Sumner County Arrest Records

In Sumner County, Tennessee, arrest records are generated when law enforcement officers take an individual into custody based on suspicion of committing a crime. Arrests become necessary when there is probable cause to believe that a person has engaged in criminal activity. This can occur due to various factors, such as an observed offense, a report from a victim or witness, or evidence collected during an investigation.

The Summer County Sheriff’s Office is the main law enforcement agency responsible for conducting arrests and generating and maintaining arrest records. These records include details such as the nature of the alleged offense, the arrest date and time, and the arrestee's personal information. There are other local police departments of the municipalities that carry out arrests and generate arrest records. They include:

• Gallatin Police Department
• Goodlettsville Police Department
• Hendersonville Police Department
• Millersville Police Department
• Portland Police Department
• Westmoreland Police Department
• White House Police Department

Persons arrested in Sumner County are held in the Sumner County Jail, overseen by the Sumner County Sheriff's Office. This facility is responsible for the detention and care of individuals awaiting trial or serving short-term sentences.

Arrest records in Sumner County are closely related to other public records, including court documents. When an individual is arrested and charged with a crime, the case is processed through the court system. This creates a trail of documentation, such as charging documents, court proceedings, and final judgments, all of which become part of Sumner County Court Records. These court records provide a comprehensive view of the legal process following an arrest, including outcomes such as convictions, acquittals, or dismissals.

Are Arrest Records Public in Sumner County?

Under the Tennessee Open Records Act, Sumner County arrest records are publicly accessible information. This means that interested persons can request copies of these records.

However, there are restrictions or limitations that may apply to accessing specific types of arrest records. For instance, records involving juveniles, adoptions, mental health cases, or sealed or expunged records are not considered accessible to the public and will require special authorization or court orders. Also, sensitive information such as social security numbers, financial details, or medical records may be redacted to protect individuals’ privacy.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Public arrest records contain information about the arrest and the individual involved. The information includes:

• Personal information of the arrestee - full name, date of birth, gender, physical description, mugshot.
• Arrest information - the arrest date and time, location, arresting agency, and arresting officer(s).
• Charges for arrest - charge(s) or alleged offense(s) committed by the individual and the class of the alleged offense(s).
• Booking details include booking date and time, location, and number.
• Case information (if available).

Sumner County Crime Rate

The Tennessee Incident-Based Reporting System (TIBRS) provides information on crime statistics for all counties in Tennessee. In 2021, Sumner County reported 195 crimes, including 108 violent and 87 property crimes. The violent crimes include one murder, eight rapes, three robberies, and 96 aggravated assaults. The property crimes reported include 15 burglaries, 43 larcenies, 27 motor vehicle thefts, and two cases of arson.

Sumner County Arrest Statistics

According to the TIBRS, in 2021, Sumner County arrest statistics show 160 arrests, 137 adult arrests, 23 juvenile arrests, 83 violent crime arrests, and 77 property crime arrests.

The violent crime arrests included two arrests for murder, all adults. Rape had four arrests, all adults. Robbery arrests were three, with two adult arrests and one juvenile arrest. Aggravated assault saw 74 arrests (68 adults and six juveniles). Regarding property crimes, there were ten burglary arrests (eight adults and two juveniles), and larceny had 48 arrests (36 adults and 12 juveniles). Motor vehicle theft had 18 arrests, with 17 adult arrests and one juvenile arrest. There was only one adult arson arrest.

Find Sumner County Arrest Records

The Sumner County Sheriff’s Office provides an online inmate list that provides information on all inmates in Sumner County. This includes inmate name, ID, race, sex, age, booking date, charges, and bond. Interested persons can use this portal to find information on inmates.

At the state level, the Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) offers an online offender search tool on the TDOC website that allows users to find inmates in state prisons, including those from Sumner County. Users can search by name, TDOC ID, or state ID to retrieve information on an inmate’s location, sentence details, and projected release date.

In comparison, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) provides an Inmate Locator tool on its website. This tool allows users to search for federal inmates by name, age, race, and BOP register number. It also provides information on an inmate’s location, release date, and facility details.

Free Arrest Record Search in Sumner County

Free arrest record searches in Sumner County are available through official resources at the county, state, and federal levels below:

• Sumner County Sheriff’s Office inmate list
• TDOC online offender search tool
• BOP Inmate Locator tool

Third-party websites also offer free access to arrest records. While these sites can sometimes provide useful information, knowing about potential limitations and privacy concerns is important. Third-party sites may not always have up-to-date or accurate information, and some may require registration or fees for full database access.

When using third-party websites, searchers must understand that the information provided may not be as reliable as official government resources. Always prioritize official sources for the most accurate and up-to-date records.

Get Sumner County Criminal Records

Sumner County criminal records are documents detailing an individual’s criminal history within the county. They include information such as the individual’s personal details, arrests, warrants, criminal charges filed, pardons, and incarceration for criminal offenses. The Sumner County Sheriff’s Department processes and compiles these records, while the TBI makes criminal records available for public access through criminal background checks.

The TBI provides criminal background checks for offenses in Tennessee, including Sumner County. It includes name-based and fingerprint-based. Name-based criminal background checks can be carried out online or via mail. Online criminal background checks may be done using the Tennessee Open Records Information Services Website. No fingerprint data or any additional information is required. Mail-in requests require the requester to submit a completed request form to:

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation
901 R.S. Gass Boulevard
Nashville, TN 37216
(615) 744-4000

A criminal background check costs $29 per check, which can be paid with credit cards. Fingerprint-based checks are restricted and made available to record holders and law enforcement agencies. They are also available to authorized bodies (with ORI numbers) that provide services to children, the elderly, and vulnerable persons. Requests for fingerprint criminal background checks vary between $21.90 and $35.15. Payment can be made with credit cards.

Sumner County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Arrest records are official documents created when law enforcement takes an individual into custody. These records include details such as the person’s name, date of birth, the date, time, and location of the arrest, the specific charges at the time of the arrest, and booking information like fingerprints and mugshots. The primary purpose of arrest records is to document this initial interaction with law enforcement. Importantly, arrest records do not indicate whether the individual is guilty or innocent; they simply record that the person was detained based on suspicion of a crime.

In contrast, criminal records provide a comprehensive history of an individual's criminal background. These records encompass the details from arrest records and the outcomes of the subsequent legal proceedings. Criminal records include information on the charges brought against the individual, court proceedings, and the final outcomes, such as convictions, acquittals, or dismissals. They also contain sentencing information, including prison terms, probation, and parole details. Criminal records thus reflect the full spectrum of the individual's interactions with the criminal justice system, from the initial arrest to the final legal outcomes.

The key differences between these records lie in their scope and implications. Arrest records are limited to an arrest's circumstances and do not imply guilt or innocence. Criminal records, however, provide a broader view, showing the results of legal processes and indicating whether an individual was found guilty or not.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Tennessee, arrests generally remain on a person’s record indefinitely. Unless expunged, arrest records do not automatically disappear and can be accessed as part of an individual’s criminal history. Expungement is the legal process to remove these records, and eligibility for expungement depends on the nature of the offense and the individual’s criminal history.

Expunge Sumner County Arrest Records

In Sumner County, expungement involves a legal process where the legal record of criminal cases is removed or erased from public access. In Tennessee, only certain criminal records can be expunged. The process may be with or without fees.

Below are the eligibility requirements for expungement of records arrest records in Sumner County:

• The charges were dismissed
• A “no true bill” was returned by a grand jury
• The person was arrested and released without being charged
• The person went to trial, which resulted in a not-guilty verdict
• The case resulted in a nolle prosequi (prosecution will not be pursued).
• An order of protection was successfully defended and denied by a court following a hearing.

If a person meets the requirements above, file for expungement in the court where the matter originated. Information about the case and the court record will be required if the matter goes to court. The steps for obtaining an order of expungement are below:

• File a request with the court where your case originated using this form. Also, contact the court clerk to confirm whether there are separate forms for multiple charges.
• Fill out the form by indicating the charge(s) that qualify for expungement and file the information with the court clerk. The requester is not required to appear in court.
• If the requester wants a copy of the expungement, they should provide a self-addressed stamped envelope for each charge so that the clerk can send the paperwork after the expungement is complete.
• Request a certified copy of the order(s) expunging your record and a certified copy of the charging document.
• The application will be forwarded to the judge and to the proper agencies for expungement.

If the record says a charge was “dismissed with costs,” that means court costs are owed and must be settled before the record is expunged.

If the record says a charge was “retired”, that means that the case was put on hold for a very long time. A request should be made that the retired case be changed to a dismissed case before getting the charge expunged.

Sumner County Arrest Warrants

Arrest warrants in Sumner County, Tennessee, are legal documents issued by a judge or magistrate that authorize law enforcement officers to arrest and detain a specific individual. They are issued when there is probable cause to believe that the person named in the warrant has committed a crime. To show probable cause, the law enforcement agency or prosecutor submits an affidavit outlining the evidence and reasons the arrest of the individual should be procured. The judge or magistrate reviews the affidavit and evidence and determines if an arrest warrant should be issued.

Arrest warrants are issued when:

• There is evidence of an individual partaking in criminal activity.
• An individual fails to appear in court as required.
• An individual who violates the terms of their probation or parole.
• Criminal investigations are ongoing, and there is reason to apprehend suspects.

An arrest warrant includes the following information:

• Personal information of the individual to be arrested - name, address, and physical description.
• Specific charges or crimes the individual is alleged to have committed.
• Date and time the warrant was issued.
• A brief statement outlining the probable cause for the arrest.
• The signature and title of the issuing judge or magistrate.

Sumner County Arrest Warrant Search

The Warrants Division of the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office is the custodian of warrants in the county. The division provides a warrants lookup portal to allow the public to search active warrants in the county. The portal contains a list of active warrants, including the subject's name, age, sex, race, charge, warrant type, warrant disposition, date received, and date served.

Do Sumner County Arrest Warrants Expire?

In Sumner County, Tennessee, arrest warrants generally do not expire. Once issued by a judge or magistrate, an arrest warrant remains active until it is executed or formally recalled by the court. This means that the individual named in the warrant can be arrested at any time, regardless of how much time has passed since the warrant was issued.