingerprint cards from the children's fingerprint file for children who have become eighteen (18) years of age, unless the child has been reported missing or the child requests in writing that such child's fingerprint remain in the file. Also, the bureau shall destroy any child's fingerprint card upon written request of the parent. The bureau is also authorized to receive "children" fingerprint cards or copies thereof from the federal bureau of investigation when the prints may have been sent directly to the bureau without having also been sent to the Tennessee bureau of investigation as herein provided. The bureau shall not file any of the children's fingerprints authorized herein in any other fingerprint card file. The bureau shall only search the children's fingerprint card file for the purpose of trying to locate or identify children who have been reported as missing children, and the file shall never be searched for the purpose of identifying a child as having committed a crime unless the parent so requests in writing. Acts 1985, ch. 158, § 7.
The Tennessee bureau of investigation shall maintain a separate fingerprint card file for "Children", which shall consist of the "children" fingerprint cards submitted to it pursuant to § 37-10-206 , together with any latent prints believed to be children's prints that have been submitted to it for purposes of identifying missing children. Once each year the bureau shall remove and return to the parent or destroy all fingerprint cards from the children's fingerprint file for children who have become eighteen (18) years of age, unless the child has been reported missing or the child requests in writing that such child's fingerprint remain in the file. Also, the bureau shall destroy any child's fingerprint card upon written request of the parent. The bureau is also authorized to receive "children" fingerprint cards or copies thereof from the federal bureau of investigation when the prints may have been sent directly to the bureau without having also been sent to the Tennessee bureau of investigation as herein provided. The bureau shall not file any of the children's fingerprints authorized herein in any other fingerprint card file. The bureau shall only search the children's fingerprint card file for the purpose of trying to locate or identify children who have been reported as missing children, and the file shall never be searched for the purpose of identifying a child as having committed a crime unless the parent so requests in writing.
Acts 1985, ch. 158, § 7.

## Nearby sections

- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-10-101 Recovery for injury or damage by juvenile](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T37_C10_S37-10-101.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-10-102 Limitation on amount of recovery](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T37_C10_S37-10-102.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-10-103 Circumstances under which parent or guardian liable](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T37_C10_S37-10-103.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-10-201 Short title - Part definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T37_C10_S37-10-201.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-10-202 Timely report of missing child - Offense of failure to report missing child - Defense - False allegation of failure to report](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T37_C10_S37-10-202.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-10-203 Formal missing child report - Entry of report into NCIC](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T37_C10_S37-10-203.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-10-204 Reports to juvenile court judge - Missing child order](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T37_C10_S37-10-204.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-10-205 Forms - File of missing children - Monthly reports of missing children - Dissemination of information](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T37_C10_S37-10-205.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-10-206 Child fingerprint cards](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T37_C10_S37-10-206.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-10-207 Children's fingerprint card file](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T37_C10_S37-10-207.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-10-208 Impact upon interstate compact on juveniles](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T37_C10_S37-10-208.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-10-209 Distribution of materials concerning missing children - Solicitation of contributions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T37_C10_S37-10-209.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-10-301 Legislative intent and findings](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T37_C10_S37-10-301.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-10-302 Part definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T37_C10_S37-10-302.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T37_C10_S37-10-207. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.