Find Knox County Booking Releases

Knox County booking releases are maintained by the Knox County Sheriff's Office in Knoxville, Tennessee. As the third largest county in the state, Knox County processes a high volume of arrests every day through its Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility. The Knoxville Police Department, Knox County Sheriff, and other local agencies all funnel arrests into this system. You can search booking and release records online through the county's jail management portal, and most data is free to access under Tennessee public records law.

Knox County Sheriff's Office Records

The Knox County Sheriff's Office is the primary keeper of booking releases in the county. The office runs the Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility, which is the main jail for all of Knox County. This is one of the busier jails in East Tennessee. Arrests from the Knoxville Police Department, Knox County Sheriff's patrol, Farragut Police, and University of Tennessee Police all end up here.

When someone gets booked at the detention facility, staff create a record with the person's name, date of birth, charges, bond amount, and intake date and time. The arresting agency is noted along with the name of the officer. Knox County booking releases also show the person's city of residence and physical traits. If bond gets posted or the person is released for any reason, the release date and method are added to the record.

Under T.C.A. § 10-7-503, all of this information is public record in Tennessee. Knox County makes it available through an online search tool as well as through in-person and written requests.

Visit the Knox County Sheriff's Office website for contact information, jail details, and links to online records tools.

This screenshot shows the Knox County government portal where you can find links to the Sheriff's Office and jail records system.

Search Knox County Booking Releases Online

Knox County runs an online inmate search portal that shows current and recent booking releases. The system updates in real time as new intakes and releases happen at the Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility. You can search by name, and results come back right away. No account is needed. The tool is free.

Each result from a Knox County booking release search shows detailed information. You get the full name, date of birth, race, sex, and intake date. Charges appear with individual bond amounts and bond types. The arresting agency is listed so you can see whether the Knoxville Police Department, Knox County Sheriff, or another agency made the arrest. Release dates show up when the person has been let go.

Knox County has a large jail population compared to most Tennessee counties. On any given day, hundreds of people may be in the detention facility. The online search handles this volume well and lets you narrow results. If you cannot find what you need online, call the jail at 865-281-2400 for help.

Knox County Public Records Requests

For booking releases not in the online system, Knox County accepts formal public records requests. The county government has a records request process that follows Tennessee's Public Records Act. Under T.C.A. § 10-7-503, the county must respond within seven business days.

You can submit requests to the Knox County Sheriff's Office or the county's public records coordinator. Standard fees apply: $0.15 per page for copies, $0.50 for color pages. Research time beyond the first hour may be billed at the county's hourly rate. Proof of Tennessee citizenship is typically needed. A valid Tennessee driver's license works for this.

Records that have been expunged under T.C.A. § 40-32-101 will not be available. The same goes for juvenile records sealed under T.C.A. § 37-1-154. Knox County processes a lot of records requests given the size of the population, so allow for the full seven days when you submit yours.

How Knox County Processes Bookings

Knox County sees a steady flow of arrests. The booking process at the Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility follows a set routine. The arresting officer brings the person in and hands them off to jail staff. Fingerprints and a mugshot are taken. Personal details get recorded. Each charge is entered with the corresponding bond amount. This creates the official booking release record in Knox County's system.

Release from Knox County jail happens through several paths. Bail bonds are the most common way out. A judge may set bond at a first appearance hearing, or a preset bond schedule applies for certain charges. Some people get released on recognizance if the court decides they are not a flight risk. Charges can also be dismissed, which triggers a release. Anyone serving a sentence gets out on the release date set by the court.

Knox County is part of the 6th Judicial District. Criminal cases from bookings here go through General Sessions Court for preliminary hearings. Felony cases move to the Knox County Criminal Court. The Circuit Court Clerk at the City County Building in Knoxville maintains these case files. You can also search case data through the Tennessee courts website.

Statewide Tools for Knox County Searches

Tennessee offers several statewide databases that include Knox County records. The TDOC Felony Offender Information Lookup covers all convicted felons in the state correction system. If someone booked in Knox County ended up in state prison, their record is there. The TBI Sex Offender Registry lets you search by name or zip code for registered offenders in the Knoxville area.

The Knoxville Police Department also runs its own records division. While arrests go through the Knox County Jail, KPD keeps its own incident and arrest reports. You can request those separately through the police department. For booking releases specifically, the county jail system is still the main source.

Cities in Knox County

Knox County includes Knoxville, Farragut, and several smaller communities. All arrests from these areas are processed through the Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility in Knoxville. Booking releases cover arrests from every city and town in the county.

Knoxville is the county seat and largest city in Knox County. The Knoxville Police Department is the busiest arresting agency in the county, and all its bookings go through the Knox County jail system.

Nearby Counties

Knox County sits in the center of East Tennessee and borders several counties. If you need booking releases from an adjacent area, check the links below. Each county maintains its own jail and records system.

View All 95 Counties