Knox County, located in eastern Tennessee,is home to around 481,400 residents. The county is the third-most populous in Tennessee. Knox County's economy is driven by tourism, healthcare, aerospace, and manufacturing. The major cities and towns in the county include Knoxville (county seat) and Farragut.
Knox County's average violent and property crime rates are 459.1 and 914 per 100,000 residents, respectively. The average violent crime rate is 26.2% above the national average, while the property crime average is about 52% below the national average.
The primary law enforcement agency in the county is the Knox County Sheriff's Office(KCSO). The KCSOoversees the county jail, serves as the county's main law enforcement agency, and ensures public safety.
The Knox County Sheriff's Office maintains arrest records, including jail bookings, inmate release data, and most county-level warrant information. Other law enforcement agencies, such as city police, state troopers, and federal agents, assist the sheriff in enforcing the law. These agencies also make arrests and generate their incident reports. Although they generate their report, they still share it with the Sheriff's Office.
Knox County has several law enforcement agencies, including the county sheriff and city police departments. Other agencies include university and campus police departments, as well as federal law enforcement.
The Knox County Sheriff's Office is the most comprehensive source for county-level arrest logs and jail rosters. The county sheriff's office manages:
Local police departments operate in Knox County, including the City of Knoxville. The city police conduct the arrest. Individuals are typically booked into the Knox County jail, where their records are handled by the Sheriff's Office.
Local police departments handle arrests within their municipal limits and maintain their own arrest or incident reports.
State police or the Tennessee Highway Patrol may conduct highway stops or investigate statewide or interjurisdictional crimes. If an arrest occurs in Knox County, the person is often booked into the county jail, and the records may appear in county logs.
Federal agencies such as the FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Border Patrol, and Homeland Security may investigate and arrest for violations of federal laws and regulations. These offenses include terrorism, drug trafficking, immigration, and cybercrime. Note that federal arrests typically do not show up in county records unless the individual is temporarily housed in the Knox County jail.
The University of Tennessee has campus police who handle on-campus incidents and can make arrests within university property. Bookings for these arrests are generally processed through the county jail.
A typical arrest record in Knox County may include the following details:
Note that the exact details available in arrest records vary depending on the agency, jurisdiction, and case type. You may not find certain information due to privacy laws, juvenile protections, or ongoing investigations.
Annually, Knox County reports about 2,210 violent crimes and 4,400 property crimes. The average violent crime rate is about 459.1 per 100,000 residents, significantly higher than the national average by 26.2%. In contrast, property crime rates average 914 per 100,000, which is about 52.2% below the national average.
A breakdown of arrest statistics in Knox County is presented below:
Arrest Total | Yearly Average |
|---|---|
Arrest Rate per 100,000 | 5,403 |
Adult Arrests | 12,500 |
Juvenile Arrests | 500 |
Crime Type | |
Murder | 30 |
Rape | 200 |
Robbery | 200 |
Aggravated Assault | 1,770 |
Burglary | 1,100 |
Larceny | 1,900 |
Motor Vehicle Theft | 1,200 |
Arson | 20 |
Source: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation
Public arrest records in Knox County can include information about different warrant types that may be issued by courts. A warrant grants law enforcement legal authority to arrest an individual or take other legally authorized action. Note that the terms used to describe various warrant types and the specifics of each type may differ from one jurisdiction to another. The most common warrant types in Knox County include the following:
An arrest warrant is issued when there is sufficient evidence to suggest that someone committed a crime. Once signed by a judge, an arrest warrant allows law enforcement to locate and arrest the individual suspected of having committed a crime. Arrest warrants typically show up in arrest and booking records.
A bench warrant is issued by the court when an individual fails to appear for a scheduled hearing or does not comply with a court directive. Bench warrants may lead to arrest even for minor offenses.
Civil capias warrants arise from civil proceedings, such as lawsuits or child support cases, when a person fails to obey a judge's order.
When a person wanted in another jurisdiction is found in Knox County, a fugitive warrant enables local authorities to detain them. These cases often lead to extradition and are reflected in both arrest records and court filings.
Signed by the governor, a governor's warrant is used to authorize the return of a wanted individual to another state. While not as common, governor's warrants appear in records related to out-of-state criminal matters.
Although not arrest-related, a search warrant allows law enforcement to enter a location or property to find specific evidence. Arrests sometimes follow, which may cause search warrant details to be found in case summaries and arrest reports.
It is easy to access Know County arrest and jail records through several methods. The easiest step is to check the 24-Hour Arrest or use the Inmate Population Portal to view lists of incarcerated individuals in the county. In addition, you can access court records from the Knox County Criminal Court Clerk's Portal.
For records from the city of Knoxville, you can contact the Knoxville Police Department Records Unit to view or obtain copies of arrest records. You can request records in person, by fax, or via mail, but a valid government-issued ID is required.
Criminal records, including arrest records for Knox County, are accessible via the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI). Individuals may submit a request form or contact TBI directly.
Alternatively, you may request records in person, by phone, or by email from the sheriff's office, jail, or Court Clerk's Office.
The following are jail and detention facilities in Knox County:
Agency Name: Knox County Sheriff's Office
City: Knoxville, Tennessee
Type: County law enforcement agency
Address: 400 Main Street, Knoxville, TN 37902
Phone Number: (865) 215-2243 (Main Number)
Website: https://knoxsheriff.org/
Staffing: The Knox County Sheriff's Office employs more than 1,000 personnel
Police Department | Address | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
Knoxville Police Department | 1650 Huron St., Knoxville, TN 37917 | (865) 215-7000 |
University of Tennessee Police Department | 1101 Cumberland Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37917 | (865) 974-3111 |
Tennessee Highway Patrol | 1755 Neal's Commerce Lane, Knoxville, TN 37914 | (865) 594-5800 |
Agency Name: Knox County, TN Detention Facility (Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility)
State: Tennessee
City: Knoxville
Type: County detention facility
Address: 5001 Maloneyville Road
Phone Number: (865) 281-6700
Facility Name | Address | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
Knox County, TN Jail | 400 Main St., Knoxville, TN 37902 | (865) 342-9620 |
Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility | 5001 Maloneyville Rd., Knoxville, TN 37918 | (865) 281-6700 |
Knox County Work Release Center | 4900 Maloneyville Rd., Knoxville, TN 37918 | (865) 281-0607 |
Richard L. Bean Juvenile Detention Center | 3321 Division St., Knoxville, TN 37919 | (865) 215-6500 |