Cocke County Arrest Records

Law enforcement officials in Cocke County, Tennessee, arrest people when they have reasonable suspicion that they have committed a crime. These arrests can be made with or without a warrant depending on the situation. More often than not, arrests are made when a warrant is issued. A warrantless arrest can also be made by the officer if:

• There is an offense committed in the presence of a law enforcement officer.
• A person is a danger to public safety.
• There is a felony committed in the absence of law enforcement.
• A person is attempting suicide.

Cocke County arrest records are documents that provide information about an incident arrest report and the event of the arrest. Arrest records provide essential information about the arrest itself, along with the key parties involved in the arrest. The subject of an arrest record is the arrestee. The records provide a picture of a person's criminal record, albeit not as conclusive as a criminal record. The use of arrest records extends beyond law enforcement record-keeping. They might be included in the public records maintained by other state and local entities. For instance, state-managed criminal history files and court records in Cocke County may contain arrest information.

Are Arrest Records Public in Cocke County?

Yes, Arrest records are public records in Cocke County per the state's public records and Tennessee Code Title 10 Chapter 7. Cocke County arrest records are classed as criminal records and made available to anyone interested in viewing and making copies of them. Any agency that prepares and maintains arrest records will need to make these records available to members of the public. However, certain types of arrest records are exempted from public disclosure. Some examples of arrest records that are confidential include:

• Records that are part of an ongoing investigation
• Arrest reports that are classified as medical records
• Juvenile arrest records
• Specific personnel data pertaining to undercover police agents and their close relatives or domestic partners.
• Arrest records, documents, and national or state security papers are in the military department's custody.
• Arrest records that may reveal victims of child abuse.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

A Cocke County arrest record usually provides the following information:

• The name of the arrestee.
• The arrestee's physical description(height, weight, race, eye color, visible cars, and tattoos).
• The subject's age and date of birth.
• The suspect's last known address.
• The cause of the arrest.
• The subject booking number.
• The date, time, and location of the arrest
• Charges against the arrestees

Cocke County Arrest Statistics

The Latest statistics from the FBI uniform crime reporting portal show that the Cocke County Sheriff's Department made 897 arrests in 2023. The most arrests were made for drug possession and other drug-related offenses, with 287 recorded, which made up 32% of the total arrests made in that year. Arrests for simple assault(153) and driving under the influence(103) made up 17% and 11% of arrests, respectively. In general, there were no arrests made for murder or rape by the sheriff's office in 2023.

Find Cocke County Arrest Records

Citizens can find a Cocke County arrest record at any Cocke County law enforcement agency that made an arrest. The 4 law enforcement agencies that make arrests in Cocke County include the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP), the Newport Police Department, the Parrottsville Police Department, and the Cocke County Sheriff's Office. Each law enforcement office has a dedicated unit in charge of maintaining and distributing arrest records to interested citizens. The name of this department varies by the different law enforcement offices, and they are usually referred to as either the central records division or the records department. Individuals can request records from these departments in person, by US mail, or through E-mail. The request process usually involves completing an arrest records request form or requesting a background check. Individuals will need to provide information the following information to request arrest records:

• The date and time of the arrest
• The name of the arrested persons
• A notarized copy of a valid government ID

The fee associated with the request ranges from $5 to $15, depending on the department from which the records are requested. In-person requests are usually processed on the same day, while mail-in requests take a few working days to resolve.

Persons arrested in Cocke County are usually held at the Cocke County detention center, which serves as the county's main jail facility and is operated by the Cocke County sheriff's office. Anyone can find out the location of inmates within the jail facility by contacting the county jail administrator at:

Detention Center
358 East Main Street
Newport, TN 37821
Tel:(423) 623-9043
(423) 613-9128

Individuals can also access information on felony offenders in Cocke County through the Tennessee Felony Offender Information portal.

Free Arrest Record Search in Cocke County

Anyone can request a free arrest records search at the county court clerk's office in Cocke County. Arrest records entered into the court docket can be searched for free using the name of the person on the record. The county court clerk's office also has a public access terminal that can be used to search for arrest records.

Third-party websites offer access to arrest records as part of a comprehensive background check. These sites are platforms that provide access to criminal records, court data, and other important public records for free or a monthly subscription fee. Third-party websites are convenient because they provide remote access to Cocke County court records.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Permanently, Suppose a person was arrested in Cocke County. In that case, a record of that arrest exists, and it will remain publicly available unless and until they take steps to remove it from the public domain in a process called expungement. Unlike other states in the US, there is no Automatic expungement statute in Tennessee.

Expunge Cocke County Arrest Records

Expungement is a legal process that causes a person's criminal records to be "removed and destroyed". As a result, a public background check will not reveal the record of an expunged arrest or conviction.

In Cocke County, the expungement procedure begins in the county court on a local level. Charges that were "Dismissed," "No contest," "No True Bill," or found not guilty may be expunged at no further expense to the defendant. Clerk fees apply to charges on "Diversion" (pretrial or judicial) and conviction expungements.

Only specific convicted offenses qualify for expungement; these offenses must be non-sexual, non-violent, and non-DUI. Most misdemeanors and certain Class E felonies, including theft, vandalism, forgery, and making a false or fraudulent insurance claim, are among the crimes that qualify. Additionally, a convicted person must wait an average of 5 years before they may file for another conviction.

Eligible persons can expunge their arrest records by following these steps:

• Obtain a copy of the arrest record from the agency that made the arrest.
• Applicants must File a petition with the court where the criminal case originated. They will also have to fill out separate forms for multiple charges. The forms should include information from the arrest record, such as the date of the arrest and charges.
• Pay the appropriate filing fee.
• The clerk will then send the expungement petition to the judge.

If the petition is successful, the expungement order is transmitted to the Tennessee Department of Correction, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the county jail, and the arresting agency after the court has finished the expungement procedure locally. After that, each agency expunges the charges per its protocols.

Cocke County Arrest Warrants

In Cocke County, Tennessee, an arrest warrant is a court order from a judge or magistrate that gives police permission to detain a person suspected of committing a criminal act. A warrant is usually issued When there is reasonable suspicion that someone has committed a crime, disregarded court orders, or failed to attend court.

According to rule 4 of the Tennessee court rules, a warrant is often granted when a law enforcement official files a complaint affidavit and supporting affidavits to demonstrate reasonable suspicion that the defendant has committed the violation. A judge or magistrate will issue a warrant if the evidence is clear and compelling. Warrants issued by Cocke County courts usually provide the following information.

• The name of the suspect.
• The name of the court that issued the warrant.
• The time and date of the warrant issuance.
• The charges against the suspected person.
• A command to law enforcement to apprehend the suspected individual.

Individuals can search for active warrants issued by the Cocke County Court by contacting the Cocke County Sheriff Warrants Division. The division must assist in arrest warrants and search warrants. Requestors only need to provide a name to the division via the phone.

Do Cocke County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No Cocke County arrest warrants do not expire. A warrant remains active until the arrested person is arrested and brought before a judge.