I Have a Warrant in Sumner County: What Should I Do?

kyleneross

30 minutes ago

4 min read

If you have a warrant in Sumner County, do not ignore it and do not wait to be stopped. Call a criminal defense lawyer, confirm what the warrant is for, and plan to turn yourself in with bond arranged. A warrant does not go away on its own, and a missed court date can become a new criminal charge.

How warrants work in Sumner County

An arrest warrant is a court order to arrest you on a charge. In Sumner County, judicial commissioners review sworn complaints, decide whether there is probable cause, issue arrest warrants, and set bonds and release conditions. The county says they provide these services around the clock, including nights, weekends and holidays. Copies of warrants go to the District Attorney, the Sheriff's Office warrants division and the General Sessions criminal clerk.

After an arrest on a warrant, you must be taken "without unnecessary delay" before a magistrate in the county that issued it (Tenn. R. Crim. P. 5). Your case then starts in Sumner County General Sessions Court, 155 East Main Street, Gallatin.

Capias vs. arrest warrant

A capias is also an order to arrest you, but it usually comes from a different stage of the case:

Arrest warrant: starts a case, based on a sworn complaint, usually before any court date.
Capias on an indictment: issued after a grand jury indicts you, so the case is already in Sumner County Criminal Court. Tennessee Rule of Criminal Procedure 9 governs a capias or summons issued on an indictment or presentment. An arrest on this kind of capias is handled differently from an ordinary arrest warrant (Tenn. R. Crim. P. 5).

Warrants can also come from a missed court date or an alleged probation violation. If yours is a probation violation warrant, see our probation violation page.

Why you should turn yourself in with a lawyer

You control the timing. You can arrange child care, work and money for bond, instead of being picked up at work or during a traffic stop.
Bond can be planned. Tennessee law says everyone charged with a non-capital crime is entitled to bail before trial (Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-11-102). A lawyer can find out the bond amount and conditions ahead of time where possible.
It shows the court you are taking the case seriously. That can matter when a judge looks at your bond or release conditions later.
You avoid talking about the case. Your lawyer can make sure you do not answer questions about the charge without advice.

The Sumner County Sheriff's Office and jail are at 117 W. Smith Street, Gallatin.

Talk to a Lawyer Today

Call (615) 997-7618 to talk with Kylene Ross or Chloe Hawes about your situation. Arrested after hours? Send us a message and we are notified right away.

What to bring and expect

A photo ID.
Money or a plan for bond (cash, or a bonding company).
A list of medications you take.
Your lawyer's name and phone number, written down.

Expect booking: fingerprints, photos and paperwork. After release, your bond papers list your court date and conditions. Follow every condition.

If the warrant is for a missed court date

Missing court is serious in Tennessee:

It is a separate crime. Knowingly failing to appear after being released on bond, given a citation or served with a criminal summons is a Class A misdemeanor (Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-16-609).
The sentence stacks. Any sentence for failure to appear must be served consecutively to (after) the sentence for the original charge (§ 39-16-609).
There is a defense. The statute allows a defense if you had a "reasonable excuse" for missing court. Hospital records or proof you were in custody somewhere else can matter.
Your bond is at risk. When you miss court, the court can enter a conditional judgment against you and anyone who signed your bond (Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-11-201). The statute limits forfeiture when a doctor's statement shows a disability kept you away, or when you were in custody.
A missed preliminary hearing on a felony waives your right to that hearing unless, within 14 days, you show by clear and convincing evidence that your absence was beyond your control (Tenn. R. Crim. P. 5).

Handle it fast. The longer a failure-to-appear warrant sits, the harder it is to explain.

What not to do

Do not run or hide. Knowingly hiding to avoid prosecution or a court appearance is also covered by the failure-to-appear law (§ 39-16-609).
Do not call the officer or the alleged victim to talk about the case.
Do not post about it online.

How to check for a warrant

For Sumner County General Sessions criminal matters, the Circuit Court Clerk lists (615) 452-4367, extension 2, weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A lawyer can also check for you and find out the charge, the bond and the court date before you walk in.

How we can help

Kylene Ross and Chloe Hawes help people in Sumner County and nearby counties handle warrants the right way: confirming the charge, planning the surrender and bond, and appearing with you in General Sessions or Criminal Court. See our criminal defense services, our police custody page, and our General Sessions court guide.

Ready to Talk?