Cheatham County Arrest Records

An arrest refers to the process by which an individual is taken into custody on suspicion of committing a crime. Once in custody, the individual is booked, and details about the circumstances surrounding why, when, and how a person was arrested are documented. This document is the arrest record. The Cheatham County Sheriff’s Office is the primary law enforcement agency in the county and carries out most arrests. State and federal agencies may also make arrests within county jurisdiction, depending on the crime.

An arrest record contains information about the arrestee, their photo, and physical description, as well as details about the arrest, the charges, bail, and bond conditions. Cheatham County arrest records are one of several records created as a person moves through the criminal justice system. Additional information is available in Cheatham County Court Records, especially if the individual was arraigned for the arrest charges.

Are Arrest Records Public in Cheatham County?

Yes. Cheatham County arrest records are public information per the Tennessee Public Records Act. Under this law, Tennessee public agencies must facilitate access to records in their possession unless the law or a court order specifies otherwise. Such restricted records contain sensitive information, such as information about minors, witnesses in protection, ongoing criminal investigations, etc.

The record subject, their legal representatives, and authorized public employees may still access restricted records. However, third parties who wish to view or obtain restricted arrest records must submit a court order or subpoena issued by a court of competent jurisdiction.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

The content of Cheatham County arrest records contains information about who was arrested, why they were arrested, and other circumstances surrounding the arrest.

• The arrestee’s full name and aliases
• Physical characteristics (sex, height, weight, race, ethnicity, etc.)
• Date of birth
• Photo
• Custody status
• Custody location
• Time and date of booking
• Booking number
• Arrest summary (agency, address, etc.)
• Charges description (offense, degree, and status)
• Bond/bail amount
• Bail date and conditions of release
• Scheduled court arraignment date.

Cheatham County Crime Rate

According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation 2022 crime report, Cheatham County law enforcement reported 1459 offenses in said year. The most commonly reported crimes were simple assault (203), drug violations (163), aggravated assault (68), intimidation (71), vandalism (78), burglary (36), motor vehicle theft (43), and driving under the influence (40). Overall, crime in the county decreased by 26% from 1,980 offenses reported in the 2021 crime report.

Cheatham County Arrest Statistics

Per the TBI 2022 crime report, Cheatham County law enforcement made 806 arrests in 2022, including 100 juvenile arrests and 706 adult arrests. Compared with the 2021 crime report, arrests in Cheatham County decreased by 37% from 1284 arrests made in 2021. Overall, adult arrests decreased by 37% from 1174 arrests in 2021 while juvenile arrests decreased by 30% from 143 arrests in the same year.

Find Cheatham County Arrest Records

The Cheatham County Sheriff’s Office is the custodian of arrest records. Interested persons may contact this agency to obtain records of arrests made within the county’s jurisdiction. The means of finding arrest records from this record custodian include in-person, mail-in, and online requests, depending on which is most convenient for the searcher.

Cheatham County Sheriff's Office
264 South Main Street
Ashland City, TN 37015
Phone: (615) 792-4341

Name-based searches on databases are most convenient for finding arrest records, especially if the record custodian makes one available. For instance, the Tennessee Department of Corrections (TDOC) maintains an offender search portal for looking up information about felony offenders.

Free Arrest Record Search in Cheatham County

Per the Tennessee Public Records Law, public agencies are required to make public records available to interested persons for free or at a minimal cost. Generally, when an agency maintains its records on online databases, such records are available for free. However, the records available online may not be as detailed as records maintained at the custodian’s office.

Interested persons may obtain arrest records by contacting the arresting agency, e.g., the Cheatham County Sheriff’s Office or the police department in the town or city where the arrest happened. Administrative staff will require descriptive information to facilitate a record search, including the arrestee’s name and approximate arrest date. Note that while viewing arrest records at the arresting agency is usually free, there are fees attached to obtaining copies of the documents.

Cheatham County Sheriff's Office
264 South Main Street
Ashland City, TN 37015
Phone: (615) 792-4341

Ashland City Police Department
233 Tennessee Waltz Parkway, Suite 101
Ashland City, TN 37015
Phone: (615) 792-5618
Fax: (615) 792-8927

Generally, Cheatham County arrest records are limited to the county’s jurisdiction. If the individual was arrested in another county, a record of that arrest may not be available unless the Cheatham County Sheriff’s Office has an information-sharing agreement with the other law enforcement agency.

To overcome this geographic limitation, searchers often use third-party public records databases. These service providers make public records from several locations available online and support name-based searches. Many databases offer free searches but the search results are often limited. To obtain more details, searchers may need to pay a one-time search fee or subscribe to the service. Note that third-party information providers are not affiliated with the Tennessee state government. Hence, there is no guarantee of record accuracy, completeness, or availability.

Get Cheatham County Criminal Records

A criminal record is a document describing a person’s involvement with the Tennessee criminal justice system, including arrests, prosecutions, convictions, and sentences. These records are also known as criminal history information or colloquially as rap sheets.

To obtain Cheatham County criminal records, interested persons may submit a name-based background check request with the Bureau of Investigation. This service costs $29.00 per subject, and the fee is non-refundable.

Alternatively, a searcher may download and complete a request form for a criminal background check. The $29.00 service fee is payable by cashier check or money order. Enclose the request form, payment, and a self-addressed stamped envelope in a packet and mail it to the TBI.

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation - TORIS Unit
901 R.S. Gass Boulevard
Nashville, TN 37216
Phone: (615) 744-4057

Cheatham County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Arrest and criminal criminal records are two similar yet entirely different records. Both records are generated when a person interacts with the criminal justice system but their contents differ. A criminal record is a detailed report of a person’s interactions with the criminal justice system, i.e., arrests, prosecutions, sentencing, and convictions.

Conversely, arrest records only contain information about why and when law enforcement took an individual into custody. Furthermore, the content of arrest records may not be used as evidence of guilt. On the other hand, criminal records contain information about whether the court adjudicated the subject as guilty or not guilty.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Permanently. Arrests in Cheatham County remain on the individual’s record unless the arrestee files a petition for expungement (T.C.A. §40-32-101). Not all arrests or charges are eligible for expunction. To be eligible for expunction, the offense or charges must fall under the following circumstances:

• The charge was dismissed after the arrest
• The district attorney issued a nolle posequi
• The grand jury returned a no true bill.
• The arrest was made due to identity theft or mistaken identity
• The individual received a pardon of innocence
• The individual was a first-time non-violent crime offender
• The charges were set aside as part of a diversion program.

Expunge Cheatham County Arrest Records

To expunge arrests in Cheatham County, complete the expungement order form. Attach a check or money order for the filing fee and submit the form at the Clerk’s Office. The court must be located in the county where the arrest happened.

Cheatham County General Sessions Court
Clerk of Court’s Office
100 Public Square, Room 223
Ashland City, TN 37015
Phone: (615) 792-4866 (Option 1)
Fax: (615) 792-3203

Persons whose charges were dismissed or who received a not guilty verdict are exempt from paying the application fee. The same waiver applies to petitioners whose grand jury returned a no-true bill. For additional information, contact the Bureau of Investigation by phone at (615) 744-4617 or via email at TBI.Expungement@tbi.tn.gov.

Cheatham County Arrest Warrants

Per Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-6-201, an arrest warrant is a written order or statement issued by a judge or magistrate directing law enforcement to take an individual into custody based on a substantial complaint. The issuance of arrest warrants in Cheatham County is regulated under Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-6-205.

Generally, the court will only issue an arrest warrant if there is probable cause to believe the subject committed an offense or poses a danger to others. Per Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-6-208, arrest warrants must contain the following information:

• Subject’s name
• Statement of crime
• City or county of warrant issue
• The name and signature of the issuing officer
• The date and time of issuance
• A copy of the affidavit of complaint.

Cheatham County Arrest Warrant Search

Generally, only the warrant subject and their legal representatives may obtain warrant information subject to identity verification (Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-6-216). The Sheriff’s Office does not provide warrant information to third parties or over the phone. Hence, eligible requestors may search arrest warrants by visiting the Sheriff’s Office in person during business hours. Note, however, that visits carry a risk of arrest if there is an active warrant for the inquirer’s arrest.

Cheatham County Sheriff's Office
264 South Main Street
Ashland City, TN 37015
Phone: (615) 792-4341

Do Cheatham County Arrest Warrants Expire?

It depends. In misdemeanor cases, unexecuted arrest warrants remain active for up to five years (Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-6-206). After five years have elapsed, the warrant is automatically terminated and removed from the record, although the court may reissue the warrant if necessary. Warrants for felony arrests, however, do not expire. Active arrest warrants in Tennessee may be executed at any place or time (Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-6-213).