FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT DOES THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY DO?
District Attorney Neal Pinkston and his assistants prosecute all criminal cases in Hamilton County, including Chattanooga and other municipalities.
CAN YOU GIVE ME LEGAL ADVICE?
No. Prosecutors are legally and ethically prohibited from answering legal questions or offering legal advice.
Where is the District Attorney's office?
WHERE IS COURT?
General Sessions courtrooms are on the second floor of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Courts Building. Criminal courtrooms are on the third floor.
HOW DO I FIND OUT WHAT CHARGES HAVE BEEN FILED AGAINST A DEFENDANT?
Information on criminal charges can be found on the Hamilton County Court System's website, located here.
HOW DO I FIND A DEFENDANT'S COURT DATE?
Court dockets can be found on the Hamilton County Court System's website, located here.
Future court dates for specific defendants can be found by searching the General Sessions database and/or the Criminal Court database.
Future court dates for specific defendants can be found by searching the General Sessions database and/or the Criminal Court database.
HOW CAN I GET A COPY OF A CASE FILE?
Case files are kept by the the General Sessions Court Clerk and the Criminal Court Clerk. Both offices are located on the first floor of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Courts Building. For specific information on the process of reviewing case files and the costs of copying case files, call the court clerks directly at 423-209-7600 (General Sessions) or 423-209-7500 (Criminal Court).
HOW DO I GET AN OLD CRIMINAL CHARGE EXPUNGED FROM MY RECORD?
Only certain crimes are eligible for expunction; they must be non-violent, non-DUI and non-sexual crimes. Most misdemeanors and some Class E felonies are eligible for expunction, including forgery, theft and vandalism, among others. You can find more information under the Expungement section on our Links page.
CAN I MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO MEET WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY?
Yes. But many times, questions can be better answered by the prosecutor specifically assigned to a case. Our staff can help put you in touch with the right person for your situation. You can reach us at 423-209-7400 or by email.
