Knox County Busted Mugshots and Arrest Records
Knox County busted mugshots and arrest records are held by the Knox County Sheriff's Office in Knoxville, Tennessee. As one of the largest counties in the state, Knox County processes thousands of bookings each year through the Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility. The Sheriff's Office runs an online inmate search tool that lets you look up current and recently released inmates by name or booking number. This page covers all the ways to search Knox County arrest records, find booking photos, and access mugshot data online or in person.
Knox County Quick Facts
Knox County Sheriff's Office
The Knox County Sheriff's Office is one of the largest law enforcement agencies in East Tennessee. Sheriff Tom Spangler leads the department, which runs patrol, investigations, corrections, and court services divisions. The main office sits at 400 Main Street, Suite 639, in Knoxville. You can call 865-215-2243 for general questions or reach the jail at 865-281-6700.
The Records Division handles requests for incident reports and arrest records. They are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. If you want copies of arrest reports from Knox County, contact the Records Division directly. Written requests are preferred. Fees apply for copies of reports and certified records. The Sheriff's Office keeps booking records for every person processed through the Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility.
Knox County is home to Knoxville, the third largest city in Tennessee. That means the jail sees a high volume of bookings from multiple agencies, including the Knoxville Police Department, Knox County Sheriff's Office, and other local departments.
| Office |
Knox County Sheriff's Office 400 Main Street, Suite 639, Knoxville, TN 37902 Phone: 865-215-2243 |
|---|---|
| Jail | Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility Phone: 865-281-6700 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
Knox County Busted Mugshots Online Inmate Search
Knox County runs an online inmate population search through the Sheriff's Office website. This tool is one of the best ways to find Knox County busted mugshots and booking records from your home. The search is free, runs 24/7, and does not need a login or account.
You can search by name or booking number. Results show current inmates and recent releases. Each inmate record includes the full name, booking number, booking date, charges, and bond amount. The system also displays the inmate's current housing location within the facility and release dates when set. Historical data is available too, so you can look up past bookings and not just current ones.
The Knox County inmate search portal updates in real time as bookings happen. That makes it a reliable way to track who is in custody at the Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility.
The search tool filters by date range, which is helpful if you know roughly when an arrest took place but do not have the exact booking number.
How to Find Knox County Arrest Records
There are several ways to look up Knox County busted mugshots and arrest data. The inmate search portal is the fastest option for current and recent inmates. For older records or certified copies, you go through the Sheriff's Office or county offices directly.
For statewide records, the TDOC felony offender lookup covers people in state prison. The Tennessee court system website also links to case search tools across the state.
The Knox County government website at knoxcounty.org provides links to various county departments and services, including the Sheriff's Office and public records request forms.
To search in person, go to the Records Division at 400 Main Street in Knoxville. Bring your ID. Under T.C.A. § 10-7-503, most arrest records in Tennessee are public. Anyone can ask to see them.
- Full name of the person you are looking up
- Approximate date of arrest if known
- Booking number if you have it
- Your own ID for in-person requests
Knox County Public Records Access
Tennessee law gives the public broad access to government records, including Knox County arrest records and booking data. Under T.C.A. § 10-7-503, any citizen can request to view or copy public records. The Knox County Public Records Coordinator is based at the County Mayor's Office at 400 Main Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Call 865-215-2000 to start a request.
Written requests with specific descriptions are required. The county has 7 business days to respond. Fees apply for copies and extensive research. Some records are exempt under T.C.A. § 10-7-504, such as active investigation files. But most booking records and mugshots from Knox County are available to the public.
If a request is wrongly denied, contact the Tennessee Office of Open Records Counsel for help.
Knox County Jail Roster and Facility Details
The Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility is the main jail for Knox County. It is a large facility that houses adults charged with misdemeanors and felonies. The jail handles a high volume of bookings given the size of the Knoxville metro area. Inmates come from the Knox County Sheriff's Office, Knoxville Police Department, and other agencies in the county.
The jail roster shows real-time data. As people are booked or released, the roster changes. You can check the inmate search tool multiple times a day to see the latest Knox County busted mugshots and booking info. Mail sent to inmates goes through inspection. Address it to the inmate by name at the Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility. Commissary and visitation policies are listed on the Sheriff's Office website.
Bond amounts in Knox County vary widely. Some charges carry no bond. Others can run into the hundreds of thousands for serious felonies. The inmate search shows bond info for each charge.
Knox County Busted Mugshots and Tennessee Law
Tennessee has strong public records laws that cover Knox County mugshots and arrest records. The Tennessee Public Records Act at T.C.A. § 10-7-503 says government records are open for inspection by any citizen unless a specific exemption applies. Booking photos from the Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility fall under this law.
Copy fees are governed by T.C.A. § 10-7-505. Knox County can charge for the actual cost of copies, and labor charges may apply for requests that take more than an hour. The TBI charges $0.15 per page for black and white and $0.50 for color.
For criminal history checks beyond the public jail roster, T.C.A. § 38-13-109 controls how data gets shared. Fingerprint-based checks cost $29 through the TBI at Identogo locations. The Tennessee Sex Offender Registry is another public tool you can use alongside Knox County arrest records.
Statewide Resources for Knox County
Several state databases work alongside Knox County's local records. The Tennessee Department of Correction runs FOIL at tn.gov. FOIL covers state prison inmates and parolees but not county jail inmates. The Tennessee Court System offers a public case search for court records from participating counties.
The TBI handles statewide criminal history data and can be reached at tbi.openrecords@tn.gov. They can provide records that go beyond what Knox County holds locally.
Cities in Knox County
Knox County is home to Knoxville, the largest city in the county and one of the biggest in Tennessee. Knoxville has its own police department, but arrests are processed through the Knox County jail system. All busted mugshots for Knox County arrests appear on the county inmate search.
Farragut and other smaller communities in Knox County also route bookings through the county system.
Nearby Counties
Knox County borders several other Tennessee counties. If you are not sure which county handled an arrest, check the booking location on the jail roster. Each county runs its own jail and keeps separate busted mugshots records.