Franklin County Warrant Search

Judicial and law enforcement authorities in Franklin County, Tennessee, preserve records of outstanding warrants in the region. Interested members of the public can obtain these records through a "warrant search," which reveals whether someone is wanted for a crime or another reason in Franklin County.

Unresolved warrants typically present various legal and life challenges to their holders. For example, warrant subjects can face driver's license suspensions, travel restrictions, aggravated or new charges, additional fines, professional license revocations, harsher court sentences, and employment constraints. A warrant can also lead to a person's arrest in the jurisdiction, and arrests typically translate to the creation of Franklin County arrest records.

Are Warrants Public Records?

Yes. The Tennessee Public Records Act (TPRA), compiled in T.C.A. §§ 10-7-501 - 10-7-517 and Rule 34 of the Tennessee Supreme Court Rules, establishes the public's right to see or copy public records. "Public records" are defined in T.C.A. § 10-7-503 as all records pertaining to a governmental entity's official activities. Since warrants arise from a court's adjudicative functions, they are classified as public records.

Following Tennessee law, anyone can request a Franklin County warrant record from its custodian, except when a record is expressly excluded by law, court rule, or court order. For instance, personally identifying information like a warrant subject's Social Security number, financial account number, or driver's license number cannot be disclosed to the public. Further, any warrant placed under court seal is automatically inaccessible to members of the public.

Types of Warrants in Franklin County

Franklin County has several courts that oversee legal proceedings, including the Circuit, General Sessions, Chancery, Juvenile, and a few municipal (city) courts. In administering justice, these courts may issue warrants to permit specific law enforcement actions, such as an arrest when someone violates a probation order or a search and seizure to find someone who is being unlawfully restrained. These warrants bear different names, usually indicative of the type of action they authorize. However, bench, search, and arrest warrants are the most popular types.

Do I Have a Warrant in Franklin County?

A warrant search in Franklin County is a search of official records to determine a person's warrant status. To conduct this search, a requester may need to visit a record custodian's physical address or access a dedicated warrant inquiry database remotely. Typical warrant search sources include:

• Courts
• Law enforcement
• Third-party databases

Active Warrant Search in Franklin

Depending on the type of warrant a person seeks in Franklin County, they may need to query different agencies. For instance, arrest warrants can be retrieved from courts and police departments since peace officers execute such writs. Other warrants, like executed search warrants and supporting affidavits, may only be accessible through the court system.

Arrest Warrant Search

Individuals can perform an arrest warrant search in Franklin County by approaching a police department, the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, or a municipal police agency. A requester can stop by a police department during regular office hours or call the agency's phone line for warrant information (if allowed). For example, those visiting the Sheriff's Office can appear at 494 George Fraley Parkway, Winchester, TN 37398, or call (931) 962-0123.

Members of the public can also contact the clerk of the court where a civil or criminal matter is pending to find outstanding arrest warrants.

However, inquirers should note that the records staff will need certain information to locate a warrant—often a first and last name, date of birth, or case number.

Bench Warrant Lookup

In Franklin County, judges or magistrates issue bench warrants to enable the police to arrest someone who missed a court date or failed to obey a court order. Besides checking law enforcement records for these warrants (as explained in the previous section), individuals can search case records at the presiding court. A name or case number is often required for a case records search.

Residents seeking bench warrants issued by the Franklin County Circuit or General Sessions courts can request case records from the Franklin County Circuit Court Clerk. The public also has 24/7 web access to Circuit or General Sessions court case information, but a yearly subscription is mandatory. Interested individuals can log into the system via the Clerk's Online Access to Court Records page.

Alternatively, individuals seeking free access to case records can visit the county courthouse at the address below:

440 George Fraley Parkway
Winchester, TN 37398

Under the TPRA, public inspection of court records is free; fees typically only apply when a record copy is required to satisfy a request.

The Franklin County Chancery and Juvenile courts are also situated at the above location (where a requester seeks a search of chancery or juvenile court records instead). Note, however, that juvenile court records are restricted to the general public per T.C.A. § 37-1-153. For that reason, juvenile warrants cannot be seen by unauthorized parties.

To find bench warrants issued by a municipal court in Franklin County, one can contact or visit the respective court.

Free Warrant Search

Direct contact with a law enforcement agency or court, whether in person or by telephone, is the only way to perform a free warrant search through public bodies in Franklin County. Unlike certain jurisdictions, Franklin County authorities do not maintain online databases where anyone can find an outstanding warrant at no charge. However, as explained next, free searches may be available from outside sources.

Can You Check Warrants Online?

Yes. In addition to government bodies, members of the public can conduct warrant searches on third-party public records databases, also called private aggregator websites. One primary advantage of looking up warrants through third-party websites is that users can search several jurisdictions simultaneously, as these sites are not limited geographically. However, while certain information may be free, users may be charged a one-time fee or directed to subscribe at intervals to obtain comprehensive records.

It is worth noting, however, that sealed warrants and other confidential information are not available through private sources.

Do Warrants Expire?

Yes, depending on the warrant type. Under T.C.A. § 40-6-107 and Supreme Court Rule 41 (e)(3), search warrants issued in Franklin County must be executed within 5 days after the date of issuance. Beyond that, such writs are deemed void.

On the other hand, misdemeanor arrest warrants that have not been served, returned, or quashed within five years from the issue date automatically expire and are removed from records.

However, felony arrest warrants and bench warrants are perpetual; they remain valid until executed by law enforcement or recalled (quashed) by the court.

How to Clear a Warrant Without Going to Jail

Proactive action is the recommended strategy to resolve a Franklin County warrant without going to jail. This may entail:

• Settling outstanding fines in full or arranging a payment plan with the presiding court
• Physically appearing in court to address a missed hearing date or
• Fulfilling any other legal issue that led to the warrant

Defendants are advised to consult a bail bonds agency or attorney over the best way to handle their warrants.

Notwithstanding, some warrants will result in a person's imprisonment in Franklin County until their bail hearing or the matter is resolved—usually when the subject is a repeat offender or the warrant was issued for a violent or sexual offense. In such cases, there is no avoiding jail time.