Rhea County Arrest Records

An arrest is the apprehension and taking into custody of an individual by a law enforcement agent. It occurs when a law enforcement official detains someone on suspicion of committing a crime. The corrections division of the Sheriff's Department processes all inmates arrested in Rhea County at the Rhea County Jail.

Therefore, the County Sheriff's Department and other local law enforcement agencies are primarily responsible for generating arrest records in Rhea County. Arrest records may also be retained and inspected at other governmental agencies. For instance, interested persons may view information regarding arrests in Rhea County Court Records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Rhea County?

Yes. Tennessee residents have the right to observe public records at the state, county, and local levels under the Tennessee Public Records Act. Unless otherwise directed by law, it states that all Tennessee citizens are permitted to view public records. However, some records may not be viewed by the general public. These records may be confidential or private. They include the following

• Records prohibited from being disclosed by federal and state laws
• Victim-identifying information
• Juvenile records
• Records relating to ongoing investigations
• Sealed or expunged records.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

The following data may be viewed when conducting a Rhea County arrest record search

• Name of arrestee
• Inmate number
• Date and time of the offense
• Place of arrest
• Disposition at time of arrest
• Arresting officer
• Date of birth
• Gender
• Physical features (such as race, height, weight, hair and eye color, skin tone, build, and nationality)
• Mugshot of arrestee
• Arrest status
• Assigned location.

Rhea County Arrest Statistics

According to the arrest and incarceration statistics provided by the FBI for the state of Tennessee, a total of 38,004 arrests were made in the year 2024. 15,658 arrests were made for all other offenses, with 5,159 arrests made for drug/narcotics offenses. 4,394 and 3,228 arrests were made for simple assault and driving under the influence, respectively. 3,073 arrests were made for larceny.

Find Rhea County Arrest Records

Members of the public who wish to look up Rhea County inmates may contact the Rhea County Sheriff's Department. The Rhea County Jail is maintained by the Rhea County Sheriff's Department. Corrections personnel process all apprehended inmates in Rhea County at the Rhea County Jail. One may look up Inmate Information. To search, input the offender's first and last name and click “Search”. Requests may also be made in person at

Rhea County Sheriff’s Department
7800 Rhea County Highway
Dayton, TN 37321
Phone: (423) 775-7837

The Tennessee Department of Correction provides Felony Offender Information regarding inmates who have been convicted of a crime. Searches may be carried out by the offender's first and last name, DOC number, or state number.

Additionally, the Federal Bureau of Prisons maintains a Federal Inmate Locator where anybody can find arrest records for a federal arrestee. By entering the inmate's first and last name or BOP register number, one can look up the inmate.

Free Arrest Record Search in Rhea County

To conduct an arrest record search for free, interested persons may utilize the “Inmate Information” online search service maintained by the Sheriff's Department. Input the offender's first and last name and click “Search”. Members of the public may also use the “Felony Offender Information” online portal provided by the state's DOC to obtain arrest information regarding convicted individuals at no cost. Searches may be conducted by name, DOC number, or state number.

Members of the public may use independent or third-party websites that offer public records search services to interested parties. A basic search for an arrest record using a subject's first and last name may be free, but access to more information may require paying for the full search results or subscribing. In any case, if the information is intended for official purposes, one must make sure to confirm the accuracy and completeness of the records.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Under state law, arrest records may be retained for 100 years. Original arrest records where the suspect was declared not guilty may be kept until they are moved to a suitable storage medium. If the subject is found guilty, the originals may be retained until all appeals have been exhausted, probation has ended, or the punishment has ended.

Additionally, the original arrest records may not be destroyed until the retention period has passed or they have been moved to a suitable space-saving media for storage. The arrest index card may be kept current until the individual passes away, which is likely to happen 100 years after the incident.

Expunge Rhea County Arrest Records

Expungement in Rhea County is a legal process permitted by a court to erase an individual's arrest records in the eyes of the law. Eligibility for expungement in Tennessee is restricted to certain types of criminal and arrest records. Records may be expunged with or without a fee depending on the record type.

Only eligible individuals may successfully request for an expungement. The following circumstances may enable an individual to be eligible for a record expungement in Rhea County

• Individuals who had their charges dismissed
• Individuals who were arrested and dismissed without being charged
• In situations where the grand jury returns a “no true bill”
• Individuals whose trial resulted in a “not guilty” verdict
• Circumstances where the case resulted in a nolle prosequi (prosecution will not be pursued).

Eligible individuals who seek to conduct an expungement may file for expungement in the court in which the matter originated, indicating the records or charges that qualify for an expungement. One may present a self-addressed stamped envelope for each charge that needs to be expunged.

Petitioners may request a certified copy of the charging document and the order expunging the relevant record from the criminal court clerk. These documents may be mailed by the clerk to the requester in the envelope or envelopes that were provided. After that, the judge will receive the documents and forward them to the appropriate authorities for expungement.

Rhea County Arrest Warrants

A Rhea County arrest warrant is an official document that provides law enforcement agencies the authority to make an arrest. An arrest warrant is issued if it is established by the complaint affidavit that there is probable cause to believe that an offense has been committed and that the defendant is the one who committed it. The magistrate or clerk may question the complainant and any witnesses they present under oath before deciding on a warrant request.

Afterward, the magistrate or clerk may issue an arrest warrant to an officer authorized by law to execute it or shall issue a criminal summons for the appearance of the defendant. A Rhea County arrest warrant contains the following information

• Signature of the court magistrate or clerk
• the defendant's name or, if unknown, any name or description that allows for a reasonably certain identification of the defendant
• An indication of the county in which the warrant is issued
• A description of the offense charged in the affidavit of complaint
• A dictate that the defendant be taken into custody and brought before the closest relevant magistrate in the county of arrest.

Do Rhea County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. However, at the district attorney general's request, any unexecuted warrant must be returned to the magistrate or clerk who issued it, who will then cancel it. The magistrate or clerk may deliver the original or a duplicate of a warrant, which was returned unexecuted and not canceled, to any authorized person for execution or service while the affidavit of the complaint is ongoing.