Putnam County Arrest Records

When an officer decides to arrest a person in Putnam County, it is based on the belief that the person has committed a crime. The belief that a person has committed a criminal act comes from either catching the person in the act, testimony from an eyewitness, or mere suspicion backed by evidence. An arrest is only the start of the legal process; it does not imply guilt.

After an arrest is made, the law enforcement agency must create documents about the arrest and place them in a database. These documents are known as arrest records. Arrest records provide a report about what led to an arrest and the arrest itself and keep a record of the arrest. Putnam County arrest records also serve in every judicial proceeding as part of Putnam County court records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Putnam County?

Yes, Arrest records are public in Putnam County, Tennessee. Putnam County arrest records fall within the scope of the Tennessee Public Records Act, which permits citizens of Tennesee to access arrest records maintained by government bodies during business hours. However, the Tennessee Code also describes particular types of confidential arrest records. These records contain data, issues, or documents deemed privileged, access to which has typically been restricted for the general public. The following are examples of confidential arrest records in Putnam County.

• Juvenile arrest records other than records of traffic violations
• Arrest reports of child abuse
• Arrest records of child sexual abuse
• Arrest records that are part of an ongoing criminal investigation
• Arrest records that are classified as criminal intelligence files

Additionally, the Putnam County Sheriff's Department has a policy that states that witness statements, autopsy reports, and officer notes cannot be made public without the District Attorney General's consent or a court order. These documents contain data, issues, or documents deemed privileged, for which the general public has typically been refused access.

Find Putnam County Arrest Records

Putnam County arrest records can be obtained at the agency's office that arrested interest. Every law enforcement agency in Putnam County has a records division in charge of creating and maintaining arrest records within the organization. The county sheriff's Records Division assists the public by finding records, investigating previous events, doing local background checks, setting up fingerprint appointments, and directing people to other agencies when necessary. Interested persons can make requests for these records in person or through mail. In-person requests can be made by visiting the county sheriff's office lobby and completing the records request form.

When requesting arrest records from any agency in Putnam County, persons requesting these records will need to provide the following information that can be used to search the required records:

• The name of any person on the record
• The record number (if known)
• Date and time of the arrest

Anyone requesting arrest records must also provide valid identification to prove they have not been convicted of serious crimes. Anyone arrested in Putnam County is held in the Putnam County jail. Individuals can search for persons held within the jail by calling the Putnam County jail administrator's office at (931) 528-8484.

Free Arrest Record Search in Putnam County

A free arrest records search in Putnam County can be done in two ways. One option is to search Putnam County court dockets both online and in person for arrest records from arrests that have led to charges and

And a trial. County court dockets host arrest records, but only those that have led to a trial. Putnam County law enforcement can also provide a free arrest record search for those who only want to view desired records. However, there is always a compulsory charge to make copies of these records.

Third-party websites provide a useful free arrest search option in Putnam County. These privately owned databases provide access to arrest records, sometimes for free. The free-to-use versions of these third-party sites offer access to public records databases as part of a more extensive service. Third-party databases can be queried using the person's name on the record. For quality assurance, it is vital to compare data from third-party websites with those from other government-owned sites before using them for official purposes.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrest records remain on a person's criminal history records forever unless steps are taken to have them removed. Tennessee has no automatic expungement statutes; hence, the mere fact that a person's circumstances warrant record erasure does not mean that it will occur automatically. The only way to remove arrest records from public access is to have them sealed or expunged in compliance with state law.

Expunge Putnam County Arrest Records

Expungement is a court-mandated procedure that removes the legal record of certain criminal cases from the general public's view. In Tennessee, expungement of some criminal arrest records is limited. Only those who meet the requirements set out by state statutes can have their arrest records expunged. Generally speaking, eligibility is determined by the offenses' severity and the length of time that has passed since the last illegal activity. Certain cases can be erased for free. These are the charges indicated as "retired or dismissed," as well as those dismissed "with costs". To apply for expungement in Putnam County, Tennessee, applicants must meet some of the following requirements:

• The charges against the person were dropped.
• A grand jury returned a "no true bill".
• After being taken into custody, you were freed without being charged.
• The case went to trial, and the verdict was not guilty.
• A nolle prosequi (prosecution will not be pursued) was the outcome of the case.
• After a hearing, a court successfully defended and rejected an order of protection.

Persons eligible to have their records expunged can do so by filing an expungement petition at the county court where the judicial proceeding occurred. Individuals can follow these steps to file the petition.

• Applicants must get the case information from the Putnam County court clerk to file a petition.
• The next step involves completing the petition using information from the case.
• The court will permit an expungement if an applicant meets all the criteria.
• Applicants must retain a copy of the order authorizing the expungement as evidence that their record has been formally cleared. For each charge that can be expunged, applicants must bring a stamped envelope with their home address so the court clerk can mail them a copy of the order whenever the court approves the expungement for the record.
• If an expungement request is granted, the judge will send a letter to the arresting agency requesting that they expunge the record.

Putnam County Arrest Warrants

A warrant of arrest is a written document that states a complaint, directs the appropriate officer to handle it, is signed by a magistrate, and orders the defendant to be arrested.

As per Rule 4 of the Tennessee court rules, Arrest warrants are issued by county courts when a written complaint is made to the county court. The magistrate or clerk issues an arrest warrant to an officer if the complaint affidavit and any supporting affidavits demonstrate that there is probable cause to think that an offense has been committed and that the defendant has committed it.

An arrest warrant issued in a Putnam County court will usually provide the following information:

• The name of the suspect that is to be arrested
• the name of the county it is issued
• The offence committed
• The court magistrate must sign it
• It must contain an order directed at law enforcement to apprehend the accused person.

Interested persons can find Putnam County arrest warrants online at the county sheriff's office website. The website hosts a list of all active arrest warrants in the county. Arrest warrants can also be requested by visiting the county sheriff's office. The requestor will need to provide a valid ID to the county sheriff's office staff to make a request.

Do Putnam County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Yes. Any arrest warrant for a misdemeanor that has not been served, returned, or executed after five years of issuance is quashed and removed from court and law enforcement records. Arrest warrants issued for felony cases do not expire but remain active indefinitely.