Washington County, Tennessee Arrest Records
In Washington County, Tennessee, arrest records are government files that reveal information about arrests conducted within the county. Such records may reveal an arrestee’s name, mugshot, charges, booking date, and bond/bail amount.
Washington County Sheriff’s Office, along with other local law enforcement agencies, generally creates arrest records after apprehending suspected offenders. In addition, these agencies may maintain and disclose arrest records in accordance with the Tennessee Public Records Act and the T.C.A. § 40-39-206. The former allows public access to government-generated records, while the latter specifically determines public access to criminal history records. These state laws ensure public access to arrest records for these reasons:
- To ensure transparency in the criminal justice system.
- To provide official records of arrests conducted within the county.
- To notify the public of recent arrests conducted by local law enforcement agencies.
Are Arrest Records Public Information in Washington, Tennessee?
Arrest records in Washington County are mostly accessible to the public. The state laws allow the public to view and inspect arrest records in the custody of local and state-level entities. In addition, the law requires government entities to release the records upon receiving requests from eligible parties.
Tennessee laws prevent public access to specific arrest records. Exempt records generally include information whose disclosure may endanger concerned parties, such as crime victims. To access confidential records, record seekers are generally required to submit a valid ID along with a request letter to the record custodian.
Note: Tennessee laws don't restrict out-of-state record seekers from accessing arrest records.
What Do Public County Arrest Records Contain?
In Washington County, Tennessee, public arrest records may reveal the following details:
- Arrestee’s name, aliases, and physical features.
- Mugshot.
- Arrest charges.
- Arrest date and location.
- Name of the arresting agency and holding facility.
- Bond amount.
- Booking number and date.
Public arrest records often exclude confidential arrest information. For instance, the records may not reveal the personal identities of arresting officers. Other non-public arrest information includes the following:
- Personal information of crime victims, witnesses, and informants.
- Information about juvenile arrestees.
- Arrest records that are sealed or expunged by court order.
- Arrest data that may interfere with an ongoing criminal investigation.
Washington County, Tennessee Arrest Search
Record seekers may search arrest records by using online search tools provided by state and federal-level agencies. For example, the Tennessee Department of Corrections maintains an online inmate search database for inmates transferred to state prisons. The database may reveal arrest details of inmates, including the arrest charges, mugshot, bond amount, and booking number. Record seekers may view arrest information on the database by entering the inmate’s first and last name.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Inmate Locator offers an alternative option for searching Washington County arrest records. The platform reveals arrest details of inmates held in federal prisons. To view records on the platform, record seekers must provide the inmate’s name or prison ID number.
Court records databases may also reveal information on arrests conducted in Washington County. Record seekers may view arrest information via the Tennessee Case History search platform. To find records on the platform, record seekers may provide any of the following search terms:
- Case number
- Party, business, or organization name.
- Case style.
Record seekers may also locate arrest information by using the Public Access to Electronic Court Records (PACER). The platform may reveal arrest information included in federal case files.
Washington County Inmate Locator
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office keeps an online database of current inmates held in the county’s detention center. The database reveals arrest information concerning inmates, such as the arrest charges, mugshot, bond amount, and booking number. Record seekers must enter relevant information to view records on the database.
In addition to the database, the county sheriff’s office also maintains an online list of recently booked offenders. The list reveals an arrestee’s name, mugshot, arrest charges, booking number, and gender.
Record seekers may opt to obtain physical copies of arrest records by contacting the sheriff’s office or the detention center at this address:
Washington County Sheriff's Office
112 West Jackson Boulevard
Jonesborough, Tennessee 37659
Phone: (423) 788-1414
Washington County Detention Center
114 West Jackson Boulevard
Jonesborough, Tennessee 37659
Phone: (423) 753-1701
Active Warrant Search in Washington County
Washington County arrest warrants are court documents that authorize the arrest of suspected offenders. The county’s court magistrate generally issues warrants after receiving a sworn statement from arresting officers. They may also issue warrants if a defendant refuses to honor the court summons.
Arrest warrants issued in Washington County may provide information on the following:
- The defendant’s name, known alias, and physical features.
- The county in which the warrant was issued.
- Alleged criminal offense.
- Statement that the defendant must be arrested and brought before the court.
- The name of the warrant issuing court official.
Record seekers may find information about active warrants by contacting the county sheriff’s office. The sheriff’s office maintains such records and may disclose them upon receiving a request. Record seekers may submit their record request to this address:
Washington County Sheriff's Office
112 West Jackson Boulevard
Jonesborough, Tennessee 37659
Phone: (423) 788-1414
Alternatively, record seekers may find inactive arrest warrant information in court case files. To view case files, record seekers may use the county’s online case search platform or submit a request to the clerk of the court that issued the warrant.
|
Agency / Resource |
Purpose |
Search Methods |
Notes |
|
Washington County Sheriff’s Office |
Maintains and serves warrants |
Phone, in person |
Provide relevant search details like the party name, case year, and number. |
|
Washington County |
Maintains records of inactive warrants in case files. |
Online |
Provide relevant search details like the party name, case year, and number. |
|
Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts |
Maintains records of inactive warrants in case files. |
Online |
Provide relevant search details like the party name, case year, and number. |
How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Washington County
In Washington County, Tennessee, record seekers may find free arrest records by using inmate search platforms. For example, the county sheriff’s office maintains an online booking list and search platform for current inmates held in the detention center. The platform also reveals arrest details, such as arrest charges and bond amount.
Likewise, the Tennessee Department of Corrections maintains a free searchable platform for inmates held in state prisons. Record seekers must enter the inmate’s name to view records on the platform. The Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Inmate Locator is another free resource for locating arrest records.
Case search databases may also provide free access to Washington County arrest records. For example, requesters may find arrest data via the county’s online case search platform. The Tennessee Administrative Office of Courts also maintains a free search platform for arrest information in case files.
Note that free search platforms may not reveal older arrests and confidential information. Such information is usually obtainable at the county sheriff’s office or courts. Record seekers may view such information by presenting a valid ID along with other relevant search details to the record custodian agency.
Washington County Arrest Report
Washington County arrest reports are detailed narrations of an arrest event. Such reports are written from the perspective of the arresting officer and may include the following details:
- The officer’s observation about the events preceding the arrest.
- Offender’s conduct during the incident.
- Statements from crime victims and informants.
- Evidence collected during the arrest incident.
Record seekers may find arrest reports in the custody of the arresting agency and the court that handled the case. The Tennessee Driver Services also maintains records of traffic-related arrest reports.
In contrast, arrest records provide a summarized version of an arrest event. Such records also include post-arrest details, such as the booking date, mugshot, and bond amount. Record seekers may find arrest records in the custody of criminal justice agencies. The agencies may keep such records in inmate and court case databases.
How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Washington County
Residents may expunge their arrest records by submitting a petition to the court that heard the case. To expunge arrest records, residents must first fulfill the following conditions:
- The charges were dismissed.
- They were arrested but not charged.
- The case led to a nolle prosequi.
- The court passed a not-guilty verdict.
Eligible petitioners may follow these steps to expunge their records:
- Fill out an expungement petition form.
- File the form with the clerk of the court that heard the case. For cases heard at the circuit court, you may submit the form to this address:
Circuit Court Clerk
108 West Jackson Boulevard
Suite 1210
Jonesborough, TN 37659
Phone: (423) 788-1412
Phone: (423) 753-1736.
Upon receiving the petition, the clerk will forward it to the court judge. In most cases, petitioners do not need to appear before the court to get their charges expunged. To receive copies of the expungement order, petitioners must submit a self-addressed envelope for each charge that was expunged. This will allow the clerk to send the required documents after the expungement process.
How Do You Remove Washington County Arrest Records From the Internet?
Petitioners may remove arrest records by obtaining an expungement order from the court that heard the case. The court clerk will automatically send copies of the order to agencies that maintain the records. However, petitioners may need to also contact third-party websites to remove their records. Some websites may have their contact information on their webpages.