Shelby County Bench Warrant Search
Shelby County bench warrants can be searched online through the Sheriff's Office Warrant Information System. The sheriff runs an online database that is updated every hour with active and outstanding warrants. You can search by first name, last name, or street address. Shelby County is the largest county in Tennessee with over 937,000 residents and handles a massive volume of bench warrants through its courts in Memphis. Sheriff Floyd Bonner Jr. leads the department from the office at 201 Poplar Avenue.
Shelby County Quick Facts
Shelby County Sheriff Warrant System
The Shelby County Sheriff's Office has one of the most complete online warrant search tools in Tennessee. The Warrant Information System lets you look up people with active or outstanding warrants. You search by first and last name or by street number and street name. The database gets updated every hour. The Fugitive Bureau handles warrant inquiries at 901-222-5627.
The sheriff's office uses the W.A.S.P. (Warrant Apprehension System Program) to give officers access to criminal history, driver's license data, photos, and warrant information. The office also runs a Mid-South Most Wanted list. If you see someone on the list, call Crime Stoppers at 901-528-CASH (2274). Do not try to arrest or detain anyone on the warrant list yourself. Some people on the list may be armed.
The Shelby County Sheriff main site through the county government portal has additional information about the department. Inmate lookup is available through the SCDC Inmate Records system. You can search by name, date of birth, or booking number. The results show charges, booking photos, and bond amounts.
| Office |
Shelby County Sheriff's Office 201 Poplar Avenue, Suite 902 Memphis, TN 38103 Phone: (901) 222-5500 |
|---|---|
| Warrants | Fugitive Bureau: (901) 222-5627 |
| Website | shelby-sheriff.org |
Bench Warrants in Shelby County Courts
The Shelby County General Sessions Court handles about 100,000 cases each year. This includes misdemeanors, preliminary hearings for felonies, traffic violations, and environmental violations. The Criminal Justice System (CJS) Portal gives free online access to criminal records. You need to register to use the portal. Search by defendant's name and case number. Results show arrest dates, charges filed, and sentencing details.
The Criminal Court Clerk at 201 Poplar Avenue, Suite 3034, handles felony criminal cases. Call (901) 222-3200 for questions. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The Circuit Court uses a Court Connect portal for online case inquiry. You can search by case party name or case identification number.
Under TCA 39-16-609, failing to appear after release on bail is a Class A misdemeanor. Willful failure to appear can be a Class E felony. The Shelby County jail books an average of 56,000 people per year, with a daily population of around 2,000 inmates.
Shelby County Jail and Inmate Records
The Shelby County Jail system has a men's facility at 201 Poplar Avenue and a women's facility in East Memphis. The inmate lookup system lets you search by name, date of birth, booking number, permanent number, or state ID. Results include the person's name, booking number, photo, charges, offense type, arresting agency, and court dates.
If someone is picked up on a bench warrant in Shelby County, the booking data goes into the system right away. Memphis Police Department arrests are all housed at the Shelby County Jail. You can search for recent bookings to see if someone was brought in on a bench warrant. The jail roster updates every hour.
Note: The sheriff's office cannot guarantee the accuracy of warrant information at the time of use; some warrants may have been resolved.
Shelby County Court Resources
The Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts oversees the state court system. The Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference works with prosecutors in the 30th Judicial District that serves Shelby County. Collierville Municipal Court at 101 Walnut Street handles city ordinance violations for that part of the county.
Shelby County covers 785 square miles. Public records requests can be made in person, by mail, or by fax through the County Attorney at 160 N. Main Street, Suite 850, Memphis. Call 901-222-2050 for questions. Under TCA 40-6-206, misdemeanor warrants expire after five years if not served. Felony bench warrants do not expire.
Cities in Shelby County
Shelby County includes Memphis, Bartlett, Collierville, Germantown, and several smaller cities. Bench warrants for Shelby County residents are handled through the county courts and sheriff's office in Memphis.
Memphis is the county seat and the largest city in Tennessee. All bench warrants issued by Shelby County courts cover the entire county.
Nearby Counties
Shelby County sits at the western edge of Tennessee. If you are not sure where a bench warrant was issued, check with the court in the county where the case was filed.