Tennessee Warrant Search

A Tennessee warrant search is a process of looking up active warrants issued against persons by courts in the state. People typically do search warrants to determine whether a warrant has been issued against them, a person of interest, or simply to satisfy personal curiosity.

Warrant searches in the state are done mainly through requests to the local sheriff's office, court clerk’s office, or city police departments in the jurisdiction where the warrant was issued. Persons who perform a warrant search can expect to find information about the warrant’s issuer, the issue date, the name on the warrant, and why the warrant was issued. This can let the inquirer determine whether a person is wanted for a crime or for disobeying a court order.

What is a Warrant in Tennessee?

A warrant is a judicial or court order (a type of writ) that authorizes law enforcement officers to carry out specific actions, like arresting an offender and searching a premises. Different types of warrants are issued in Tennessee. The most common ones are search warrants, arrest warrants, and bench warrants.

Warrant issuance in Tennessee is governed by the state’s Rules of Criminal Procedure and the Tennessee Code Annotated (TCA § 40-6-102 and § 40-6-2050). As stipulated by the law, a court can issue a warrant only when probable cause has been established. This means that the requesting officer must present sufficient evidence, certified by oath or affirmation, to the court. Upon examination and determination of its sufficiency by the court, a warrant will be released.

Are Warrants Public Record in Tennessee?

Yes. Warrants are part of Tennessee public records under the Tennessee Public Record Act. Therefore, under the Act, all warrants issued in the state are open to any member of the public to access. However, certain warrant information may be restricted or exempt from disclosure. For example, information that may constitute an invasion of privacy, information related to an ongoing investigation, and warrants associated with an expunged criminal record may be deemed confidential.

How Do I Look Up Warrants in Tennessee?

Members of the public who wish to look up warrants in Tennessee can use third-party websites available on the web. These aggregate sites offer a centralized database of warrant information related to all states, counties, and cities in the US. Generally, to search these sites, the requestor must provide the subject’s full name. Some sites may allow searches with additional criteria like date of birth, city, or county.

It is possible to lookup warrants for free. However, free searches only provide basic warrant information. Fees typically apply to access a full warrant report. The exact fees can vary depending on the website. Some service providers offer free trials to first-time users to test the database, with initial costs that may range from $1 to $5. At the end of the trial period, one-time fees or fees charged monthly, quarterly, or yearly may be required to continue using the platform. The cost may be as high as $24.95 or lower.

While third-party sites offer a convenient way to look up warrants from multiple jurisdictions, there is no guarantee of the accuracy or currency of the information obtained. Hence, users should consider verifying information obtained from unofficial sources, especially if they intend to make critical decisions based on the results of a warrant search.

What is a Search Warrant in Tennessee?

A search warrant is a written order issued by a magistrate upon a finding of probable cause, instructing the sheriff, constable, or any other peace officer to conduct a search of a person, premises, or vehicle and seize evidence relevant to a crime (Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 40-6-101).

Are Search Warrants Public Records in Tennessee?

No, search warrants in Tennessee are confidential until the warrant is executed or returned (per TCA 40-6-107).

How Long Does it Take to Get a Search Warrant in Tennessee?

There is no predetermined timeline for a peace officer to receive a search warrant in Tennessee. A warrant is only issued by the court when probable cause, supported by an affidavit, has been established. The judge will only approve a search warrant if the peace officer can show a reasonable need for it.

How Long Does a Search Warrant Last?

A Tennessee search warrant is valid for five days from the date of issuance. The unexecuted warrant becomes void after this period elapses (Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-6-107).

What is a Bench Warrant in Tennessee?

A bench warrant in Tennessee is a written order issued by the court authorizing law enforcement to arrest and bring a person before the court for failure to obey a court order, pay a fine, or failure to appear as a witness or respond to a summons. Unlike search warrants, a bench warrant in Tennessee is valid for as long as it takes the police to identify and arrest the individual named on the warrant.

What is an Arrest Warrant in Tennessee?

An arrest warrant is a written order by a magistrate or judge that authorizes law enforcement officers to apprehend and detain a person suspected of committing a criminal offense.

The judiciary Rule of Criminal Procedure outlines what an arrest warrant must contain to be valid, including the name of the defendant, the offense charged against the defendant, the county where the warrant was issued, the name and signature of the magistrate, and a copy of the affidavit of complaint.

How to Check if You Have a Warrant in Tennessee

Individuals may contact or visit the local sheriff’s office or court to check if there is an active warrant against them or to look up warrants for third parties. Those with ongoing legal cases should reach out to their lawyers to verify if a warrant exists in their name.

Alternatively, individuals may check a warrant in Tennessee by conducting a criminal background check with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. This may be completed by mail or online and attracts a fee of $29. The mail option avoids the risk of arrest that comes with inquiring in person. However, this option may take several weeks to get a response.

Can You Check Warrants Online in Tennessee?

Yes. Many sheriff's offices in Tennessee allow interested individuals to search for warrant information online through their databases. For example, the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office and the Shelby County Sheriff's Office, maintain online databases individuals can use to conduct warrant searches.

Additionally, some county criminal courts offer online local criminal background check services. People can use these services, where available, to search for warrants issued within the court's jurisdiction. However, this attracts a fee, which varies by county. For example, the Knox County Criminal Court provides a local criminal history search for $15.

To use these systems to access a warrant record, searches should be conducted with a person's first and last name, along with any other information that may be required.

How To Find Out If You Have a Warrant for Free

Here's how a person can find out if a warrant exists against them in Tennessee for free:

• Call or visit the local sheriff's office
• Call or visit the county court clerk's office
• Search a person's first or last name on the county sheriff's online warrant search portal.

How to Find Out if Someone Has a Warrant Online For Free in Tennessee

As previously mentioned, a free option to find out if someone has a warrant in Tennessee is to search on the county sheriff's online warrant search portal, where available. While searches are unlimited and unrestricted on portals maintained by the county sheriff's offices, some warrant information may not be available, especially if deemed confidential.

How Long Does a Warrant Stay Active in Tennessee?

A warrant’s validity period in Tennessee depends on the type of warrant. Generally, most warrants in Tennessee have no expiration date. They remain active until the court recalls them or the wanted person dies or resolves them. The only exceptions are search warrants and misdemeanor warrants. Search warrants expire after five days of being issued. Misdemeanor warrants expire after five years if not executed. However, other types of warrants do not expire in Tennessee and stay active indefinitely.

How Do I Find Out If I Have a Federal Warrant?

Persons with federal warrants against them generally do not know until they’re arrested by federal agents. This is because federal warrants are kept confidential in the U.S. Marshals' Warrant Information System (WIN) database, which is not accessible to the public.

Enlisting a federal criminal defense attorney who has access to privileged resources is one option for individuals to potentially find out if there is a federal warrant against them. The other option is to search for their names on the federal wanted list. Typically, a name appearing on the federal wanted list means there is a warrant against that name.