Understanding Active Warrants In Tennessee 

There are different types of warrants that can be issued by the courts in Tennessee. All of them, with the exception of search warrants, remain active until the individuals in question are arrested.

If you live in Tennessee and have an active warrant for your arrest, it’s important to get this issue resolved as quickly as possible.

The last thing you want to happen is for the police to show up unexpectedly at your house, job, a family event, or something similar and create an embarrassing situation.

Active warrants in Tennessee mean you are subject to arrest at any time.

For a more in-depth look at this subject, check out our TN Warrant Search article.

Types of Active Warrants

An arrest warrant is issued when a court has reason to believe that a person has committed a crime.

A search warrant, on the other hand, is issued when a court has sufficient reason to believe that a person has committed a crime, and the court is looking for evidence.

A bench warrant is issued when you have an active court case and fail to appear without providing a reasonable excuse for why you can’t make your court date, such as being hospitalized.

All three of these types of warrants must be approved by judges before they are issued.

Do Warrants Expire?

In general, warrants do not expire. They stay on record indefinitely. However, this rule does not apply to all types of warrants.

In Tennessee, bench warrants for misdemeanors are removed from the record after 5 years as a way of clearing system backlogs. This doesn’t mean, though, that a person can get away with committing crimes just because they were never arrested after their warrant was issued. Crimes may still be tried in court, depending on the statute of limitations.

Tennessee Active Warrant Roundups

Tennessee conducts periodic warrant roundups to apprehend individuals with outstanding warrants who are still at large.

Warrant roundups apply to those who have (1) unpaid fines from traffic violations, (2) those who have committed misdemeanors, (3) and those who have committed felonies.

To find out if you have an active warrant in Tennessee, you can conduct a simple online search using the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Warrant Information System.

Just go to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office website to get started.

Steps to Take When You Have an Active Warrant in Tennessee

Finding out that you have an active warrant for your arrest in Tennessee can be distressing. But the last thing you want to do is avoid taking action to solve the problem, even if it’s uncomfortable!

If you are aware that there is an active warrant for your arrest, here are some steps that you can take.

First, understand what type of warrant you’ve been issued. Bench warrants, for instance, are generally signed with a bail amount that you can settle in court immediately. Once you know what type of warrant you have, you’ll have a better idea of how to proceed.

Regarding your bail….If you are unable to settle the bail amount yourself or would simply prefer to get a bail bond through a bail bond company (you pay a lot less upfront this way, although you do have to pay a non-refundable premium), then it’s a good idea to contact a reputable bail bond company that can provide you with a fast and affordable bail bond.

Once your bail amount has been paid, you’ll get released from custody and will be able to return to your daily life while your court case continues.

Second, if you have an arrest warrant, we advise you to secure legal counsel. The advantages of having a good attorney are too many to list here, but will we say that in certain cases, your attorney can get you released on your Own Recognizance (OR).

Getting released on OR means that you can get out of jail without having to pay any amount for bail.