Hamblen County Arrest Records

In Hamblen County, arrests materialize when there is good reason to believe an individual has committed a crime. The Sheriff's Office and other police departments conduct these arrests to maintain peace. The Hamblen County Sheriff’s Office and the Morristown Police Department are the two main law enforcement agencies involved in these arrests.

Arrested persons are usually held in custody while waiting for their court appearances. This arrest and booking process generates official records (which may become part of the broader Hamblen County Court Records). They typically consist of the arrestee's physical characteristics, booking photograph, the arresting officer, witnesses, and the circumstances of the incident. These and other public records, such as arrest warrants and criminal records, provide insights into an individual's relationship with the legal system.

Are Arrest Records Public in Hamblen County?

Yes. According to the Tennessee Public Records Act (TPRA), citizens may view, inspect, or copy all forms of arrest records stored and maintained by custodial law enforcement agencies during arrests and booking exercises unless otherwise stated by law.

Notwithstanding, the Act limits or exempts Tennessee citizens' access to specific arrest records.

Some of these restrictions include:

• Records identifying confidential informants
• Records of arrested persons found not guilty of any crime
• Credit card and debit card information
• Social Security number
• Bank account information
• Juveniles' fingerprints, photographs, audio and video recordings
• Name and identity of any victim of sex crime
• Records related to child abuse and investigations or identifying underaged rape victims
• Records on ongoing criminal investigation
• Wiretaps (records/documents)
• Law enforcement agents' body camera video showing minors in a school environment or interiors of a mental health facility

Interested parties who wish to review a comprehensive list of arrest record exemptions in Tennessee may visit the Public Records Exception Database.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Per the Tennessee Public Records Act, the following components of a Hamblen County arrest record are available to the public:

• The offender’s first and last name
• Physical characteristics of the offender include sex, height, race, hair and eye color, weight, and complexion.
• Intake/ Booking Details: case number, intake date, intake number, time, arresting agency
• Bail information
• Charges filed against the arrestee
• Court of arraignment

Hamblen County Arrest Statistics

According to a 5-year analysis of figures from the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS), the Hamblen County Sheriff’s Office reported 7,833 arrests between 2019 and 2023. The gender distribution of the arrest figures revealed that males constituted 66.70% (5,224) while females accounted for 33.30% (2,609) of all arrests within the period.

The racial composition of all arrests in the period under review showed that Whites were the predominant racial group arrested for various offenses, with 92.79%. Others include Blacks or African Americans, Native Hawaiians or Other Pacific Islanders, and Asians, who accounted for 6.86% (537), 0.17% (13), and 0.10% (8) of all arrests, respectively. The racial identity of 0.05% (4) of arrested individuals was unknown, while the remaining 0.04% (3) were American Indians or Alaska Natives.

A breakdown of the type of offenses law enforcement officers detained offenders for between 2019 and 2023 showed that all other offenses aside from traffic were the most prevalent, with 67.87% (5,348), followed by drug and narcotic offenses at 9.99% (787) and simple assault at 7.35% (579). Similarly, nonviolent family offenses accounted for 2.61% (206), while aggravated assault made up 2.42% (191).

Find Hamblen County Arrest Records

Requesters seeking Hamblen County arrest records may use the Tennessee Department of Corrections (TDOC)'s Offender Search tool to access information on current or former inmates. After accessing the search tool, visitors may browse using the inmates' name, race, TDOC ID, or State ID.

The search tool usually yields the following results:

• Offender’s biographical details, such as first and last name, TDOC, and State ID numbers.
• Offender’s physical characteristics include sex, height, race, hair and eye color, weight, and complexion.
• Booking photographs.
• Aliases
• Current Status: supervision status, combined sentence(s) length, sentence commencement and ending dates, incarceration location
• Active Tennessee sentences

The contact address of the Tennessee Department of Corrections is as follows:

320 Sixth Avenue North,
Nashville, Tennessee,
37423-0465
(615) 741-1000

Requestors may also search for arrests made by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) or the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) using the Federal Inmate Locator or Online Detainee Locator System, respectively.

Free Arrest Record Search in Hamblen County

Individuals seeking free resources to search Hamblen County arrest records may visit the Sheriff's Office and Jail at the following address:

510 Allison Street
Morristown, TN 37814
Phone: (423) 586-3781
Fax: (423) 587-1658
Office Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday

Under Tennessee law, requesters may view or inspect arrest records free of charge but searches for documents that exceed one (1) hour and making copies attracts a fee.

Requesters seeking free Hamblen County arrest records may want to look into third-party public record databases. These internet-based organizations often have expertise in supplying public records to users online and collating public information from various official sources, including law enforcement. Visitors may perform simple searches for free, but they must typically pay for comprehensive reports on topics of interest.

Hamblen County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Arrest Records

In Tennessee, arrest records report situations where law enforcement took an individual into custody. These records include details such as the date and time of the arrest, the charges, and the arresting agency.

These reports usually contain information such as the offender's name, date of birth, physical characteristics, date and time of arrest, charges or alleged offenses, arresting agency, booking photographs, and fingerprints.

Hamblen County arrest records offer details of a person's interactions with law enforcement. They are also used by law enforcement agencies for tracking and investigative purposes.

Record searchers may access arrest records from police departments and precincts with jurisdiction within Hamblen County, the County Sheriff’s Office, or the County Jail.

Criminal records are extensive reports that contain an individual’s entire criminal history. They encompass arrest records, convictions, sentences, and any other legal actions taken against the individual.

Criminal Records

Criminal records, also known as criminal histories or rap sheets, provide a complete history of an individual’s criminal activity. Employers, licensing, and law enforcement agencies may use them for background checks and legal proceedings.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) maintains a statewide criminal records database, while the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) serves as the national custodian of criminal records.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Tennessee, an individual's arrest record will remain active unless they approach the courts to expunge or seal such information. If arrest records are not expunged or sealed, they remain accessible to various persons and organizations. Implementing this process will ensure that only authorized persons may view these records.

Expunge Hamblen County Arrest Records

In Hamblen County, individuals seeking the expungement of their arrest records are eligible if charges against them were dismissed, a grand jury returned a “no true bill,” they were arrested but not charged, they were found not guilty at trial, or the prosecution decided not to proceed with the case (nolle prosequi).

Expungement Process

1. Applicants must collate all information relevant to their case, including the docket number and details of the charges.
2. They must file a request for expungement in the court where their case originated. This may be the General Sessions Court or a trial court.
3. Petitioners might need to fill out separate forms for multiple charges. They may consult the court clerk for specific requirements.
4. Applicants must submit the expungement request and other required documents to the criminal court clerk.
5. Those who wish to obtain a copy of the expungement order must bring a self-addressed stamped envelope for each charge they want to expunge.
6. Applicants who had charges against them dismissed with costs must pay all outstanding court costs before their record may be expunged.
7. If the court approves the expungement request, the approved document will be sent to various agencies, including the arresting agency, county jail, the Tennessee Department of Correction, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI).
8. The different agencies will follow their protocols and procedures to expunge the charges from their records.

Hamblen County Arrest Warrants

Hamblen County arrest warrants are legal orders issued by a judge authorizing law enforcement agents to take someone into custody for an alleged offense.

When a magistrate receives a complaint alleging a specific offense within their jurisdiction and has reasonable cause to suspect that a designated person committed the offense, they issue an arrest warrant. The warrant directs any law enforcement officer in the state to arrest the suspect.

A Hamblen County arrest warrant may include:

• The defendant's name.
• A brief description of the offense that justifies the warrant.
• The date of issuance.
• The county or city in which the warrant is issued.
• The magistrate's signature and position.

Do Hamblen County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Hamblen County arrest warrants have no expiration date. The only way for an arrest warrant to expire is if the person wanted appears in court, dies, or the judge decides to quash it.