Grainger County Arrest Records

In Grainger County, an arrest entails a law enforcement officer lawfully taking an individual into custody and restricting their freedom of movement. Arrests are typically made under the authority of an arrest warrant or without one in certain situations. For instance, a law enforcement officer can arrest an individual without a warrant for committing a public offense in their presence or when the officer has reasonable cause to believe the individual has committed a felony. Other circumstances that justify warrantless arrests are outlined in TN Code § 40-7-103.

Grainger County arrest records are created following arrests within the county's boundaries. Generally, these records are created and maintained by the arresting agency and are official documentation containing pertinent information about arrests. They are also usually reported to various justice agencies, which use them for different purposes. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) uses them to compile adult criminal history records and crime statistics. Meanwhile, the local court may feature arrest information in Grainger County Court Records concerning cases that arise from an arrest.

Are Arrest Records Public in Grainger County?

Yes. The Tennessee Open Records Act grants Tennessee citizens the right to access state, county, and municipal records unless a state law, common law, court rule, or federal law prohibits access. Grainger County law enforcement agencies are subject to the act, so most records they create, including arrest records, are presumably public and available for copying and inspection. Thus, Tennessee citizens can query these agencies for access to arrest records. They may also make these records accessible to individuals who are not citizens of Tennessee.

Nonetheless, certain types of arrest records are exempt from public access. Some of these records are outlined under Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-504, and they include, but are not limited to, juvenile arrest records, expunged records, and records connected to an active investigation.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

A public Grainger County arrest record usually contains the following information:

• The arrestee's personal information, such as full name and date of birth
• The arrestee's physical features, such as height, weight, eye color, and hair color
• The arrest date and location
• The arresting officer and the agency's information
• Charge description, type, and the statute or law that was violated
• Booking number, time, date, and holding facility
• Bail/bond details (if applicable)

Grainger County Arrest Statistics

According to arrest statistics provided by the FBI Crime Data Explorer website, local law enforcement agencies made 2,336 arrests in Grainger County in 2024, a significant 110.2% increase from the previous year (2023), when 676 arrests were recorded. Of the 2024 total, the demographics of arrestees were 1,646 male offenders and 690 female offenders. Meanwhile, juvenile offenders were 109. Offences that had the highest number of arrests included simple assault (180 arrests), larceny (93 arrests), and driving under the influence (71 arrests).

Find Grainger County Arrest Records

In Grainger County, local law enforcement agencies are the custodians of arrest records. Therefore, record seekers can find a Grainger County arrest record by contacting the specific local law enforcement agency that created and holds it. Different local law enforcement agencies operate within Grainger County, such as the Grainger County Sheriff's Office and municipal police departments.

In most cases, record seekers can visit a local law enforcement agency in Grainger County during regular working hours to make an in-person request for arrest records held by the agency. They can also contact an agency to inquire about other methods of requests they accept, such as phone, mail, and fax. Notwithstanding, they must provide information about the sought-after arrest record, such as the arrestee's name and an approximate arrest date, to assist the custodian in identifying it. They may also be required to present a valid ID when making requests.

Interested persons can find the contact information and address of Grainger County's local law enforcement agencies through the East Tennessee Development District's (ETTD) Grainger County directory. It is worth noting that information about individuals who were arrested and booked into the Grainger County Detention Facility is accessible online through the Sheriff's inmate search portal. The portal is searchable by name, charge description, and the number of days spent.

Free Arrest Record Search in Grainger County

Interested persons can search for the Grainger County arrest records for free through online resources provided by the County Sheriff's Department. These include the Sheriff's inmate search portal that allows users free online access to information about individuals who were arrested and booked into the Grainger County Detention Facility. Record seekers can also visit a local law enforcement agency in Grainger County during regular working hours to inspect arrest records they generated and maintain. These agencies may allow free in-person inspection of arrest records in their custody. Notwithstanding, agencies may charge record seekers a fee for copies of arrest records they request.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrests are typically featured on an individual's criminal record indefinitely. Nonetheless, an eligible arrest record may be removed from an individual's criminal record if they successfully petition for expungement and an expungement order is issued.

Expunge Grainger County Arrest Records

An Expungement is a court-order process that removes an eligible criminal case record, such as an arrest record and other related documents, from an individual's criminal record. As a result, the expunged record is regarded as nonexistent in the eyes of the law. Depending on the type of case, it may be eligible for free or paid expungement under Tennessee's law. Generally, cases under any of these categories are eligible for free expungement:

• The charges in the case were dismissed
• A grand jury returned a "no true bill".
• An individual was arrested and released without being charged
• A trial resulted in a not guilty verdict
• The case resulted in a nolle prosequi (prosecution will not be pursued).
• A court successfully defended and denied an order of protection following a hearing.

Meanwhile, an individual's record may be eligible for paid expungement if they completed a pretrial diversion program (except for sexual offenses) and had their charges dismissed per Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 40-15-102 through 40-15-107.

In Grainger County, eligible individuals can petition for an expungement order through the court, such as the Grainger County Circuit Court, Chancery Court, or General Sessions Court, that handled their case, which they want expunged. Although the way each court operates may differ, the general steps involved in petitioning for expungement of eligible records through these courts include:

• Request and receive case records of the case being petitioned for expungement from the clerk's office of the court that handled the case. On the records, take note of pertinent information about the case, such as the docket number and offense details.
• Obtain the required expungement petition form(s) from the court clerk
• Indicate the charge(s) eligible for expungement and file the information with the criminal court clerk. Appearing in court is not required.
• A petitioner can submit a self-addressed and stamped envelope for each expunged charge.
• Requests for a certified copy of the expungement order(s) and a certified copy of the charging document from the criminal court clerk. These requested items will be sent to the petitioner by mail using the envelope(s) they brought.

Once the court receives the completed expungement petition form(s) and other required documents, it will be sent to a judge for review and approval. Once approved, an expungement order will be issued. If the record says a charge was "dismissed with costs", this implies the petitioner owes court fees. The petitioned record will be expunged once the fee has been paid or waived. Subsequently, the expungement order will be forwarded to the proper agencies for expungement.

Grainger County Arrest Warrants

A Grainger County arrest warrant is a court order that directs law enforcement officers to apprehend an individual suspected of violating an ordinance or law. Per Tenn. R. Crim. P. 4 and Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-6-201 - 40-6-217, magistrates or clerks in Grainger County have the authority to issue arrest warrants upon finding probable cause in complaints from the police or the district attorney general. An arrest warrant typically contains the following information:

• The issuing magistrate or clerk's signature
• The defendant's name or description that can be used to identify them with reasonable certainty.
• The name of the issuing county
• A description of the offense charged in the affidavit of complaint

Do Grainger County Arrest Warrants Expire?

It depends on the type of offense for which the arrest warrant was issued. For instance, arrest warrants issued for a misdemeanor expire after five (5) years. Meanwhile, other types of warrants never expire. Nonetheless, the issuing court can recall them.