HARDEMAN COUNTY PUBLIC RECORDS

What are Hardeman County Public Records?

Per Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-503 (a)(1)(A)(i), Hardeman County is required to grant access to records of government bodies. Public records in Hardeman County include vital records such as birth and death records, deeds, probate files, property records, mortgages, liens, judgments, marriage licenses, voter registration information, payroll records of public employees, and military discharges.

Records excluded from public disclosure in Hardeman County include those that:

• Contain personally identifiable information that endangers an individual's life or safety
• Identify a confidential informant
• Pertain to reports and files of proceedings relating to juvenile court
• Contain information regarding child abuse or sexual abuse involving children
• Carry foster care information
• Are the personal property of the custodian

Requests to view public records may be made in person, by telephone, fax, or mail. Sometimes, the governmental entity will provide email and online request methods.

Requests for copies of public records submitted to governmental entities may be made:

• In writing;
• With a form that complies with the county's standard;
• With a form created by the Office of Open Records Counsel (OORC)

A requestor may need to pay a records custodian the reasonable costs incurred in producing the requested material. The records custodian assesses these costs according to the directives of the Office of Open Records Counsel.

In addition to government agencies, some public records may also be accessible from third-party websites. These non-government platforms come with intuitive tools that allow for expansive searches. Record seekers may either opt to use these tools to search for a specific record or multiple records. However, users will need to provide enough information to assist with the search such as:

• The name of the subject involved in the record (subject must be older than 18 or not juvenile)
• The address of the requestor
• A case number or file number (if known)
• The location of the document or person involved
• The last known or current address of the registrant

Third-party sites are not sponsored by government agencies. Because of this, record availability and results may vary.

Hardeman County Crime Statistics

Hardeman County crime statistics are captured in the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's (TBI) annual crime reports, which provide an overall picture of crime in the State of Tennessee using data submitted by state and local law enforcement agencies.

Criminal offenses reported by the TBI are typically categorized into Group A, B, and Domestic Violence offenses. Group A offenses represent offenses perpetrated in Hardeman County within a particular calendar year. This includes crimes against persons (e.g., assault), crimes against property (e.g., larceny), and crimes against society (e.g., animal cruelty). Meanwhile, the Group B offense category is used to report arrest statistics.

According to the TBI's 2021 crime statistics, Hardeman County reported 744 Group A offenses. In the crimes against persons category, the crime with the highest occurrences in the county was aggravated assault at 117 incidences, followed by simple assault (81) and intimidation (38). In the crimes against property group, the most recurrent crime was vandalism at 69 incidences, followed by motor vehicle theft (40) and burglary (38). Lastly, more people committed drug/narcotics violations (101) and weapons law violations (45) than other offenses in the crimes against society group.

Compared to the TBI's 2020 crime report, where 515 Group A offenses were reported by county law enforcement, crime in Hardeman County increased by 44.5% in 2021.

Are Hardeman County Criminal Records Public?

Yes. Hardeman County criminal records are public records, except records protected by court order or the law. For example, juvenile offender information. Hardeman County criminal records include details of an individual's arrests, warrants, criminal charges, convictions, physical description, and so on. Essentially, all individual interactions with the criminal justice system in Hardeman County are captured in Hardeman County criminal records.

How to Obtain Hardeman County Police Reports and Arrest Records?

Members of the public can obtain Hardeman County police reports and arrest records from the Hardeman County Sheriff's Office. The records contain information on the facts, timelines, and circumstances of criminal incidents and arrests. Below is the county sheriff's address:

Hardeman County Sheriff's Office
505 South Main Street
Bolivar, TN 38008
Phone: (731) 658-3971

How to Find Sex Offender Information in Hardeman County

Sex offender information from Hardeman County, Tennessee, can be obtained from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's sex offender registry. Individuals can search the registry using an offender's name, alias, address, city, county, zip code, offender ID, offender classification, registry status, or offense. Searches can be refined by increasing or reducing the number of search parameters, as the system allows up to eight search terms at once. For more information or inquiries, a person can contact the unit that maintains the registry at (888) 837-4170 or tbisormgr@tn.gov.

Note that the registry contains what the sex offender provides during the registration process, and this information can be altered if the offender's circumstances change. For example, if the offender moves to a new address. Also, law enforcement agencies can update any false or incomplete information.

How to Find Hardeman County Inmate Records

The county sheriff's office generates Hardeman County inmate records. Thus, requesters can find these records on the sheriff's bookings reports site. The site displays current inmate records and is updated weekly.

How Do I Visit an Inmate in Hardeman County Jail?

People who want to visit an inmate in Hardeman County can review the county sheriff's Visitation Rules online or call the sheriff's office at (731) 228-3016 for visitation information. Generally, visits to the Hardeman County jail are based on an inmate's application and the jail administrator's approval. Any intending visitor must be placed on the inmate's approved visitor list to be allowed into the Hardeman County jail during the established visitation hours.

Court Records

Hardeman County is home to four courts: the Chancery, Circuit, General Sessions, and Juvenile Courts.

The Hardeman County Chancery Court has jurisdiction over divorces, commitments, adoptions, boundary disputes, worker's compensation, contracts, partition suits, name changes, child support, probate matters, and domestic matters. The Chancery Court Clerk has the responsibility of maintaining all chancery records.

Hardeman County Chancery Court
Hardeman County Courthouse
P.O. Box 45
Bolivar, TN 38008
Phone: (731) 658-3142
Fax: (731) 658-4580

The Hardeman County Circuit Court is a general jurisdiction court and court of record. It hears criminal cases, civil cases, and appeals from the lower courts (Juvenile, General Sessions, and Municipal Courts). Specifically, the county circuit court handles misdemeanor and felony criminal cases, civil cases over $25,000, post-convictions, garnishments, foreign judgments, condemnations, hospital liens, executions, and restoration of citizenship.

The Hardeman County General Sessions Court is the first court that most criminal defendants and civil litigants encounter. The court has jurisdiction over evictions, civil lawsuits below $25,000, felony preliminary trials, traffic citations, orders of protection, and criminal misdemeanors.

The Hardeman County Juvenile Court is a branch of the General Sessions Court established to handle juvenile matters that arise within the county. This includes civil, criminal, custody, child support, and dependent neglect cases.

Hardeman County's circuit, general sessions, and juvenile courts are located at the following address:

Hardeman County CJC
505 South Main Street, Suite A
Bolivar, TN 38008
Phone: (731) 658-6524

Besides the four trial courts that handle judicial proceedings in Hardeman County, the county also has municipal (city) courts that handle violations of municipal ordinances and minor traffic violations. They include:

Bolivar Municipal Court
211 West Jackson Street
Bolivar, TN 38008
Phone: (731) 658-4284
Fax: (731) 658-4725

Grand Junction City Court
City Hall
150 North Tippah
P.O. Box 129
Grand Junction, TN 38039
Phone: (731) 764-2871
Fax: ((731) 764-6222

Whiteville City Traffic Court
151 West Main Street
Whiteville, TN 38075
Phone: (731) 254-9450

Are Hardeman County Court Records Public?

Yes. Hardeman County court records are public records that interested individuals can request from the court's record custodian's office: the clerk of court. However, some information may be redacted, or a record may be withheld from public disclosure if it contains confidential or sensitive information. An example of such a record is a juvenile record that only certain parties can access, including:

• The judge, officers, and professional court officials;
• The parties involved in a case and their legal counsel or representatives;
• A public or private entity that has been ordered by the court to have custody of or supervise a child;
• A court, court official or professional staff, and a defendant's attorney when the record will be used to prepare a presentence report in a criminal case where the defendant is found guilty and was previously a party to a juvenile court action;
• Any other entity with a legitimate interest in a court proceeding or work of the court.

How to Obtain Hardeman County Civil Court Case Records

Hardeman County civil court case records contain information about civil matters or disputes handled by the county's civil courts. Interested persons may talk to the clerk of the court where a case was tried to obtain its civil court case record. This may be the Hardeman County Circuit Court Clerk or Chancery Court Clerk.

Typically, the clerk's office does not charge a fee to inspect a civil court case record. However, fees apply to obtain copies of court records. These fees may be waived in certain situations. For example, if the copy request is from a government agency or an indigent person.

How to Obtain Hardeman County Criminal Court Records

Criminal court case records are files generated from criminal cases, including juvenile criminal court records released under special conditions. Hardeman County criminal court records can be obtained from the Circuit Court Clerk. The clerk may charge a fee to reproduce a criminal court record.

What are Hardeman County Vital Records?

Hardeman County vital records are documentation of people's life events preserved by authorities. These include birth, marriage, divorce, and death records. The County Clerk, Court Clerks, County Health Department, Tennessee Office of Vital Records, and State of Tennessee Library and Archives all serve (in one capacity or the other) as the record custodians of Hardeman County vital records.

Where and How to Obtain Hardeman County Divorce Records

Individuals can obtain Hardeman County divorce records from the clerk of the court where the divorce was granted. Requests for Hardeman County divorce records can also be sent to the Tennessee Office of Vital Records via the Application For Certified Copy of Certificate of Divorce or Annulment form. The state office of vital records disseminates certificates of divorces recorded within the past 50 years.

Generally, the Office of Vital Records only issues certified copies of divorce certificates to the following persons:

• The divorcees
• A parent, legal guardian, or child of the person named on the certificate.
• A person acting as an authorized representative of the people mentioned above

Nevertheless, the public can submit the Verification of Divorce or Annulment Facts form to the vital records office to obtain an information copy of a divorce certificate.

Whether retrieving a certified or informational copy of a divorce record, a requester must pay a $15 fee to the vital records office. For a certified copy, the sum covers the search plus one copy furnished to the requester. Meanwhile, for an informational copy, the $15 covers only a one-year search (each additional year costs $15).

Older divorce records (records older than 50 years) may be obtained from the Tennessee Library and Archives or from the court clerk where the divorce was approved.

Where and How to Get Public Hardeman County Marriage Records

Hardeman County marriage records include marriage licenses, marriage certificates, and other related records of marriages registered in the county. Public marriage records can be retrieved from the Hardeman County Clerk or by submitting a Verification of Marriage Facts form to the state vital records office. It costs $15 to search each year of divorce at the vital records office.

However, if a marriage record is older than 50 years, the interested person should contact the Tennessee State Library and Archives.

Where and How to Get Confidential Marriage Records in Hardeman County

Hardeman County confidential marriage certificates are only released to the subjects, their legal representatives, or immediate family members. A marriage certificate is a legal document stating the spouses' names, the event's date, and where the marriage took place.

To get a confidential Hardeman County marriage record, qualified persons may apply to the state Office of Vital Records or query the county clerk for the record.

Note: after 50 years, confidential Hardeman County marriage records become public information and can be accessed at the Tennessee State Library and Archives.

Where and How to Find Hardeman County Birth Records

Hardeman County birth records provide information on births that occurred within the county. The public can get a copy of a Hardeman County birth record from the county health department or state vital records office. Either way, a requester must submit a document titled Application for Verification of Birth Facts for $15. Information that should be provided in the document includes:

1. Name of child at birth
2. Father's name (if named on the record)
3. Mother's name (where the father is not named)

Other information to be supplied if known by the requester is the registrant's full name at birth, date of birth, gender, city or county of birth, mother's full maiden name, and father's full name. These allow for a more precise search.

On the other hand, individuals who qualify to obtain certified copies of Hardeman County birth records (i.e., the person named therein, a spouse, child, legal guardian, parent, or legal representative) can submit a birth record application to the vital records office. Available submission channels include online, in person at a local or state vital records office, and by mail. Each request costs $15.

Note that the vital records office may require a requester to provide a form of identification, which can include:

• A photocopy of a government-issued identification card carrying the signature of the requester
• A notarized birth record application
• The mother's copy of the birth certificate (issued at the time of birth) may be used when requesting a newborn's birth certificate. The certificate must be dated within the last two years.

If these documents are not available, the requestor can use other ID requirements for alternatives.

Also, requesters should note that birth records maintained by the vital record offices are less than 100 years old. Records above the 100-year mark are available at the state Library and Archives.

Where and How to Find Hardeman County Death Records

Individuals can request Hardeman County death records from the following agencies:

• The Hardeman County Health Department
• The Tennessee Office of Vital Records, Department of Health
• The Tennessee State Library and Archives (applicable to death records older than 50 years).

The public can obtain non-certified death records with the cause of death excluded by submitting a Verification of Death Facts form. Meanwhile, qualified applicants (the decedent's spouse, parent, child, or an attorney/agency representing the decedent's estate or eligible family member) can request certified copies. Such parties are also authorized to obtain the decedent's cause of death.

Note that each death record request to the county health department or office of vital records costs $15. All requesters must pay this fee and submit acceptable identification to obtain death records.