White County Arrest Records

In White County, Tennessee, the county sheriff's office and Police department are generally authorized to make arrests when there is a reasonable cause to believe that an individual has committed a crime. In most cases, arrested persons are detained in the county jail pre-trial, pending their arraignment in court. The arrest information is recorded during the booking process, and an official arrest record is created. The record subsequently forms part of the broader White County Court Records.

Arrest records usually comprise details of the offender, including descriptive features such as hair color, ethnicity, height, booking picture, and the circumstances surrounding the arrest. Together with other public records, they shed light on an individual's relationship with the criminal justice system.

Are Arrest Records Public in White County?

Yes, Under the Tennessee Public Records Act, TCA (section 10-7-503), record custodians must permit any citizen to inspect them, unless a specific law states otherwise. If citizens are denied access to a public record, they are entitled to file a petition in the appropriate court.

However, certain records are considered confidential, such as personal details of public officials, private phone numbers, Social Security numbers, and home addresses if a public record includes sensitive information, that specific data may be removed or hidden so that the public can still view the parts of the record that are not confidential.

White County Arrest Statistics

According to a 2023 report from the White County Sheriff's Office, the violent crime rate was 5.42 per 1000, while the property crime rate was 25 per 1,000. There were 17 arrests due to aggravated assaults and 12 arrests due to sexual assaults. The county jail had an average daily population of 201 inmates, with pretrial detainees making up 37% of the incarcerated population.

Find White County Arrest Records

In White County, record seekers may submit a record request to the arresting law enforcement agency. The White County sheriff's office is the primary source of arrest records. Requesters may visit the office in person or use their web portal. They may be required to provide specific details about the information they seek, such as the date of the arrest and the name of the subject of the record. A fee may be required to make copies of the record. Additionally, the Tennessee Department of Corrections (TDOC) offers an offender Search tool that allows individuals to access information about current and former inmates. Requesters may search with parameters like the name, TDOC ID, or State ID.

White County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

An arrest record gives information about the circumstances around an individual's arrest. It does not necessarily mean that an individual is guilty of a crime; rather, it implies a suspicion that they may have been involved. By law, individuals are not criminals until after trial and sentencing.

In White County, arrest records usually contain information such as the suspect's name, descriptive features, the allegations levelled against them, and the arresting agency. These records are instrumental to law enforcement agents' investigations.

In contrast, criminal records are more comprehensive, documenting an individual's criminal history. They give insight into issues like conviction sentencing, arrest records, and legal actions concerning the individual. As such, they provide a complete picture of an individual's criminal history and inclinations. This is valuable in decision-making processes that involve background checks, such as employment decisions, license issuance, visa issuance, education, and housing.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In most instances, arrest records linger on individuals' criminal records until they seek expungement through the court. Expungement essentially removes public access to an arrest or charge. However, this relief is reserved for individuals who:

• Have no pending criminal proceedings
• Their case did not result in a conviction
• Have successfully completed probation for certain offences
• Were acquitted in trial or had their case dismissed

White County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a legal document issued by a magistrate or judge commanding an individual's arrest concerning criminal activity. An arrest warrant may also be issued for failing to comply with a court order, such as appearing for a hearing or refusing to pay a court-ordered fine.

The warrant must state the offence committed by the accused or the rule they violated and the location in which it occurred. Moreover, it must instruct the officer to arrest the individual and present them before the issuing judge or a judge with jurisdiction over such matters in the County where the offense was committed. The officer must indicate the time and manner in which the warrant was executed upon the individual and present it to the issuing judge.

Under Tennessee's Rules of Criminal Procedure (Rule 4), magistrates and clerks in White County are empowered to issue arrest warrants upon receiving a complaint or affidavit from a law enforcement officer. The complaint or affidavit must bear probable cause, which is the minimum standard for issuing a warrant for an individual's arrest.

Do White County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, White County arrest warrants do not generally expire. The wanted status follows the subject everywhere until they turn themselves in or until they are arrested, perhaps following concerted efforts by law enforcement officers.

Yet, under Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-6-206, officers have a five-year window to execute misdemeanor arrest warrants. At the expiration of this time, the records are automatically removed from the system. Also, the issuing judge may cancel the warrant if the subject complies with legal obligations or evidence gathered proves their innocence.

Expunge White County Arrest Records

In White County, under Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-32-101(g), individuals may be eligible for expungement for specific less serious and non-violent offences. Under the law, individuals may petition for expungement if they qualify, recognizing the difficulties that arrest records can pose for affected individuals in housing, occupational licensing, and employment, among other areas.

Expungement means that the conviction for the expunged offence never occurred, and the individual would not suffer any adverse effects as a consequence of the offence that was expunged.