Hawkins County Arrest Records

A law enforcement officer arrests a person in Hawkins County upon determination of probable cause that the individual has committed a crime. Under Tennessee law, the arresting officer is required to communicate the reason for arrest to the person being arrested. When a suspect is arrested, they will be taken to the station to be booked and subsequently detained at the county’s detention center.

An arrest record is created to document the details of the arrest. These records are useful to law enforcement and the court when examining the offense committed and the circumstances surrounding the arrest. Arrest records received by the court are maintained with other Hawkins County court records. A court record can be requested from the clerk of court to see arrest information related to a case.

Are Arrest Records Public in Hawkins County?

Yes. According to the Tennessee Public Records Act, arrest records created in Hawkins County are considered public records. Per the statute, it is within the rights of citizens to request access to arrest records from the relevant records custodian (the arresting law enforcement agency). However, some arrest records in Hawkins County are not accessible to the public. These records, accessible to authorized parties, include:

• Juvenile arrest records
• Victim identifying information
• Sensitive personal information
• Medical and psychological records
• Records related to an active police investigation
• Sealed or expunged arrest records

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Hawkins County public arrest records contain the following details:

• The arrestee’s personal information, including their full name, gender, age, and race
• The date, time, and location of the arrest
• The arresting agency
• The charges
• Booking number and date
• Bond amount, if applicable
• Arraignment date

Hawkins County Arrest Statistics

Law enforcement agencies in Hawkins County and other counties across Tennessee report their arrest data to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI). The arrest report is submitted through the Tennessee Incident-Based Reporting System (TIBRS).

Researchers can access this data through the TBI’s CrimeInsight portal. Users can look through Hawkins County arrest data by adjusting the filters provided on the portal. The filters include but are not limited to the arrest date, arrest type, arrest offense, and arrestee age.

According to the TBI, 549 Group A arrests were made in Hawkins County in 2022. Crimes against persons accounted for 159 arrests, while crimes against property and crimes against society constituted 127 and 263, respectively. The county's arrest rate per 100,000 people was 950.51, and the age groups frequently arrested were 25 - 34 and 35 - 44.

Find Hawkins County Arrest Records

A person wanting to obtain an arrest record in Hawkins County may contact the local law enforcement department responsible for the arrest. After generating an arrest record following an arrest, each arresting law enforcement agency also keeps the record in its repository, which is open to the public as directed by law. If an individual is a current detainee in the county jail, their record is typically accessible through the Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office.

To locate people transferred to state prison, one may contact the Department of Corrections (DOC), which oversees Tennessee inmates. The DOC provides online access to information on felony offenders incarcerated by the state through the Felony Offender Information portal. Users can conduct an offender search by name, TDOC ID, or State ID.

A search on the Felony Offender Information portal is free of charge. Information disseminated to researchers includes an inmate’s current status, location, photo, and active sentences. Further information on an inmate can be obtained from the jurisdiction where the individual is incarcerated. Parole hearing dates for state inmates can be accessed on the State Prisons Parole Hearing Schedule page. Researchers can also access parole hearing dates of inmates in the county jail via the Hawkins County Parole Hearing Schedule available on the Tennessee Department of Corrections website.

To find federal inmates, individuals can access the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Inmate Locator tool. The BOP’s database contains information about inmates incarcerated from 1982 to date. The Inmate Locator’s search criteria are an inmate’s name, BOP Register number, FBI number, INS number, or DCDC number.

Free Arrest Record Search in Hawkins County

Third-party resources are an option for persons who want to obtain a Hawkins County arrest record for free. They provide remote access to arrest records and typically disclose limited information for free. A fee may be required for full access. Third-party platforms are easily accessible and are generally more convenient than conventional (official) resources for accessing arrest records. However, only public arrest record information is accessible through non-official sources. Information obtained through third parties may also be inaccurate and incomplete.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Indefinitely. Arrests remain permanently on a person’s record unless removed by the court. An arrest can only be removed from an individual’s record if it is expunged. A record can also be sealed, which makes it inaccessible to the general public. However, sealing does not remove an arrest from an individual’s record. Sealing or expungement may be sought by filing a petition with the court.

Expunge Hawkins County Arrest Records

The procedure for the expungement of arrest records in Hawkins County is contained in Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 40-32-101 to 40-32-105. Individuals who were arrested can have their arrest record expunged without cost if:

• The arrest charges were dismissed
• A grand jury returned a no-true bill
• The arrestee was released without being charged

However, if an individual was arrested, charged, or convicted of a misdemeanor or felony, the expungement is only possible if the individual is eligible. An eligible petitioner is one who was convicted of a Class E felony, specific Class C and D felonies, and misdemeanors except major assault sexual and domestic abuse-related crimes. An eligible petitioner may petition the court to have their arrest record expunged under these conditions:

• If the crime for which the petition is being made was committed prior to any conviction for a crime ineligible for expunction in Tennessee or other states
• If the petitioner has fulfilled all requirements of the sentence imposed for the offense
• At least five years have passed since the completion of any sentence imposed if the petition is for a misdemeanor or Class E felony
• Ten years have passed since the completion of any imposed sentence if the petition is being made for a Class C or D felony offense

Once a petition is filed with the court, the court clerk provides a copy to the district attorney for recommendations. The district attorney must submit any recommendations within 60 days of receiving the petition. The court will then review both the district attorney's recommendation and the petition, weighing the petitioner’s interests against the interests of justice. A determination to grant or deny the petition is usually made within 61 days of filing. If the petition is thrown out, the petitioner must wait two years before initiating the process again.

Hawkins County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant, as defined by Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-6-201, is a directive issued by a magistrate outlining the details of a complaint and ordering the arrest of the accused individual.

In Hawkins County, the issuance of an arrest warrant begins with an affiant (typically law enforcement) filing a complaint with the court. The complaint must be made in writing and signed by the affiant, and it must contain information that establishes probable cause for the stated offense.

The presiding magistrate will issue the warrant of arrest if satisfied with the evidence put forth. If the person submitting a complaint is not a law enforcement officer, the magistrate may issue a criminal summons rather than a warrant. A warrant can still be issued based on the complaint of a non-law enforcement officer if there is an immediate threat to a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking.

A Hawkins County arrest warrant contains the following information:

• The name of the accused or a name assigned by the magistrate if the real name is unknown
• A description of the offense committed
• The county of issuance
• The name and initials of the issuing magistrate
• A copy of the affidavit of complaint

Any law enforcement officer can execute a Hawkins arrest warrant in any county of the state. Once a warrant has been served, it is returned to the court.

Do Hawkins County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. A Hawkins County arrest warrant generally does not expire until law enforcement executes it. When a judge approves an arrest warrant for a felony offense, there is no date specified for its invalidity. This means an officer of the law may arrest a person whenever the opportunity arises, no matter how old the warrant may be.

However, under Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-6-206, a warrant issued for a misdemeanor case must be served within five years from the date of issuance. If the warrant is not served and returned within the timeframe, it is automatically terminated and erased from the records.

Still, an arrest warrant can become invalid if the court quashes it. A common reason for the court quashing an arrest warrant is if probable cause no longer exists or the underlying issues related to the warrant have been resolved.