Claiborne County Arrest Records

Arrest records in Claiborne County refer to documented details of arrests and detentions within Claiborne County, Tennessee. The Claiborne County Sheriff's Office and other local, State, and federal law enforcement agencies operating within Claiborne County create arrest records as evidence of arrests and detentions. Claiborne County arrest records are accessible through law enforcement agency repositories and Claiborne County court records.

Per the Tennessee Code Annotated, law officers can arrest suspects with or without warrants if they witness or have probable cause to believe that suspects committed arrestable acts. Arrests are also imminent if the courts issue warrants for the arrest of individuals.

After processing, Claiborne law enforcement agencies detain arrestees at the Claiborne County Jail. This facility houses individuals awaiting sentencing or serving short-term incarcerations. Convicts serving long-term sentences for serious crimes serve their prison terms at regional or state facilities.

Are Arrest Records Public in Claiborne County?

Yes, arrest records are public in Claiborne County. Under Section 10-7-503 of the Tennessee Code Annotated (TCA), citizens of Tennessee can access Claiborne County arrest records and other government documents in the custody of local and state agencies. However, access to Claiborne County arrest records does not extend to information relating to juvenile arrests, sealed or expunged cases, active law enforcement investigations, confidential informants, domestic violence, records protected by judicial orders, and security-related records.

Access to Claiborne County-exempted arrest records is limited to the subjects of the documents and entities with legal clearance. Eligible individuals seeking access to Claiborne County arrest records should contact the arresting agencies or the Claiborne County Sheriff's Office at:

415 Straight Creek Road,
New Tazewell,
TN 37825
Phone: (423) 626-3385
Fax: (423) 525-8781

Claiborne County Arrest Statistics

The FBI arrests report shows that 665 individuals were arrested by law enforcement agencies in Claiborne County in 2023, an increase from the 603 arrest incidents in 2022. Also, over 70% of Claiborne County arrestees between 2022 and 2023 were males, and 51% of arrests were for drug/narcotic violations, simple assaults, and DUI incidents. The table shows the number of arrests for various incidents within Claiborne County between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2023.

Data Source: FBI UCR database.

Find Claiborne County Arrest Records

For information about Claiborne County arrests, inquirers should:

• Call, fax, mail, or visit the Claiborne County Sheriff's Office and request access to arrest records
• Visit the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Background Checks Portal and access Claiborne County arrest records through criminal records.
• Visit, call, or send mail requests to access criminal case-related arrest records to the Claiborne County Clerk of Court Office at

1740 Main Street,
Tazewell,
TN 37879
Phone: (423) 626-3333

• Log into the Tennessee Courts Public Case Records Portal and access Claiborne County arrest information through criminal case records.

Claiborne County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Claiborne County arrests and criminal records differ in several aspects despite their complementary roles in law enforcement. The differences are in their creation, content, legal implications, and impacts on their owners.

The Claiborne County Sheriff's Office and other local law enforcement agencies create arrest records to document arrests and detentions within Claiborne County. These documents contain the names and personal information of arrestees, the reasons for their arrests, and the conditions for regaining freedom. Arrest records do not confirm guilt or innocence until the courts find their owners guilty or innocent. Arrest records may not have significant impacts unless they result in convictions.

Claiborne County criminal records are court-generated documents that give comprehensive details of criminal acts, their trials, and outcomes under the Claiborne County criminal trial system. Claiborne County criminal records encompass Claiborne County arrest records and other documents relating to the prosecution, conviction, and incarceration of criminal offenders within Claiborne County. A criminal record is a legal confirmation that the owner is guilty of a criminal offense. Criminal records may negatively affect social status, employment, personal relationships, and housing opportunities.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Tennessee and other U.S. component states, arrest information stays permanently on records unless the courts seal or remove them. Section 40-32-101 of the Tennessee Code Annotated outlines the criteria for sealing and removing arrest records in the state. In conformity with Tennessee laws, Claiborne County arrest information may be eligible for sealing or removal if:

• The arrest does not result in a conviction
• The owner of the record completes a pretrial or judicial diversion program
• The arrest is for eligible non-violent misdemeanor or low-level felony
• The owner of the arrest record was a juvenile at the time of communicating a non-violent offense and has no subsequent conviction
• The arrest record is due to a mistaken identity
• The record owner completes the sentence for the offense and observes the applicable waiting period.

Claiborne County Arrest Warrants

Claiborne County arrest warrants are legal orders from judges/magistrates of Claiborne courts authorizing law enforcement to arrest offenders. Claiborne County law officers, prosecuting attorneys, and private (under limited circumstances) can request arrest records from the courts if they have proof of arrestable acts - the courts in Claiborne County also issue arrest warrants for several other reasons.

In Tennessee, to be legally valid, arrest warrants must contain the following information or more:

• Name and physical description of the wanted persons
• Description of the offense and sections of the Tennessee Code allegedly violated
• Date of issuance of the warrants
• Affidavits or probable cause statements
• Geographical areas where the warrants are valid
• Orders to law enforcement to arrest the subjects
• Name and signature of the authorizing judges/magistrates
• Names and locations of the originating courts.

Do Claiborne County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, arrest warrants do not expire in Claiborne or other Tennessee counties. Claiborne County arrest warrants remain active until law officers apprehend the wanted persons, the Courts remove them, or the subjects die. Nevertheless, factors like statutes of limitations, clerical errors, geographical jurisdiction, constitutional protection, and non-specificity of details may affect the validity of Claiborne County arrest warrants. Prosecutors must file charges against the underlying crimes within the statutes of limitations.