Wilson County Bench Warrant Search

Wilson County bench warrants are issued by judges in Lebanon when a person misses a court date or does not comply with a court order. The Wilson County Sheriff's Office at 105 South East Street in Lebanon handles bench warrant service and keeps records of all active warrants. Sheriff Terry Ashe leads the department. You can check for bench warrants through the sheriff's office, the online inmate roster, or by calling the courthouse. Wilson County courts process a large number of bench warrants each year for cases that range from traffic violations to felony charges. Lebanon, Mount Juliet, and other cities in Wilson County all fall under the county's bench warrant jurisdiction for county-level court cases.

Wilson County Sheriff Warrant Division

The Wilson County Sheriff's Office runs a warrant division responsible for serving bench warrants across the county. Sheriff Terry Ashe heads the department. The main office is at 105 South East Street in Lebanon. You can call (615) 444-1412 for general questions. The office handles warrant service, jail operations, court security, and criminal investigations for Wilson County.

The sheriff's office keeps an online inmate roster that shows who is currently in custody and what charges they face. If someone was picked up on a Wilson County bench warrant, the booking data shows up in the system quickly. The office also maintains a most wanted list and a sex offender registry. For warrant checks, you can call the office during business hours and provide a name and date of birth. Deputies serve warrants throughout Wilson County, covering Lebanon, Mount Juliet, Watertown, and all other communities.

The Wilson County Government website has links to county departments and services. You can also find some Wilson County court data through the Tennessee Public Court Records Portal, which lets you search by name or case number at no cost.

Bench Warrants in Wilson County Courts

Wilson County has a Circuit Court, a Criminal Court, and a General Sessions Court. The Criminal Court handles felony cases. The Circuit Court takes civil disputes, some criminal matters, and appeals. General Sessions covers misdemeanors, traffic violations, and small civil claims. Judges in all three courts can issue bench warrants when a person does not show up for a scheduled hearing or disobeys a court order.

The Wilson County court system processes a high volume of cases each year. Lebanon is a growing city, and Mount Juliet has seen rapid population growth as well. More people means more court cases and more bench warrants when people fail to appear. The Circuit Court Clerk in Wilson County keeps records for all higher court cases. General Sessions has its own clerk for lower-level proceedings. Both offices can provide copies of bench warrant documents.

Under TCA 39-16-609, failure to appear after release on bail is a Class A misdemeanor in Tennessee. Willful failure to appear can be charged as a Class E felony. A Class A misdemeanor penalty is up to 11 months and 29 days in jail and a $2,500 fine. A Class E felony can bring one to six years and up to $3,000 in fines. These charges are added to whatever the original Wilson County case involved.

Note: Wilson County shares the 15th Judicial District with several other counties, so court schedules and judges may overlap.

How to Search Wilson County Warrants

There are a few ways to check for bench warrants in Wilson County. The inmate roster on the sheriff's website shows current jail inmates and their charges. You can also call the sheriff's office at (615) 444-1412 and ask about a specific person. Give them a full name and date of birth for the best results.

The Tennessee Public Court Records Portal is a free online tool that covers Wilson County court data. Search by name or case number to find case details and see if a bench warrant has been issued. The Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts website also has court forms and procedures that apply to Wilson County.

For a statewide search, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation runs criminal history checks through TORIS for $29 per request. Results include arrests, convictions, and warrant data from all 95 Tennessee counties. This is useful if you want to check more than just Wilson County. You can also visit the Wilson County Courthouse in Lebanon to search records in person. Under TCA 10-7-503, court records are open to the public unless sealed. Copy fees are about $0.15 per page. Bring a valid ID with you.

Wilson County Warrant Laws

All bench warrants in Wilson County follow the Tennessee Rules of Criminal Procedure. Rule 4 requires a valid warrant to include the person's name, the reason for the warrant, and the signature of the issuing judge. Circuit Court, Criminal Court, and General Sessions judges in Wilson County all have the authority to issue bench warrants.

Under TCA 40-6-206, misdemeanor warrants expire after five years if they go unserved. Felony bench warrants do not expire. They remain active until the person is arrested or the judge recalls the warrant. With Wilson County's growing population, the number of active bench warrants tends to be higher than in smaller counties. A bench warrant from years ago can still result in an arrest during a routine traffic stop or checkpoint.

If you learn you have a bench warrant in Wilson County, consult a lawyer right away. An attorney can sometimes set up a voluntary surrender or get the court to schedule a new hearing date. Handling the warrant before it catches up to you is always better than getting arrested unexpectedly.

Wilson County Court Resources

The Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference coordinates prosecutors in the 15th Judicial District, which includes Wilson County. The district attorney handles failure to appear cases and bench warrant prosecutions. Contact information is available through their website.

Lebanon has its own police department and municipal court. The Lebanon Police Department is at 201 East Main Street in Lebanon. Phone is (615) 444-2323. Bench warrants from the Lebanon Municipal Court are separate from Wilson County bench warrants. If you are not sure which court issued a warrant, check with both the county clerk and the municipal court.

The Tennessee State Library and Archives holds historical court records for Wilson County. These include court minutes, case files, and old warrant documents on microfilm. The archives in Nashville are open to researchers and can be reached through interlibrary loan as well.

Cities in Wilson County

Wilson County includes Lebanon, Mount Juliet, Watertown, and other communities. Lebanon is the county seat and home to the main courthouse. Mount Juliet is one of the fastest-growing cities in Tennessee. All county-level bench warrants apply throughout Wilson County regardless of which city you live in.

Lebanon and Mount Juliet are the largest cities in Wilson County. Bench warrants from the county courts are served in all cities by the Wilson County Sheriff's Office.

Nearby Counties

Wilson County is east of Nashville in Middle Tennessee. If you need to check on a bench warrant from a neighboring county, contact that county's court directly. Warrants must be resolved in the county that issued them.

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