Hardin County Arrest Records

Law enforcement officers in Hardin County, Tennessee, may arrest a person with or without a warrant for threatening breach of peace, a public offense committed in the presence of the officer, a charge made upon reasonable cause for the commission of a felony, attempting to commit suicide, the offense of stalking, and a driver of a motor vehicle involved in a traffic accident (TN Code § 40-7-103). An officer may make an arrest for a public offense at any time.

In Hardin County, arrest records are prepared and maintained by the local law enforcement agency that made the arrest. Hardin County arrest records generally document an offender’s arrest history and are necessary for filing criminal charges, subsequent legal proceedings, and in some cases, for maintaining a criminal record. Although an arrest record is not in itself a criminal history record, arrest information is crucial for Hardin County Court Records in criminal court proceedings. It forms a significant part of the records of arrests and prosecutions in Tennessee Criminal Records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Hardin County?

Yes, In line with the provisions of the Tennessee Public Records Act, records of all state, county, and municipal public agencies are open for inspection at all times during business hours to any citizen of the state. The law prohibits agencies and their chief custodians from refusing a citizen's right to inspection without justifiable reason. Public records, such as arrest records, are promptly available for inspection, except when they are specifically exempt from disclosure (TN Code § 10-7-503).

Although the Tennessee Public Records Act helps the government stay accountable to its citizens by providing access to public records, statutory provisions exempt certain public records from disclosure. These exemptions may be established by federal or state law, a court order, or through the exercise of discretionary power by government agencies. Some of these include:

• Information that may identify a law enforcement officer, informant, or other inmate, where public disclosure of such information will jeopardize the safety of that person
• Criminal history or background check on potential directors, chief executive officers, and employees of the state
• Records of the judiciary (non-adjudicative records)
• Financial information
• Criminal investigative records
• Medical records
• Adoption records
• Motor vehicle records.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Public arrest records in Hardin County may contain the following information:

• Identity Information: Full name, age, gender, date of birth, and photograph.
• Physical description: Race, ethnicity, gender, sex, height, weight, hair and eye color, scars, and tattoos.
• Arrest and Booking Information: Booking ID, county of arrest, booking number, booking officer, booking date and time, arresting agency and officer, date and time of arrest.
• The description of the charge,
• Bail information (including amounts, bond type, bail terms, etc.)
• Active warrants (if any)
• Place of incarceration/Holding Facility
• Release date.

Hardin County Arrest Statistics

Based on statistics retrieved from the FBI's Crime Data Explorer, local law enforcement agencies in Hardin County made 1,635 arrests in 2023. Of these, 68.8% were male (1,125 male arrestees), and 31.2% were female (510 female arrestees).

According to the charts, the following offenses were a lot more prevalent as a higher number of arrested persons were apprehended on the grounds of these charges: simple assault, larceny, drug, and narcotic offenses, driving under the influence, fraud offenses, aggravated assault, disorderly conduct, and burglary.

Find Hardin County Arrest Records

The Hardin County Sheriff’s Office and other municipal police departments are responsible for generating and maintaining records of arrests made by their officers. However, the Sheriff’s Office is Hardin County's primary arrest record custodian.

Inmates detained by the office of the County Sheriff are incarcerated in the Hardin County Correctional Center. Per the Tennessee Public Records Act, the Sheriff’s Office is required to ensure that arrest records are promptly available upon request and are reasonably accessible to its citizens.

In view of the foregoing, interested persons may visit or send a written request to the Sheriff’s Office to inspect or request copies of public arrest records. The requester may be required to provide a valid means of identification, the name of the subject of the record, and other information needed to specifically identify the record sought.

Hardin County Sheriff's Department
525 Water Street
Savannah, TN 38372
Phone: (731) 925-3377
Fax: (731) 925-5046

To find Tennessee arrest and incarceration records, researchers may utilize the Tennessee Department of Corrections Felony Offender Information site or conduct a criminal background check through the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

Free Arrest Record Search in Hardin County

Residents of Tennessee may inspect Hardin County arrest records for free through the county sheriff’s office. While inspecting records may be free, requesting copies of arrest records or other records is not free.

Researchers may also access Hardin County arrest records using third-party search websites. These websites compile arrest information, court records, and other public records from official sources and make them available online, eliminating the need for written requests and long processing times. Although some of these sites offer free name searches, they are often limited, and the searcher will need to pay a search or subscription fee to access comprehensive information.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Indefinitely, Arrest records remain public records forever. However, records that do not result in formal charges, an indictment, or a conviction may be easier to expunge. An individual may petition the court in the county where the arrest occurred or the court where the case was adjudicated to expunge their arrest records and related records.

Expunge Hardin County Arrest Records

In line with the Tennessee Code of Criminal Procedure, TN Code 32 § 40-32-101, Hardin County arrest records and other public records of a person who has been charged with a felony or misdemeanor may be removed or destroyed without cost upon petition by the subject of the record to the court with jurisdiction over the matter if:

• The charge has been dismissed
• The grand jury returned a ‘no true bill’: This means the evidence was not sufficient to support a criminal charge against the defendant, and the case will not proceed to trial.
• The defendant was found not guilty by the judge or jury; or
• The person was arrested and released without being charged.

If the person is applying for an expunction for charges that were dismissed after the defendant completed a pretrial diversion program. Or a judicial diversion program, they are usually charged the appropriate fees determined by the court. The court may also expunge all records of a petitioner where the court entered a nolle prosequi in the defendant’s case. None of the above shall avail a defendant who was convicted of any offense or charge of any degree in that particular case.

Hardin County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant issued in Hardin County is a written order, signed by a magistrate, that commands a law enforcement officer to arrest the named defendant on the complaint or charge stated in the warrant (TN Code § 40-6-201). When a complaint is brought before the magistrate, the magistrate shall examine the oath and the affiants and record this examination in writing. The magistrate will issue an arrest warrant if they are satisfied, based on the written exam, that there is probable cause to believe the defendant has committed the offense complained of, based on the evidence provided.

The magistrate usually issues a warrant where at least one of the affiants is a law enforcement officer. Where this is not the case, the magistrate issues a criminal summons and not an arrest warrant unless the affiant(s) submits sufficient information showing the need for a warrant. Or where it is necessary to prevent immediate danger to the victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking (TN Code § 40-6-205).

Do Hardin County Arrest Warrants Expire?

It depends. Typically, arrest warrants do not expire. However, the Tennessee Criminal Procedure Code states that any warrant issued by a judge or clerk of court in a misdemeanor case that has not been served, returned, or quashed within 5 years from the date of its issuance shall be automatically terminated and removed from the court records (TN Code § 40-6-206).

Warrants issued in a criminal prosecution for a felony do not expire after 5 years. They remain active until executed or quashed.