Sullivan County TN Warrant Search

We are glad you are here. We will do our best to help you with your Sullivan County TN Warrant Search. This page aims to give you the facts.

If you want to start your Sullivan County TN Warrant Search right now, you can go to https://tennesseewarrantrecords.com/sullivan-county-warrant-search/. This site may help you find the warrant data you need fast. It is a good place to look first. We hope it aids your search.

Understanding Warrants in Sullivan County, TN

What is a Warrant?

A warrant is a type of court paper. It gives law enforcement the power to act. An arrest warrant lets them take a person in. This is for a crime. A bench warrant can be for not showing up in court. It can also be for not answering a court rule. A search warrant lets law enforcement look in a place. They look for proof of a crime.

In Tennessee, laws rule how warrants work. The U.S. Constitution's Fourth Amendment is key. It stops bad searches. Tennessee law has rules too. See Tennessee Rules of Criminal Procedure, Rule 41 (https://www.tncourts.gov/rules/rules-criminal-procedure). Also see Tennessee Code Annotated § 40-6-101 (https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2021/title-40/chapter-6/part-1/section-40-6-101/). These tell how search warrants are given and used. Other rules guide arrest warrants. These papers must come from a judge. There must be a good cause shown.

Public Access to Warrant Information

Most warrant facts are public in Tennessee. This is due to the Tennessee Public Records Act. Found at Tennessee Code Annotated § 10-7-503(a) (https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2019/title-10/chapter-7/part-5/section-10-7-503/), this law lets people see state and town records. This means you can often find out who has a warrant. You can see the charge and the court. The date it was issued is also there.

But not all warrant data is free to see. Some warrants may be sealed by a court. This can be to keep a witness safe. It can also be if a case is still being worked on. Juvenile court records have tight rules. These are not usually public. This is to keep young people safe. So, while most warrants are open, some are not. This helps keep the law fair for all.

How to Conduct a Sullivan County TN Warrant Search

Sullivan County Sheriff's Office

The Sullivan County Sheriff's Office plays a big part in warrants. They serve warrants that courts give out. They may also keep some lists of warrants. If you need to ask them things, you can. This is a key place to go for these needs. They help keep the county safe. Their work is very important for all.

To reach the Sheriff's Office for warrant facts:

• Mailing Address: P.O. Box 589, Blountville, TN 37617. For some in-person court needs, the Sullivan County Justice Center is at 140 Blountville Bypass, Blountville, TN 37617. This spot has courts and might aid your search.

• Phone Number: (423) 279-7500.

• Office Hours: 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. EST, Monday through Friday. These are not on state holidays.

• Warrants Tip Form: You can check their website at https://www.scsotn.com/. They may have a form for tips. This can help them find folks with warrants.

• Requirements for Inquiry: You may need to show a photo ID. This is part of Tennessee law. See Tennessee Code Annotated § 10-7-503(a)(7)(A). This helps them know who is asking for the facts. They must guard some facts.

Sullivan County Courts

Many courts in Sullivan County deal with warrants. The Circuit Court deals with big crime cases. These often have warrants. General Sessions Courts are where many cases start. They can give out warrants too. Juvenile Courts have their own rules. Warrant facts from these courts are not as easy to get. This is to keep young folks' privacy. Each court keeps its own files. These files can show if a warrant is out.

Sullivan County Circuit Court Clerk

The Sullivan County Circuit Court Clerk keeps all court files. This means they have warrant facts too. They run the office. They help people find what they need. Their job is set by state law. They must keep good files. This office is key for your search.

Here is how to reach the Circuit Court Clerk:

• Address: Sullivan County Justice Center, 140 Blountville Bypass, P.O. Box 585, Blountville, TN 37617. 1  

• 1. Sullivan County Court Records | TennesseeCourtRecords.us

• tennesseecourtrecords.us

• 
  

• Phone: (423) 279-2752.

• Fax: (423) 323-3741.

• Office Hours: 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Monday through Friday. Closed on state holidays.

You can go to the courthouse. There you can ask to see files. Some Sullivan County court files might be online. You can check https://tncrtinfo.com/. You will need to pick Sullivan County. Then you can search by name or case. This site can help you look from home. Not all files may be on it. Old files may not be there.

Other Court Clerk Offices

Other towns in Sullivan County have courts. Kingsport and Bristol have their own. These courts may also give out warrants. You may need to check with them too. This is true if the case is just in that town.

• Kingsport Justice Center (General Sessions and Juvenile Courts)

  • Address: 200 Shelby Street, Kingsport, TN 37660

  • Phone: (423) 224-1711 (General Sessions), (423) 224-1730 (Juvenile)

• Bristol Justice Center (Law, General Sessions, and Juvenile Courts)

  • Address: 801 Anderson Street, Bristol, TN 37620

  • Phone: (423) 652-1030 (Law), (423) 989-4352 (Sessions), (423) 764-2163 (Juvenile)

If you want copies of court files, there is a fee. The cost for a page is set by law. Tennessee Code Annotated § 8-21-401 says it is 50 cents per page. You can ask the clerk for the full cost. This is for paper copies you take.

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI)

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, or TBI, keeps a list of crime facts. This is for the whole state. It is called the Tennessee Crime Information Center (TCIC). This list has data on arrests and court case endings. While most times you will check with Sullivan County directly, the TBI is a state source for crime facts. They do not give out warrant lists to just anyone. But they work with law enforcement.

You can ask the TBI for public records. They have rules for this. You can find forms or guides on their website. https://www.tn.gov/tbi/divisions/cjis-division/tbi-public-records-request.html. The TBI main office is:

• TBI Headquarters: 901 R.S. Gass Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37216

• Phone: (615) 744-4000

The TBI also has lists of wanted persons at times. They have other lists too. For example, they keep the Sex Offender Registry. These are all part of their job. They help keep Tennessee safe. They give good facts to law enforcement.

Information You Might Find in a Warrant Record

When you look for a warrant, you may find these things:

• Defendant's Full Name: The full name of the person sought. It may also list any known nicknames or aliases. This helps make sure it is the right person.

• Physical Descriptors: Date of birth (DOB) is often there. Height, weight, hair color, and eye color may be on it too. Scars or tattoos might be notes if known. These facts help find the person.

• Offense Charged / Nature of Crime: This tells what law the person is said to have broken. It will list the crime or crimes. For example, theft or assault.

• Date of Warrant Issuance: This is the day the judge signed the warrant. It shows how old the warrant is.

• Issuing Court and Judge/Magistrate: The name of the court that gave the warrant. Also, the name of the judge or magistrate who signed it. This shows where the case is.

• Bail Amount: If bail has been set, the sum will be on the warrant. This is the cash that must be paid to get out of jail while the case goes on. Some warrants may say "no bail."

• Case Number: Each court case gets a number. This number will be on the warrant. It helps track the case in the court system.

This list gives you an idea of what to look for. Not all warrants will have all these parts. But most will have much of this data. It helps law enforcement do their jobs. It also lets the public know facts on some cases. These facts are from the court that made the warrant.

Understanding Warrant Status and Duration

Warrants do not all stay the same. Their state can change. It is good to know what these states mean. Some warrants are still good. Others are not. How long a warrant lasts can change too. This depends on the type of warrant.

• Active Warrants: An active warrant is one that is still in effect. Law enforcement can arrest a person on an active warrant. These are what people most often search for. It means the case is still open.

• Served Warrants: A served warrant means the person named has been arrested. Or, if it was a search warrant, the search has been done. The warrant has done its job. It is no longer active for that act.

• Expired Warrants: Some warrants can expire. In Tennessee, an arrest warrant for a misdemeanor crime ends after five years. This is if it has not been served. Search warrants are short. They must be used in five days from when they are signed. If not, they are void.

• Recalled or Canceled Warrants: A judge can recall or cancel a warrant. This might happen if the person shows up in court. Or if new facts come out. A recalled warrant is no longer active. Law enforcement cannot use it then.

Knowing these terms helps you make sense of warrant facts. Not all warrants mean a person is still wanted. Some are old. Some have been dealt with. The court files should show the true state of a warrant.

What to Do if You Have an Outstanding Warrant in Sullivan County

If you find out you have a warrant, you must act. Do not just wait. A warrant does not go away on its own. It can cause issues if you are stopped by law enforcement. Even for a small thing. It is best to deal with it. There are steps you can take.

Think of these things to do:

• Contacting an attorney: A lawyer can help you. They know the law. They can tell you what is best to do. They can speak for you. They may be able to sort out the warrant with the court. This is a wise first move.

• Arranging to turn oneself in: Sometimes the best way is to turn yourself in. Your lawyer can help set this up. This often looks better to the court. It shows you want to fix the issue. Do not try to run from a warrant.

• Checking the possibility of paying a fine or appearing in court: For small crimes, you may just need to pay a fine. Or you may need to go to court for a new date. A lawyer or the court clerk may tell you if this is so. This is not for all warrants.

These are things to think on. Each case is not the same. What is right for one person may not be for another. Getting good legal advice is key. This will help you know your rights. It will help you through the process.

Relevant Tennessee Laws and Official Resources for Sullivan County TN Warrant Search

To learn more on warrants in Tennessee, see these laws and sites:

• Tennessee Public Records Act: Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-501 et seq. This law gives you the right to see many public files. Section 10-7-503 is key for what you can ask for.

  • Link: https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2019/title-10/chapter-7/part-5/section-10-7-503/

• Tennessee Rules of Criminal Procedure: These rules guide how courts run crime cases. Rule 4 is for arrest warrants. Rule 41 is for search warrants.

  • Link: https://www.tncourts.gov/rules/rules-criminal-procedure

• Sullivan County Official Website: This site has facts on Sullivan County's government.

  • Link: https://sullivancountytn.gov/

• Sullivan County Sheriff's Office Website: Find news and ways to call the Sheriff here.

  • Link: https://www.scsotn.com/

• Tennessee Courts Public Case History: This site lets you look up some court case facts. It is mostly for cases that went to a higher court.

  • Link: https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/supreme-court/public-case-history

• Tennessee Comptroller - Office of Open Records Counsel: This office helps people know their rights to see public files.

  • Link: https://comptroller.tn.gov/office-functions/open-records-counsel.html