What are Hardin County Public Records?
According to the Tennessee Public Records Act, public records include documents, papers, letters, books, photographs, maps, microfilms, audio, audio-visuals, films, sound recordings, and other materials, irrespective of their physical features, developed or received by a governmental entity in compliance with the law or while performing official business.
The Act ensures accountability and transparency in government by mandating public offices to provide citizens with the records in their custody. However, it exempts certain records from public viewing.
According to a publication released in 2018 by the Office of Open Records Counsel, a division within the Tennessee Treasury office, there are over 538 exceptions to the Tennessee Public Records Act. Some include:
- Disability claims
- Records of nonprofits and associations
- Personal information relating to property alert services
- Personal identifying information on arrest records
- Photographs of minors
- Personal identifying information on driver's licenses
- Personal information on juvenile records
- Fatal accident reports subject to an ongoing investigation or a court order requiring confidentiality
- Tax information
- Medical records of people treated in state or local government hospitals
Apart from the records exempted by law, records custodians in Hardin County are required to promptly make any requested public record available for inspection. Where the records cannot be provided immediately, the custodian must make the information available within seven business days.
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.
Hardin County Crime Statistics
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) publishes annual crime statistics for Hardin County. These statistics are compiled through local law enforcement agencies such as the Hardin County sheriff's office, police departments, and university and college law enforcement agencies.
According to the TBI's 2020 report, Hardin County recorded 826 criminal offenses. The leading crime category, amounting to 555 offenses, was the crimes against property category, which featured offenses such as theft, burglary, arson, and fraud. This was followed by the crimes against people category (murder, rape, assault), which recorded 199 offenses, and then the crimes against society category at 72 criminal incidents.
In 2020, the most prominent offense in Hardin County was theft, which accounted for 306 of the total 826 offenses. The county also recorded 699 arrests, which comprised 59 juveniles and 640 adults.
Are Hardin County Criminal Records Public?
Yes. Hardin County criminal records are classified as public records and may be accessed by citizens of Tennessee. However, not all records of criminal offenses are provided to the public.
Under the Tennessee Public Records Act, juvenile records are sealed from public inspection. Photographs of minors, fatal accidents, and coroner's reports are also restricted. These records may only be accessed by specific department officials or people directly involved in the case.
How to Obtain Hardin County Police Reports and Arrest Records?
In Hardin County, arrest records may be obtained from the Hardin County Sheriff's Department and city police departments. Below is the sheriff's address:
Hardin County Sheriff's Department
525 Water Street
Savannah, TN 38372
Another way to obtain Hardin County arrest records is through the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's Open Records Information Services (TORIS) system. However, a requester may need to pay a fee per search.
How to Find Sex Offender Information in Hardin County
To find sex offender information in Hardin County, an individual should visit the Tennessee Sex Offender Registry web portal and search using any of the following parameters:
- Name
- Alias
- Address
- City
- County
- Zip code
- Offender ID/classification
- Offense or registry status
It is recommended that the requester enter more than one parameter to constrain the search to the relevant results.
Search results typically show an offender's full name, photograph, status, offense details, physical description, and registration details.
Sometimes, one may not find a sex offender record on the TBI database. This may happen if the offender moves to another state and the data is transferred to the resident state's registry. In that case, the requester will need to search the state's sex offender registry or, better yet, contact Hardin County Sheriff's Office for more information.
How to Find Hardin County Inmate Records
The Hardin County Sheriff's Department maintains inmate records in the county, i.e., information about inmates incarcerated in the county jail. To look up these records, interested parties should contact the office at (731) 925-337 or visit the sheriff's office during regular working hours.
Another way to obtain information about a Hardin County inmate is to search the Statewide Automated Victim Information Notification (TN SAVIN). Registering on SAVIN with a phone number or email address allows crime victims and other interested citizens to be notified when the custody status of an inmate changes. Interested persons can register via telephone by calling (888) 868-4631. They can also visit the county sheriff's Inmate Information page for other registration options.
How Do I Visit an Inmate in Hardin County Jail?
Individuals can visit a Hardin County Jail inmate remotely or in person. However, the inmate must schedule each visit through an organization known as the City Tele-Coin Company, as the sheriff prohibits unscheduled visits. Inmates are only allowed one 1-hour visit per week with a maximum of three visitors.
For more information on visiting an inmate in the Hardin County Jail, interested parties should check the visitation page on the sheriff's website.
Court Records
Five courts make up Hardin County's trial court system: the Circuit Court, Chancery Court, General Sessions Court, Juvenile Court, and Municipal Courts. These courts are further grouped into general jurisdiction and limited jurisdiction courts.
Hardin County Circuit Court
The circuit court has the greatest jurisdiction over cases filed in Hardin County. The court presides over all civil and criminal litigation. It also shares jurisdiction over certain types of cases with the other courts. Also, where there is ambiguity over which court has authority to hear a case, such a case will be heard in the circuit court.
Hardin County Chancery Court
The chancery court has exclusive jurisdiction over most cases of an equitable nature. It solely handles cases filed by the state against corporations and lawsuits involving disputes over land boundaries. At times, the chancery court shares jurisdiction with the circuit court over probate hearings, divorces, adoptions, the appointment of trustees, change of name, and more.
Hardin County General Session Court
The general sessions court presides over particular civil and criminal cases. The court's criminal jurisdiction is restricted to preliminary hearings in felony cases, preliminary hearings and trials in misdemeanor cases, traffic violations, and violations of county ordinances. Meanwhile, the court's civil jurisdiction is limited to certain monetary damages and types of actions, including:
- Civil cases not above $25,000 in damages, except forcible entry and detainer cases, actions to recover personal property, and alternative money judgments, in which the court has unlimited original jurisdiction.
- Issuing restraining orders and the authority to impose penalties for restraining order violations
Hardin County Juvenile Court
While criminal matters involving adults may be handled by the general sessions or circuit courts, the juvenile court has exclusive control over cases involving persons under 18. This includes juvenile dependency, child abuse and neglect, minors alleged to be boisterous, juvenile traffic offenses, and judicial consent to employment or military enlistment.
The juvenile court operates as a division of the general sessions court, and both courts are led by the same judge.
Hardin County Municipal Courts
A municipal court, also known as a city court, presides over most municipal ordinance violations. It also handles specific criminal cases involving state law (e.g., driving without a license, reckless driving, and underage alcohol offenses). Still, these cases may also be subject to the jurisdiction of the county's general sessions court.
Locations of Hardin County Courthouses
Hardin County Circuit Court, General Sessions Court, Juvenile Court
Courthouse
2nd Floor
465 Main Street
Savannah, TN 38372
Phone: (731) 925-1000
Hardin County Chancery Court
Courthouse
2nd Floor
465 Main Street
Savannah, TN 38372
Phone: (731) 925-8166
Locations of Municipal Courts in Hardin County
Crump City Court
3020 Highway 64
P.O. Box 88
Crump, TN 38327
Phone: (731) 632-4224
Fax: (731) 632-0644
Saltillo City Court
City Hall
P.O. Box 7888
Saltillo, TN 38370
Phone: (731) 687-3292
Savannah City Court
Main Street, 140
Savannah, Tennessee 38372
Phone: (731) 925-4989
Fax: (731) 926-1130
Are Hardin County Court Records Public?
Yes. Hardin County court records include documents, transcripts, recordings, and other files associated with criminal or civil proceedings held in Hardin County. Except as otherwise stated, these records may be accessed by the public.
The court may block access to certain court records when it considers the information too sensitive for public disclosure. In these cases, unless the requester is authorized by court order or law, they cannot access such documents. Similarly, an individual involved in a case may apply to the court to seal the record. If the court approves the request, the record cannot be accessed unless the court allows it.
To look up or obtain Hardin County court records, the requesting party may contact the clerk of the court that presided over the case.
How to Obtain Hardin County Civil Court Case Records
The clerks of the chancery and circuit courts in Hardin County maintain civil court case records, and part of their duties involves providing these records for inspection to members of the public. As such, interested persons may contact the chancery court clerk and master or circuit court clerk or stop by the applicable clerk's office to obtain Hardin County civil court case records.
Individuals may also use the Tennessee public case search tool to search for Hardin County civil case records online.
How to Obtain Hardin County Criminal Court Records
The circuit court clerk is the official custodian of criminal court case records in Hardin County. Interested persons may call this office at (731) 925–3583 or stop by to obtain criminal court records.
What are Hardin County Vital Records?
Hardin County vital records are documents relating to significant events or highlights in a person's life. These records include birth and death, marriage, and divorce records. Vital records are classified as public records in Hardin County, except as otherwise provided.
County government agencies such as the local health department, county clerk's office, and circuit court maintain Hardin County vital records. However, Tennessee law authorizes the Office of Vital Records to maintain and issue records of births, deaths, marriages, and divorces that happened in Tennessee. Hence, vital records from Hardin County can also be accessed through the Vital Records Office.
Where and How to Obtain Hardin County Divorce Records
Divorce records are legal documents that show two people terminated their marital union. The records include the divorce petition papers, divorce decrees, and divorce certificates - essentially, all records created because of divorce proceedings.
Under the Tennessee Public Records Act, Hardin County divorce records are public records, but some information is restricted from public access. For instance, records about minors may be sealed.
Hardin County divorce records can be obtained from the county circuit court and the Tennessee Office of Vital Records. The Vital Records Office provides certified copies of Hardin County divorce records to the divorcees, their close relatives, and authorized persons. However, the office only provides records dating back 50 years from the present date. Parties may visit the county circuit court for older records.
To obtain a Hardin County divorce record or divorce certificate from the Vital Records Office, one must complete an application form and submit it with a fee of $15 per copy. Below is the relevant address:
Tennessee Vital Records Office
Andrew Johnson Tower, 1st Floor
710 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37243
Where and How to Get Public Hardin County Marriage Records
A marriage record is an official document that proves two people are legally wedded. Generally, whereas records of marriage licenses are accessible to the public in Hardin County, certificates are only available to the spouses and other approved parties.
Marriage records from 1970 to the present are kept and maintained by the Tennessee Office of Vital Records, but only those directly related to the record owner (a spouse, child, etc.) can request a marriage certificate for $15. The public can only request a transcript to verify marriage facts.
Asides from the Vital Records Office, interested parties can obtain Hardin County marriage records from the county clerk.
Where and How to Get Confidential Marriage Records in Hardin County
In Hardin County, Tennessee, marriage records are not always available to the public. Some marriage records, like those maintained by the Tennessee Office of Vital Records, have confidential access. This means that only authorized persons can obtain them. However, older marriage records, informational copies, and non-certified copies are typically available to residents at the applicable government agencies.
Where and How to Find Hardin County Birth Records
Birth records are official documents that contain details about an individual's birth. These records are useful for various purposes, including school enrollment, applying for a driver's license, and obtaining health insurance policies.
In Hardin County, birth records from January 1919 are available through the state Vital Records Office. However, only the certificate owner, close relatives like a spouse, child, legal guardian, parents, or their legal representatives may request copies of birth certificates less than 100 years old. These persons must submit a valid form of identification (such as a driver's license, state-issued ID card, or work ID), a signed application form, and a $15 fee per copy to obtain the records.
Individuals may send birth record requests to the Tennessee Vital Records Office or Hardin County Health Department at the address below:
Hardin County Health Department
1920 Pickwick Street
Savannah, TN 38372
Where and How to Find Hardin County Death Records
A Hardin County death record indicates an individual's cause, date, and place of death. These records are classified into two types: certified and non-certified.
To obtain a certified copy of a Hardin County death record, the requester must be an immediate relative of the deceased person. Certified copies may be released with or without cause of death, depending on the reason(s) for the request. Non-certified copies, however, are available to the public.
Each copy of a Hardin County death record costs $15 to acquire. Along with this fee, requesters must submit a completed and signed request form and a valid photo identification asserting the requester's relationship with the deceased. These items may be submitted to the Tennessee Vital Records Office or the Hardin County Health Department.
