Madison County Arrest Records

Law enforcement agents in Madison County, Tennessee, are authorized by law to arrest individuals who have committed or are suspected of committing criminal offenses. Arrest records are records generated by the law enforcement agencies that make these arrests. Title 40, Chapter 7 of the Tennessee Code covers the guidelines for arrests in Madison County.

Offenses in Tennessee are classified as felonies and misdemeanors typically based on the severity of the crime and its resulting punishment. After an arrest, the offender will usually be taken to the county holding facility operated by the arresting agency. The offender will then be booked, processed, and then arraigned to stand before a judge or magistrate. The outcome of the arraignment usually determines if an offender will remain in jail or be released on bail.

Arrest records are part of an individual's criminal record and are generated by the arresting agencies. The public and government agencies can access these records under public record laws. Madison County Court Records may also contain criminal records such as arrest records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Madison County?

Yes. Under the Tennessee Open Records Act, arrest records are public records. As such, like other public records, they may be accessed by the general public by contacting the appropriate custodian. These custodians include the law enforcement agencies that made the arrest and generated the arrest records during the process.

Sometimes, arrest records may contain information classified as confidential and restricted from public view. Although the record may not be released to the public, law enforcement agencies such as the police and prosecutors' offices may still be able to obtain the record in full. Under the Public Record Act, the following are records exempt from public requests and disclosure.

• Identifying information about victims of a crime
• Personal identifying information if disclosure would be an unwarranted invasion of privacy
• Records of minors and juveniles
• Certain investigative records of law enforcement
• Any records under privilege such as attorney-client or doctor-patient privilege

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Public arrest records in Tennessee will usually contain information such as a description of the offender and details of the crime and arrest. Although the exact style may differ, an arrest record will have the following information.

• The suspect’s full name, physical description, and biometrics such as fingerprints and mugshots
• Details of the arrest summary of the arrest, charges brought, and arresting agency.
• Booking and processing information such as booking number, date, and time plus and bond information available
• Information on any warrants issued before the arrest
• Court information such as case number, court dates, and current disposition of the case

Madison County Crime Rate

Local law enforcement, such as the Madison County Sheriff, submits its crime data to the FBI's uniform crime reporting program. The statistics for 2018 and 2019 submitted to the program show a 3.7% drop in violent crime, a 6.5% fall in aggravated assault, an 18.3% fall in property crime, a 45% drop in burglary, a 6.3% fall in theft, and a 12.5% reduction in motor vehicle theft. Property crimes were the most common offenses reported, with 465 cases in 2018 and 380 cases in 2018.

Madison County Arrest Statistics

The Madison County Sheriff’s Office submitted arrest data to the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting program. According to the data, the sheriff’s office reported 1521 arrests in 2022, minus traffic violations. These statistics included 274 arrests for drug abuse violations, 103 DUIs, 101 arrests for simple assault, 58 for aggravated assaults, 18 for robbery, 22 for vandalism, 11 arrests for burglary, 7 for fraud, 4 for rape, 2 for robbery, and one for arson.

Find Madison County Arrest Records

Interest parties may find arrest records and inmate information by contacting the Madison County Sheriff or the Madison County Criminal Justice Complex. Inmate records may be obtained by contacting the corrections division of the Madison County Sheriff at

Madison County Sheriff's Office
317 Denmark Jackson Rd
Denmark, TN 38391
Phone: (731) 423-6000
E-mail: administrator@madisoncounty-sheriff.com

Record seekers may also choose to contact the Madison County Jail annex directly at:

Madison County Jail
515 S Liberty Street
Jackson, TN 38301
Phone: (731) 988-3056
Phone: (731) 422-1344(Penal Farm)

The Tennessee Department of Corrections is the repository for statewide inmate records for Tennessee. Records seekers may obtain inmate records by contacting the department directly or online using the Offender Search tool on the department website. The search tool permits visitors to look up inmate records utilizing a name or a Tennessee Department of Corrections number.

Free Arrest Record Search in Madison County

Record seekers may obtain free arrest records for Madison County by contacting the corrections division of the Madison County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff's office may allow interested parties access to view inmate records at no charge. However, physical copies of the record always cost a fee. The online Offender Search on the state Department of Corrections website also provides free access to inmate records.

Some third-party record websites also provide an option when looking for free arrest records for Madison County.

Get Madison County Criminal Records

An individual’s criminal record is a complete record of their criminal history. It will generally contain records of an individual’s arrests, court cases, and incarceration time. Madison County criminal records will usually focus on offenses and criminal records from within the county jurisdiction.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) serves as the repository for criminal records statewide. All requests for criminal records must be processed through the Bureau of Investigation. The general public may obtain criminal history records on any individual online or by mail. Record seekers will be required to follow instructions and fill out the online forms on the Tennessee Open Records Information Services (TORIS) website and submit them online.

The cost for a criminal history record is a non-refundable fee of $29 per request. The payment can be paid online using debit and credit cards. If there is a record available it will be forwarded to you typically through a valid email you provide during the request.

Madison County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Arrest records and Criminal records are both records concerning an individual's criminal history. Where these records differ is in the type of information they contain and how expansive they are. While arrest records usually consist of records concerning the arrests in a person’s records, sometimes focusing on a single arrest in Madison County, a criminal record consists of a person’s entire criminal history, including not just arrests but court case details and incarceration or prison history. Criminal records are generally a lot more expansive than arrest records and may contain information from different law enforcement agencies, while the arresting agency mainly generates arrest records.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Madison County and Tennessee, an arrest will generally remain on a person’s public record indefinitely unless steps are taken to remove it. This means until an individual petitions the appropriate courts to remove an arrest from their record it will always show during any record request or background check. Tennessee allows eligible parties to remove or expunge offenses from their records, including arrests.

Expunge Madison County Arrest Records

Expungement in Tennessee is a court-ordered process after a petition where the criminal cases from an individual’s legal cases can be erased. In Tennessee and its counties, such as Madison, only certain records can be expunged, and some can be expunged at no charge. T.C.A. §40-32-101 of the Tennessee Code covers the expungement of criminal records for citizens of Madison County.

The following conditions make a record eligible to be expunged in Tennessee.

• The charges against the applicant from the arrest were dismissed
• A “no true bill” was returned in a case involving a grand jury
• The case went to trial and ended with a not-guilty verdict
• The case resulted in a “nolle prosequi” (the prosecution decided not to pursue the case)
• The subject was arrested and then released without charge
• Following a hearing, an order of protection was successfully defended and then denied by a court
• 37 years or more have passed since the conviction for a felony, and the petitioner has not been convicted of any other offense in that time
• All periods of probation and supervision resulting from the charge have been completed
• The case was not a sexual offense

If the record qualifies for exemption, then the applicant may file for expungement at the trial court or general sessions court where the case originated. The expungement process may differ slightly from court to court but is typically outlined by the following steps.

• Obtain a certified copy of the record from the court or other government agencies, including docket number and case information. Include documentation showing the final disposition of the case.
• File the case with the court where the case originated using the appropriate forms. Confirm with the court clerk if separate forms are required for multiple charges and fill out and file the forms.
• Confirm costs with the court clerk and pay all relevant costs. Although some records are expunged for free, if your records say the charge was “dismissed with costs,” it means there are fees to be paid before the record can be expunged. Petitions for expunging convictions will cost $100
• Submit a self-addressed and stamped envelope for each charge to be expunged so the court clerk will send you copies of each expungement when it is complete. This means if you are expunging three records, submit three self-addressed and stamped envelopes.
• Depending on the case, there may or may not be a reason to attend a court hearing. If a hearing is required, obtain the date and time from the clerk. The clerk of court will forward the petition to the judge and the district attorney for consideration. The district attorney must file an objection to the petition within 60 days of receiving the petition.
• If the judge grants the petition, ensure that copies of the court order are sent to all relevant agencies, including the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and local law enforcement.

Madison County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is an order given in writing and signed by a court magistrate directed to a proper law enforcement officer commanding a defendant's arrest after receiving a written complaint/affidavit. Under Tennessee Code Title 40 Chapter 6 Part 2, Judges and magistrates within the county jurisdiction are authorized to issue arrest warrants for persons charged with public offenses.

Within the written affidavit/complaint, the complainant must show probable cause that the subject of the warrant has indeed committed a crime. The magistrate or judge may also choose to examine the complainants under oath, either in person or electronically.

If the issuing officer is satisfied with the proof provided by the complainant, the warrant will be issued, and law enforcement may proceed to apprehend the subject of the warrant.

An arrest warrant in Tennessee and its counties, such as Madison, will usually contain the following information.

• The name and a reliable description of the defendant
• A clear description of the offense for which the warrant has been issued
• The complainant and the authorized arresting agency
• The county where the warrant was issued, as well as the name and signature of the issuing judge or magistrate
• The warrant should also include a copy of the affidavit/complaint

Madison County Arrest Warrant Search

Warrants issued by the courts in Madison County can be searched by contacting the Warrants Division of the Madison County Sheriff’s Office. The division is responsible for the service and can be reached at:

Madison County Sheriff
Warrants Division
515 S. Liberty
Jackson, TN 38301

Interest parties may also inquire by calling the warrants division at (731) 423-6000 or (731) 423-6003.

Do Madison County Arrest Warrants Expire?

The type of offense will usually determine the expiry date of a Tennessee warrant. While arrest records for felonies and other serious crimes will never expire, arrest warrants for misdemeanor cases will typically expire after five years. However, if this happens and the subject is still at large, a judge will normally sign another warrant. Sometimes, a judge may cancel or recall a warrant if the subject proves it was unnecessary or illegal.