Tennessee Arrest Warrants

There is an old saying that goes "confession is good for the soul." This falls into the category of "getting something off your chest." It is one thing to express your frustration with a loved one, but it's quite another to admit guilt in some kind of criminal offense. Let's be honest, if you did something wrong then you know probably know all about it.

Whether it's a major offense like breaking and entering or a minor offense like skipping out on a court order DUI class, you can find yourself in a lot of trouble especially if a Tennessee arrest warrant has already been issued on your name. But if you know you're guilty, then being presented with a warrant shouldn't come as a surprise.

On the other hand, you could also find yourself staring at an arrest warrant with absolutely no knowledge of the crime the courts are accusing you of. This happens in the case of identity theft when the criminal uses your name to commit a crime. As far as the courts are concerned, it's the name that did the crime; at least in the initial arrest warrant phase. When this happens you have no choice but to go through with the arrest process. Only when you have your day in court will you be able to resolve the warrant issue.

First, you should know what type of warrant has been sworn out. At any time, you can check through the available online Tennessee criminal record databases to see if there is an outstanding warrant in your name. If you find such a warrant, you have the option of surrendering yourself to clear your name. If you go down that road, it's best to do it with a lawyer on your side. They'll know the best course of action especially when it comes to eventually clearing your name.

Tennessee Bench Arrest Warrants
The less severe type of warrant is the bench warrant. It still means you'll be arrested and need to stand before a judge, but it's not like they're going to send out the SWAT team to bring you in. Bench warrants are issued when you have failed to complete a court order. That can include paying a traffic fine, child support or alimony. Yes, as much as you might not like it, you can be arrested for not paying an ex-wife what the court ordered you to pay.

A bench warrant has no expiration date. They will remain on the books until you have officially cleared up the matter. If you are anywhere near a police officer when they discover a bench warrant in your name you'll be immediately arrested.

Tennessee Felony Arrest Warrants
For more serious crimes there is a more serious warrant: the felony arrest warrant. Like the bench warrant, there is no expiration date. However, unlike the bench warrant, felony arrest warrants are issued when a person is suspected of being involved in a major crime such as robbery, assault or a sexual offense.

With a felony arrest warrant, the local police are more apt to spring into action to make the arrest. If they have a correct address on the warrant, expect a knock on your door within hours of the warrant being sworn out. Whatever you do, don't resist arrest. That will only make things worse.