Blount County Arrest Records

The primary law enforcement agency for Blount County is the Blount County Sheriff's Office. According to the Tennessee Public Records Act, codified in Tenn. Code Ann. Section 10-7-503, the Sheriff's Office is responsible for providing public access to Blount County Court Records, which include criminal records and other public documents as defined by the statute.

Tennessee law permits law enforcement officers to conduct brief investigatory stops. Such stops are permissible when an officer reasonably suspects that the individual in question has been, is, or is about to be involved in criminal activity. This may be partially formed by determining whether the subject matches a detailed suspect's description of a reported crime.

During such a stop, officers may ask for identification and temporarily detain an individual for investigation. If there’s reasonable suspicion that the suspect is armed and dangerous, a pat-down search for weapons may occur. Following an arrest, the suspect is taken to a nearby law enforcement facility for booking. Booking involves collecting personal information and fingerprints and recording details of the alleged offense. An official arrest record is generated during this process. After booking, the arrestee may be released on their recognizance with a court appearance scheduled. Alternatively, they may be held in custody until their first appearance before a judge.

Are Arrest Records Public in Blount County?

Yes. Arrest records are public. Citizens of Tennessee have the right to access public records. Under the Tennessee Code Annotated Section 10-7-503(a), public documents include any materials created or received by a government entity while doing official business. While the law grants this right to Tennessee citizens, non-citizens can also obtain copies of public records.

Moreover, the Tennessee Public Records Act, Tenn. Code Ann. Section 10-7-503(a)(7)(A) permits a records custodian to request individuals seeking to inspect or receive copies of public records to present government-issued photo identification. If they do not have such identification, the records custodian may accept alternative forms of identification.

However, certain sensitive arrests and court records are subject to more restrictive access. These records may only be disclosed to authorized requesters, including witnesses or victims, their legal representatives, insurance carriers, and juvenile court presiding judges who have granted permission for information requests.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

In Blount County, Tennessee, a culture of transparency and collaboration fosters accountability among elected officials and promotes active participation in governance. Public arrest records contain:

• The name of the individual arrested
• The name of the law enforcement agency responsible for making the arrest
• The date, time, and location where the arrest took place
• The specific charges filed against the arrestee
• The final disposition of the case

Blount County Crime Rate

According to a 2018 report by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), Blount County law enforcement agencies reported a total of 6,521 criminal acts committed within county limits. The estimated crime rate per 1000 for the county was put at 50.19. A closer look at the data revealed larceny theft as the most recurring crime, accounting for 47% of the total index crimes. Aggravated assault was the most common of the county's violent crimes, accounting for 22% of the reports received. There were 312 and 115 reported incidents of burglary and motor vehicle theft. The least reported crimes were recorded to be rape, robbery, arson, and murder/manslaughter, which, combined, constituted only 3.5% of the reported crimes in 2017.

Blount County Arrest Statistics

In 2020, the Blount County Sheriff's Office reported 5,436 arrests. The arrest rate in Blount County was 2,464.6 per 100,000 residents, slightly higher than the statewide average of 2,344.1 per 100,000 residents. The top five crimes for which individuals were arrested in Blount County in 2020 were Drug-related offenses, with 1,436 arrests; Larceny/theft, with 844 arrests; assault, with 544 arrests; disorderly conduct, with 444 arrests; and Driving Under the Influence (DUI), with 394 arrests.

As of 2020, the Blount County Jail had an average daily population of 444 inmates. That year, the Jail reported 7,344 bookings, with an average length of stay of 23.6 days.

Find Blount County Arrest Records

The Blount County Sheriff's Office is the main custodian of arrest records in the county. Individuals wishing to access arrest records can submit a request directly to the Office.

The arrest records held by the Blount County Sheriff's Office encompass arrests made by various law enforcement agencies operating within the county. These include the County Sheriff's Office, local police departments, and the Tennessee Highway Patrol. In accordance with Tennessee Code Annotated Section 10-7-504 and Section 10-7-505, certain information may be redacted or withheld from disclosure under specific circumstances. Such circumstances might include ongoing investigations or cases involving the protection of minors.

To facilitate the request process, providing the following information may be helpful when inquiring about arrest records:

• Date, time, and location of the incident
• Names of the individuals involved
• Case number
• Type of record being requested

In addition to submitting a request directly to the Blount County Sheriff's Office, individuals in Tennessee can utilize the following state and federal resources to look up arrest records and inmate information:

• The County Jail maintains a publicly accessible online database that provides daily arrest reports for incarcerated individuals.
• VINELink is a nationwide service that provides details on offenders or criminal cases in U.S. jails and prisons, including those in Blount County.

Free Arrest Record Search in Blount County

Individuals seeking to review arrest records in Blount County can visit the arresting agency's physical location or check the agency's website for online access to arrest and booking records. However, to facilitate the request, it is highly recommended that the individual know the specific law enforcement agency that made the arrest, the approximate date and time the arrest occurred, and the location of the arrest.

The County Clerk maintains the county's official records. Individuals can contact the Public Records Department for assistance. However, some sensitive records may be restricted.

Get Blount County Criminal Records

In Tennessee, criminal records document an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system. The Tennessee Department of Correction maintains a database of offenders in state correctional facilities, and this information is available to the public through various means.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) maintains a criminal history database known as the Tennessee Crime Information Center (TCIC). This database contains information on arrests, charges, and convictions in Tennessee. The public can search the TCIC database using an individual's name, date of birth, or social security number. Other law enforcement agencies in Tennessee also maintain a public jail roster of current inmates, which can be accessed online or in person.

Blount County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

In Blount County, the law enforcement agency that executes the arrest is responsible for maintaining arrest records. However, an arrest record only documents that law enforcement officials took an individual into custody. It does not constitute a determination of guilt or a conviction of any criminal offense.

In contrast, criminal records are typically maintained by the court system. These records are more comprehensive and authoritative. A criminal record is a formal document that details an individual's criminal history, including any convictions rendered by a court of law.

Such records typically include the offenses for which the individual was convicted, the sentences imposed, and any terms of probation that may have been ordered.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

An arrest record, once created, becomes part of an individual's criminal history and persists even if the charges are dismissed or the individual is acquitted. This record is initiated at the arraignment stage and includes arrest details. While the case's final disposition is also documented, the initial arrest information remains, regardless of the outcome.

Expunge Blount County Arrest Records

In Blount County, Tennessee, eligible individuals may avail themselves of the opportunity to petition the court for the expungement of specific criminal records, provided they satisfy the requisite criteria and circumstances.

Expungement is a legal mechanism designed to safeguard individual privacy. It entails removing a criminal record from public access and scrutiny, thereby restoring the petitioner's reputation and dignity.

Sealing a record effectively hides it from public view. Expungement goes a step further by entirely removing the charge or charges from the individual's criminal record.

However, individuals who pleaded guilty or were found guilty at trial are ineligible for record sealing or expungement. Certain crimes, such as sex offenses and stalking, domestic violence, drug trafficking or manufacture, public-officer offenses, and major felonies like arson, home burglary, robbery, carjacking, aggravated assault, kidnapping, manslaughter, and murder, cannot be expunged from an individual's record.

Blount County Arrest Warrants

In Blount County, Tennessee, an arrest warrant is a judicial order issued by a presiding judge directing law enforcement officials to apprehend and bring the designated individual before the court to respond to a criminal accusation. This legal process is initiated when law enforcement agencies present corroborative evidence to a prosecutor, demonstrating a reasonable suspicion of criminal activity and establishing probable cause.

The prosecutor exercises discretion in evaluating the evidence. If they are convinced that probable cause exists, they submit a formal complaint or affidavit to the court requesting the issuance of the warrant. A judicial review of the evidence ensues, and upon finding probable cause, the judge issues the warrant.

This authorizes law enforcement to effect the arrest. The warrant is subsequently entered into law enforcement databases, providing officers with the requisite authority to execute the arrest and bring the accused before the court to answer the charges against them.

An arrest warrant normally includes the following information:

• The name of the court that issued the warrant.
• The name of the defendant.
• Their physical description includes height, weight, hair color, eye color, and other unique features that may help identify them.
• The criminal offense charged against the individual.
• The official issuing date of the warrant
• The signature of the judge issuing the warrant.
• The bail amount

Blount County Arrest Warrant Search

Individuals may check to see whether an individual has an outstanding warrant using various means. The Blount County Sheriff's Office keeps track of those with active warrants. They can call the Sheriff's Office to get more on a particular individual. Requesters may be asked to present a government-issued photo ID to prove their identification. The Clerk of Courts for Blount County also keeps track of current warrants.

In addition, each municipality in the County maintains its own police department. Individuals can call the relevant law enforcement agency to learn about active warrants in their area. Additionally, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) has a statewide database of current warrants.

Do Blount County Arrest Warrants Expire?

An arrest warrant compels the accused to appear in court and address criminal charges. Arrest warrants in Blount County, Tennessee, do not expire. Once issued by a judge, they remain in effect unless the subject is apprehended, the court vacates the warrant, the charges are dismissed, or the subject is deceased.

When law enforcement agencies cannot locate the individual named in the warrant, the warrant information is entered into the database. If the subject of the warrant has any future encounters with law enforcement, there is a high probability that the individual will be detained based on the outstanding warrant.