Hickman County Arrest Records

Arrests in Hickman County, Tennessee, are governed by state law, specifically Tennessee Code §§ 40-7-101—40-7-205, which outlines the procedures for valid arrests with or without a warrant. An arrest often marks an individual's initial interaction with law enforcement and is crucial in introducing a suspect to the state's criminal justice system. Closely following the arrest itself is the creation of an arrest record to formally document the details of the arrest and the arrestee's identifying information. This is done during a booking process that facilitates the arrestee’s entry into jail.

Once an arrestee is charged in court, information from the arrest record is incorporated into court documents, which become Hickman County court records. Through its prosecution attorneys, the government leverages the information on the arrest record, evidence, and strong arguments to convince the court of the arrestee’s guilt.

Arrest records are essential resources for the administration of justice, criminal background checks, legal research, statistics, and policy formation.

Are Arrest Records Public in Hickman County?

Yes, Any citizen of Tennessee (in reality, anyone, unless otherwise determined by law) can approach a record custodian for information regarding an arrest and obtain copies of an arrest record, per the Tennessee Public Records Act (TPRA) provisions. According to its provisions (Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-503(a)(1)(A)(i)), public records are documents of any form made or received in connection with the transaction of a government entity’s official business. This definition clearly applies to arrest records created or maintained by law enforcement agencies, such as the Hickman County Sheriff's Office, and other criminal justice agencies.

However, there are exceptions to these provisions. Documents under these exceptions are private and will not be available to the public for inspection or reproduction. They include:

• Juvenile arrest records
• Proprietary information
• Ongoing investigations
• Arrest records that can compromise ongoing law enforcement investigations upon release to the public

Note: The Tennessee Open Records Counsel FAQs page provides more information on the state's public records law.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Individuals can find the following information in a public arrest record generated in Hickman County:

• The arrestee's details (name, aliases, date of birth, etc)
• Arrest information (date and time of arrest, circumstances surrounding the arrest)
• Charges
• Booking information

Hickman County Arrest Statistics

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Crime in Tennessee 2023 dataset (the most recent year with complete reporting) shows that the Hickman County Sheriff’s Office logged 32 custodial arrests across three major offense categories:

Find Hickman County Arrest Records

An ideal option for Hickman County arrest records is by querying the chief custodian of the county’s law enforcement records—the Hickman County Sheriff's Office. As the overseeing body of the Hickman County Jail, the Hickman County Sheriff's Office maintains a database of information related to arrests and incarceration at the detention facility. Requests for inspection of records can be made in person at the sheriff’s office address. Individuals are advised to fill out a public records form for copy requests. Detailed information on submitting public record requests to the government agencies in Hickman County is contained in the Public Records Policy of Hickman County document, available online. Unfortunately, Hickman County does not maintain an online inmate lookup tool. Therefore, requesters are limited to physical visits and any other agency-approved method, such as telephone calls.

Meanwhile, requesters can conduct a Hickman County arrest record search using the Tennessee Department of Corrections Offender Search tool. This method may be suitable for individuals searching for arrest records from Hickman County and other counties in the state. However, the offender search tool only provides information about felony offenders in the custody of the Tennessee Department of Corrections. The database is searchable by name or TDOC number.

Through its inmate locator tool, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) may be a valuable resource for searching federal arrest records related to individuals incarcerated in federal facilities, including those from Hickman County. Individuals may also send FOIA requests to a federal arresting agency for arrest records about Hickman County.

Free Arrest Record Search in Hickman County

Tennessee’s Public Records Act (T.C.A. § 10-7-501 et seq.) gives any member of the public the right to inspect Hickman County arrest records without charge. A records-inspection request may be submitted to the Hickman County Sheriff’s Office, the Centerville Police Department, or any other arresting agency. Inspection is free, but copying or certification fees apply when ordinary or certified paper or electronic copies are requested.

Several private, aggregate databases also index arrest information drawn from public sources. These third-party sites typically provide a name search at no cost, though the data supplied can be incomplete, outdated, or confined to the most recent booking cycle.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Under Tennessee law, an adult arrest remains on the official criminal-history file indefinitely; the state does not purge or automatically destroy arrest data. Public access continues until the entry is expunged.

Certain non-conviction outcomes—dismissal, nolle prosequi, "not guilty," pretrial diversion—may qualify for expungement immediately. Some misdemeanor convictions and a limited subset of Class E felonies become eligible after a statutory waiting period and payment of fees. Without successful expungement, Hickman County arrest records remain permanently available for public inspection and for inclusion in background checks.

Expunge Hickman County Arrest Records

Tennessee law allows individuals to potentially clear their arrest records through expungement—a court-supervised process available for eligible candidates depending on the nature of the offense. The eligibility requirement for expungement of records in the state is as follows:

• The charges were dismissed
• The grand jury returned a "no true bill"
• The arrestee was released without charges
• The court case ended in a "not guilty" verdict
• The case resulted in a nolle prosequi
• The court denied an order of protection after it was successfully defended following a hearing

Eligible parties may proceed to the general sessions or trial court where the matter originated to file for expungement. Individuals may also need the information regarding the case (docket number, etc) and should obtain a copy of their record from the court clerk.

Applicants do not have to appear in court for a hearing. If the court expunges the record and the applicant wants a copy of the expungement, they are advised to provide a self-addressed stamped envelope for each expunged charge. The court clerk will send the applicant a certified copy of the expungement order and charging document in an envelope. Paperwork is also sent to the judge and relevant agencies to effect the expungement.

For records that were "dismissed with costs," the applicant must pay the court costs they owe before their records can be expunged. However, if the record was "retired," it means the case was put on hold for an extended period, and the applicant is advised to request that it be changed to "dismissed" before it can be expunged.

Note: Expunged records may still appear on private background check websites, requiring separate action for removal. The Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts explains the steps for expungement in the state.

Hickman County Arrest Warrants

In Hickman County, arrest warrants highlight a court’s instruction to a law enforcement officer to apprehend a suspect. Warrants are typically issued when there is sufficient evidence to suspect that an identified person has committed a crime (probable cause). Once issued, law enforcement becomes authorized to locate, arrest, and bring the subject before the court to face charges.

Hickman County arrest records are typically in the custody of the issuing court, the Hickman County Sheriff's Office, or the law enforcement agency responsible for execution. Consequently, individuals can obtain outstanding arrest warrant information by querying the above entities.

Do Hickman County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Yes and no, Arrest warrants in Hickman County expire depending on the class of the alleged crime. Per § 40-6-206 of the Tennessee Code, arrest warrants issued in misdemeanor cases remain active for 5 years only. In every other case, the arrest warrant remains valid indefinitely or until the court acts by recalling or quashing it.