DeKalb County Arrest Records

DeKalb County, Tennessee, arrest records document an individual's arrest and detention by a law enforcement agency. These documents provide details of the circumstances of an individual's arrest, such as the time, date, and location. These records may also be found in DeKalb County court records containing criminal case files.

Arrests are necessary when an individual is seen committing a crime or has evidence confirming their guilt or liability. A judge or magistrate issues the warrant to a law enforcement agency and signs it to make it executable. The warrant remains active till the individual is in detention or the judge cancels it. This rule applies to all types of arrest warrants.

Are Arrest Records Public in DeKalb County?

Yes, DeKalb County court records are publicly accessible according to the provisions of the Tennessee Public Records Act. This law opens up the archives and records of public agencies. Requesters in Tennessee may approach the courts to request court records. However, the Tennessee Public Records Act also prescribes records that must be exempt from public records. These records include private information sensitive to an individual's privacy or security.

Where exempted records are included in a public documents request, the law mandates that the exempted records must be redacted or classified. Such records may be unsealed where the requester has proven and given enough details to prove they have the authority to access them. In these situations, identity verification with a valid government ID may be required. The county sheriff's office may be accessed for requests and inquiries at:

DeKalb County Sheriff's Department
100 Public Square
Smithville, Tennessee 37166
Phone: (615) 597-4935
Fax: (615) 597-2536
(615) 464-6400 - Anonymous tip line

DeKalb County Arrest Statistics

DeKalb County arrest statistics are publicly available through law enforcement agencies or the FBI UCR database. This platform provides the county's arrest statistics for the past two years, which reveal 1,079 arrests for all other offenses. There were 98 simple assault arrests, 48 arrests for aggravated assault, 27 arrests for burglary, and 19 arrests for larceny. The county recorded 12 arrests for motor vehicle theft, 2 for arson, and 1 for robbery. There were no arrests for murder and rape.

Find DeKalb County Arrest Records

DeKalb County arrest records may be obtained through the sheriff's office and the courts. They are public records, and requesters may submit in-person searches or records requests to the county court clerks or the sheriff's office. The public may also submit requests for records via mail.

Generally, a DeKalb County arrest records search will require records requests to contain details such as name, physical description, booking number, or the arrest date. Online records search is also available through the sheriff's office's Judicial Information System website. This website provides a Search Hearings link for court records and a Jail Search link for inmate lookup. The state also maintains a public case history website where the court's case database may be accessed online.

DeKalb County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

DeKalb County arrest records are limited to how and why law enforcement detained an individual. On the other hand, criminal records refer to an individual's details of arrests, convictions, and incarcerations. These records cover the individual's arrest, the court trial process, the court's judgment, and the sentence given.

Additionally, criminal records contain criminal court, arrest, and correctional facility records, while arrest records contain only arrest information. The distinction lies in each record's detail, as criminal records are more detailed and extensive. Criminal records may also be used as proof of guilt and for criminal background checks, while arrest records generally do not suffice.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Generally, DeKalb County arrests remain public records until steps are taken to seal or expunge them. Residents of DeKalb County may have certain parts of their records expunged or sealed if they meet the following requirements:

• The offense must be eligible.
• The applicant must have no pending charges.
• The applicant must not have multiple felonies or specific serious crimes.
• Completion of the required waiting period.
• Completion of the sentence terms plus probation.

DeKalb County Arrest Warrants

DeKalb County arrest warrants are legal documents a judge issues to authorize the arrest and detention of an individual suspected or confirmed to have committed a crime. These documents are issued based on probable cause, which means there must be enough evidence to show the named individual in the warrant was involved in criminal activities. Arrest warrants require a judge's signature to be valid and will remain active till the individual is arrested or a judge cancels them. They are of different types, such as bench warrants for someone who doesn't appear in court, extradition warrants for transferring an individual to another jurisdiction, and arrest warrants for arrest and detention before arraignment. According to state laws, they are public records maintained by the county courts and the sheriff's office. These offices maintain records of active arrests, bench warrants, and criminal court records. An arrest warrant will contain details like the name and physical description of the arrestee, the time, location, and date of the arrest, the charges and supporting legislation, and the arresting officer's particulars.

Do DeKalb County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, DeKalb County arrest warrants generally do not expire until they are recalled by the judge or court or the law enforcement agency executes the warrant. Arrest warrants remain active after the judge signs them; this rule applies to both bench and ordinary arrest warrants.

Expunge DeKalb County Arrest Records

Expungement is a legal process for individuals who want to remove certain parts of their records. DeKalb County allows expungement of records for individuals to meet the conditions required for a disability. To begin the expungement process, the first thing to do is to determine if you are eligible for expungement. DeKalb County's conditions to be eligible for expungement are as follows:

• Satisfy the required waiting period.
• Complete the given sentence, including the probation period.
• No pending charges when applying for expungements.
• The offense must be eligible for expungement under Tennessee law.
• Completion of a pretrial or Judicial Diversion program.

Eligible individuals may proceed to gather the required documents for the petition and prepare their petition. Obtain the petition form and complete it with the arrest details and the reasons for applying for the expungement. Serve a copy of the petition on the District Attorney's Office after filing the petition with the necessary documents. The court may schedule hearings to decide which petition you should attend. If the final verdict is favorable, serve the necessary agencies to ensure the records are expunged.