Nashville Bench Warrants
Nashville bench warrants are issued by judges in Davidson County when a person fails to show up for a court date or does not follow a court order. With close to 690,000 residents, Nashville is the largest city in Tennessee and the state capital. The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department and the Davidson County Sheriff's Office both play roles in serving bench warrants here. If you need to check for an active bench warrant in Nashville, there are several ways to search through local courts and law enforcement offices. This page covers the main steps and resources for looking up Nashville bench warrants.
Nashville Quick Facts
How Nashville Bench Warrants Work
A bench warrant in Nashville gets issued right from the judge's bench. That is where the name comes from. When a person misses a court date, the judge can sign a bench warrant on the spot. This gives law enforcement the right to arrest that person and bring them back to court. Bench warrants in Nashville apply to all types of cases, from traffic matters to felony charges. The warrant stays active until the person is found and brought to court, or until a judge decides to recall it.
Tennessee law treats failure to appear as a serious matter. Under TCA § 39-16-609, failing to show up after being released on bail can lead to a Class A misdemeanor charge. If done on purpose to dodge the court, it rises to a Class E felony. These are separate from the original charge. So a person with a Nashville bench warrant could face two cases at once.
Nashville bench warrants do not expire for felony cases. Misdemeanor warrants may expire after five years under TCA § 40-6-206, but most bench warrants stay on file much longer than people expect. The Davidson County courts keep a digital record of all active warrants in their system.
Where to Search Nashville Bench Warrants
There are a few ways to look up bench warrants in Nashville. Each method has pros and cons, so choose the one that fits your needs best. Some let you search from home. Others need you to go in person.
The Davidson County Sheriff's Office runs a free online search tool for people in custody. You can search by first name, last name, date of birth, or warrant number. The system shows each person's charges, bond info, and court dates. It gets updated in real time as new bookings come in. This tool works well for finding out if someone was picked up on a bench warrant in Nashville. The recent bookings page shows all arrests from the past 48 hours. Keep in mind that some people listed there may have been released already.
The Nashville Metropolitan Police Department Criminal Warrants Office is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They are located at 440 3rd Avenue North in Nashville. One big thing to know: warrant info is not given out over the phone. You must go in person to ask about active bench warrants. Be aware that if you have an active warrant, you could be arrested on the spot when you walk in.
The Davidson County Circuit Court Clerk keeps records for Circuit, Probate, and General Sessions courts. Their CaseLink system offers case lookup by name or case number. You can check if a bench warrant was issued as part of a pending case. Copy fees run about $0.50 per page, and certified copies cost $5.00 plus $0.50 per page.
Nashville Warrant Search Resources
The Nashville Government portal gives an overview of city services and links to law enforcement divisions that handle bench warrants in Nashville.
From the main site you can reach the police department, courts, and other offices tied to bench warrant processing in Nashville.
The Nashville Police Department site has details on their warrants division, most wanted list, and public records request forms.
The police department staffs the warrants office with sworn officers who can execute arrests right at the counter. They also keep a most wanted list that gets updated as new bench warrants are issued in Nashville.
Nashville Courts and Bench Warrants
Nashville bench warrants come from several courts. The Metropolitan General Sessions Court handles misdemeanors, traffic cases, and city code violations. Eleven judges sit on this court, and fifteen judicial magistrates handle probable cause hearings for criminal warrants. If you miss a session in this court, the judge can issue a bench warrant that same day.
The Davidson County Criminal Court deals with felony cases and more serious charges. As of February 2025, the public courthouse computers for case file searches were removed due to privacy concerns. You now need to make a specific request to the clerk's office staff. Have the case number or the defendant's name ready before you go. Criminal Court Clerk Howard Gentry's office is at 408 2nd Avenue North, Suite 2120, in the Justice A. A. Birch Building.
Court schedules in Nashville vary by division. Tuesday is traffic court at 9:00 a.m. Thursday is criminal municipal court at 9:00 a.m. Friday is criminal county court at 9:00 a.m. Missing any of these scheduled dates can lead to a bench warrant.
Note: All records requests in Nashville require proof of Tennessee residency under TCA § 10-7-504.
Resolving Bench Warrants in Nashville
If you find out you have a bench warrant in Nashville, act fast. The longer it sits, the worse things can get. You might be stopped during a routine traffic check and arrested. Or you could be picked up at your home or workplace. Getting ahead of the problem is always the better path.
Talk to a lawyer first. A Nashville attorney can sometimes get the bench warrant recalled and set a new court date without you going to jail. This depends on the type of case and the judge. For lower-level offenses like traffic tickets or minor misdemeanors, some Nashville judges will allow a reset if you have a good reason for missing court. You or your lawyer can file a motion to quash the bench warrant. The judge will review it and decide whether to set a new hearing date. In some cases, bond may be required before the warrant is lifted. The Davidson County courts set bond amounts based on the charges and the person's history.
- Contact the court that issued the bench warrant
- Ask about options for a voluntary surrender
- Bring a valid photo ID and any court papers you have
- Be ready to post bond if the judge requires it
- Get a new court date before you leave
Nashville Legal Help for Bench Warrants
The Nashville Bar Association can refer you to a criminal defense attorney. Several legal aid groups also serve Nashville and Davidson County. These groups help people who cannot afford a private lawyer.
The Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference coordinates all 31 district attorney offices across the state. The DA's office in Nashville handles bench warrant cases and can explain what to expect in court. They also run diversion programs that may help resolve outstanding bench warrants for certain offenses. If you need free legal help, the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee serves Nashville residents who qualify based on income. The Tennessee Court System website has self-help forms and guides for people handling their own cases.
The Tennessee Sheriff's Association keeps a directory of all 95 county sheriffs, including the Davidson County Sheriff. You can use this to find contact info for warrant divisions across the state if your Nashville bench warrant connects to another county.
Nashville Bench Warrant Records Access
Tennessee's Public Records Act, found at TCA § 10-7-503, gives all Tennessee residents the right to see public records. Bench warrants fall under this law. Government offices must respond to your request within 7 business days. You can look at records for free in person during normal hours. Copies cost about $0.15 per page for black and white. Color copies are $0.50 each.
The Davidson County Sheriff's Records Center at 610 W Due West Avenue in Madison is open Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. No appointment needed. You can also submit an online request form for inmate and booking records. Call 615-862-8123 any time for the 24/7 offender information line.
Note: Some bench warrant records may be sealed by court order, and juvenile cases are not released to the public.
Davidson County Bench Warrants
Nashville sits in Davidson County. All bench warrants for Nashville residents go through the Davidson County court system. The county sheriff handles warrant service and jail operations for the entire county. For full details on the county-level court system, fees, and additional search tools, visit the Davidson County bench warrants page.
Nearby Tennessee Cities
People in nearby cities may also need to check for bench warrants in their area. Each city below has its own page with local court and law enforcement details.