Knoxville Arrest Records

Under Tennessee Code § 40-7-103, law enforcement officers in Knoxville are legally authorized to make custodial arrests based on probable cause, either from a warrant, observing a crime, or conducting an investigation that provides sufficient grounds for an arrest.

In Knoxville, the Knoxville Police Department (KPD) is primarily responsible for making arrests that fall within city limits. On the other hand, the Knox County Sheriff's Office (KCSO) also makes arrests, especially in unincorporated areas or during joint task operations involving violent crime suppression, narcotics, or fugitive apprehension.

Once arrested in Knoxville, individuals are processed and booked at the Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility, which is under the supervision of the Knox County Sheriff's Office. For individuals held for federal offenses or multi-county jurisdictions, such suspects may temporarily be confined at the Knox County Correctional Facility or Jail.

Details collected during Knoxville PD's booking procedures are added to the Knox County arrest records and logged into statewide and national systems, such as the Tennessee Integrated Criminal Justice Portal.

Are Knoxville Arrests Public Record?

Yes. Under the Tennessee Public Records Act, Knoxville arrest records can be inspected or duplicated by members of the public. Nonetheless, certain records are closed from public access to protect the parties' privacy or the government's interests. Examples include:

• Details of juvenile arrests
• Details of an ongoing investigation
• Identities of confidential witnesses or sources
• Records that threaten the safety of an individual or group

Nonetheless, individuals having a "direct and tangible" interest in a confidential record may be permitted access.

Knoxville Crime Rate

Knoxville saw an overall crime rate decrease of 7.8% in 2023, falling from 100.7 to 91.2 offenses per 1,000 residents, even with a 1.8% population increase. Total reported offenses dropped from 19,611 in 2022 to 18,071 in 2023. This downward trend continued into 2024, with a 6.76% decrease year-over-year and nearly all index crimes showing slight to moderate declines. Murders and non-fatal shootings also decreased in 2024 by 4.17% and 45%, respectively. While aggravated assault declined by 7.84% in 2024, it remained the most frequent violent crime with 1,176 reported incidents.

Property offenses also saw reductions in 2024, including double-digit decreases in burglary (16.89%), motor vehicle theft (13.13%), and fraud (17.98%). Robbery also fell by 6.82%.

These statistics suggest a broad reduction across several crime categories and potentially indicate shifts in incident reporting. Although the decline in total crime is a positive development, the persistent assault figures point to ongoing challenges with interpersonal violence, which remains a key concern for public safety in Knoxville.

(Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer, KDP Preliminary 2024 Priority Crime Report, Tennessee Crime Insight)

Find Knoxville Arrest Records

Interested individuals can access Knoxville arrest records through different official custodians, including the Knoxville Police Department, the Knox County Sheriff's Office, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI).

Knoxville Police Department

Requests for arrest records, booking details, and other incident documentation are handled by the Records Unit of the Knoxville Police Department at the address below:

Knoxville Police Department
Records Unit
800 Howard Baker Jr. Avenue
Knoxville, TN 37915
Phone: (865) 215-7231

Interested parties can submit requests in person, by mail, or remotely through the KPD's online public records request portal. Requests are typically processed between 3-7 business days, depending on the quantity and redaction required. Records cost 15 cents per page and are payable in cash, check, or money order.

Knox County Inmate Lookup

To access details of individuals currently being held in the county jail or the Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility, interested parties can use the online inmate search feature provided by the Knox County Sheriff's Office. Researchers can search by name, booking number, or release date. A search yields an inmate's mugshot, booking status, offense description, and projected court appearance dates.

Knox County Criminal Court Dockets

The Knox County Criminal Court Clerk grants access to criminal case records, which may include arrest data.

Free Arrest Record Search in Knoxville

The following avenues are available for researchers seeking to access Knoxville arrest records without cost:

• The Knox County Sheriff's Office Inmate Lookup
• Knoxville Police Department's Daily Blotter

It is worth noting that although basic arrest details may be available at no cost, a hard copy of an arrest report typically costs a nominal sum of money.

Additionally, several third-party databases exist that offer free access to Knoxville arrest records. Like government databases, basic arrest details may be available at no cost, but detailed reports may be hidden behind paywalls or subscription plans.

Criminal Background Check in Tennessee

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation oversees all criminal background checks in the state and offers two primary methods: name-based and fingerprint-based searches.

Fingerprint-Based Checks

The fingerprint-based check is the most thorough and official method for obtaining a criminal background report in Tennessee. To initiate fingerprint checks, individuals are required to submit fingerprints electronically through the state-approved vendor. The TBI charges a standard processing fee, and additional vendor fees apply, depending on the fingerprinting location. Depending on the purpose of the check, the results are sent to the requesting entity or the subject of the record.

Name-Based Checks

The TBI also allows the public to conduct name-based checks of criminal records through the Tennessee Open Records Information Services (TORIS) portal. The public can request a search using full names and dates of birth. This search method is limited to publicly available data and does not include expunged records. Additionally, each search requires a $29 fee.

In Knoxville, many employers and state licensing boards are legally authorized to request background checks. Additionally, residents can ask for their own criminal record to check accuracy or prepare for an expungement.

Moreover, the Knox County Criminal Court Clerk provides a local criminal history check for a $15 fee. This "Background Check" service allows the public to view charges originating from Knox County and Knoxville since the 1980s.

Knoxville Inmate Search

Inmates from Knoxville sentenced to more than one year are typically transferred to the Tennessee state prison system, which is run by the Tennessee Department of Corrections (TDOC).

To locate individuals currently held in a Tennessee state prison, interested parties can use the TDOC Felony Offender Information Lookup (FOIL) system. This system grants access to details such as sentence length, facility location, custody status, parole eligibility, or hearing dates.

It is worth stating that only inmates actively held in TDOC-managed facilities are shown; individuals who have completed their sentences, parole, or are held in local facilities, like the Knox County Jail, are not shown on the system.

Details about individuals incarcerated in the Knox County Jail can be accessed using the online inmate search feature provided on the County Sheriff's website.

Knoxville Police Record Lookup

The Knoxville Police Department provides several methods for obtaining police records:

• Remote access via the KPD's online public records request portal.
• By mail request or in-person visit to the KPD's Records Unit. All copies of reports are 15 cents per page. Local criminal background checks cost $10. One can call (865) 215-7231 for inquiries.

While many police records are open to the public, certain documents, such as juvenile offender information, are withheld from public access.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record in Knoxville?

In Tennessee, arrests remain on file indefinitely, as they have no expiration date. However, eligible individuals may have arrest notations removed from their criminal history via an expungement.

How Can I Get My Record Expunged for Free in Knoxville?

Tennessee offers eligible individuals, including residents of Knoxville, a clear path to expunging criminal records under the Tennessee Code § 40-32-101 at little or no cost. An individual is eligible for expungement if:

• The charges against them were dismissed, resulted in "no true bill", or ended in a not guilty verdict.
• They completed their judicial or pretrial diversion successfully
• It is their first offense, the offense is a non-violent misdemeanor or Class E felony, and they have completed all sentencing requirements.

Eligible individuals should follow the procedure below for record expungement:

• Obtain and complete the Order for the Expungement of Criminal Offender Record from the clerk of the court where the case was filed.
• Complete Form FW-001 (Affidavit of Indigency) to request a waiver of filing fees if unable to pay.
• File the completed forms at the Knox County General Sessions or Criminal Court Clerk's Office, depending on where the charge originated.

Once the petition is granted, the record is officially expunged from public records, and all relevant law enforcement agencies will be notified to update their databases.

Knoxville Warrant Search

Knoxville arrest and bench warrants refer to court-issued orders that allow law enforcement to arrest an individual. An arrest warrant is typically issued following a criminal complaint or investigation, while a bench warrant, on the other hand, is usually issued when an individual fails to comply with a court order or appear in court.

To confirm the status of a warrant, interested individuals can contact local law enforcement or courts. However, in-person inquiries typically require a valid government-issued photo ID and may result in an arrest if a warrant is located.

Do Knoxville Warrants Expire?

Knoxville warrants do not expire until they are served or quashed by the court, except for misdemeanor warrants. Under Tennessee Code § 40-6-206, if a misdemeanor warrant remains unserved or quashed for five years, it automatically gets terminated and removed from state records. Felony warrants, on the other hand, have no expiry date and remain active indefinitely.