Crime Numbers
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) collates crime data for all the counties in the state. It presents crime figures by law enforcement agencies rather than county. Since the primary law enforcement agency in Knox County is the Sheriff's Office, its records are representative of overall crime trend in the county. The most recent crime figures from the Knox County Sheriff's Office are for 2019.
That year, the Sheriff's Office recorded 2 murders, 62 rapes, 483 aggravated assaults, and 30 simple assaults. Reported incidences of property crimes include 15 arsons, 588 burglaries, 30 robberies, 2,331 larceny-thefts, and 494 motor vehicle thefts. Compared to the crime figures for 2014, murder (16.7%), rape (83.3%), aggravated assault (32.7%), simple assault (13%), and motor vehicle theft (24.8%) rates were on the rise in 2018. The five-year crime trend for Knox County also reveals falling arson (21.7%), burglary (56.5%), robbery (30.8%), and larceny-theft (34.4%) rates between 2014 and 20118.
Knox County Criminal Records
The TBI provides criminal history reports for the state of Tennessee. It allows the general public to request name-based criminal record checks online via the Tennessee Open Records Information Services (TORIS). Each request costs a non-refundable fee of $29. Individuals looking for nationwide background checks can order their FBI criminal history reports through IdentoGO.
The TBI also provides comprehensive fingerprint-based Tennessee and FBI criminal history checks for qualifying organizations. Such organizations must serve children, the elderly, and vulnerable individuals. This service is provided through IdentoGO and costs between $20.65 and $32.65.
The Knox County Sheriff's Office offers local background checks that provide reports about arrests in the county. To obtain this report, start by completing and notarizing a Release of Arrest Record form and bring or mail it to:
KCSO Support Services
City/County Building
400 W. Main Street
Knoxville, TN 37902
Phone: (865) 215-2243
Include a copy of your photo ID, a self-addressed envelope, and payment for $15. If submitting this form in person, come to the KCSO Support Services office between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. between Monday and Thursday. The office closes by 4:00 p.m. on Friday. Bring along a photo ID and $15 in cash or check.
This department also offers fingerprinting service at Level L-1 of the City County Building. It charges $25 for the first 3 fingerprint cards and $5 for each additional card. Fingerprinting is only available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Knox County Police Reports
The Knox County Sheriff's Office provides incident and crash reports upon request. To obtain any of these reports in person, visit one of these three offices:
KCSO Support Services
City/County Building
400 W. Main Street
Knoxville, TN 37902
Phone: (865) 215-2243
North Precinct
7326 Norris Freeway
Knoxville, TN 37918
Phone: (865) 922-1070
West Precinct
11429 Parkside Drive
Knoxville, TN 37934
Phone: (865) 392-1670
These locations open to the public from Monday through Thursday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Business hours are between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Friday. Bring along a valid photo ID and payment for copies of the requested report. Copy fee is 15 cents per page and the Knox County Sheriff's Office accepts cash and check for these reports.
Knox County Sex Offender Information
Tennessee has a central database of all registered sex offenders living in its counties. State law empowers the TBI to manage this database and make its information available to the public. In accordance with these stipulations, the TBI makes the Tennessee Sex Offender Registry searchable online. To find offenders living, working, and attending school in Knox County, restrict your search by selecting Knox from the county drop-down menus.
Knox County Inmate Search
There are three correctional facilities in Knox County and the Sheriff's Office operates them. These are the Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility located at 5001 Maloneyville Road in East Knox County, the Knox County Jail in downtown Knoxville in the City County Building at 400 Main Street, and the Work Release Center that is also on Maloneyville Road.
To help the public find individuals incarcerated in these facilities, the Sheriff's Office provides an inmate population list as well as a daily updated in-custody list for those arrested within the past 24 hours. Using the population list inquirers may perform a Knox County Inmate Search by the inmate’s first or last name.
Friends and family can add funds to inmates' accounts using the Jail ATMs at the lobbies of the Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility and the Knox County Jail. Cash and credit cards are accepted. A cash deposit attracts a $4.95 surcharge while there is a 10% surcharge when paying with a credit card. It is also possible to fund inmates' accounts by sending mail orders and cashier's checks to:
Mail Money Orders or Cashier's Checks to:
Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility
5001 Maloneyville Road
Knoxville, TN 37918
There is a $2.50 surcharge when using this method. Make sure to make your mail order or cashier's check out to
Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility
In Care of: (Inmate's Name and IDN)
Court Records
The Knox County Court System includes nine courts. Seven of these are in the same location in Knoxville, the county seat. These are the Chancery Court, Circuit Court, Fourth Circuit Court, Criminal Court, Civil Sessions Court, General Sessions Court (Criminal and Traffic), and Juvenile Court. The address of the courthouse housing these courts is:
City County Building
400 Main Street
Knoxville, TN 37902
Besides these, there is also a Municipal Court and a City Court. Below are the addresses and contact details of these courts:
Farragut Municipal Court
Town Hall
11408 Municipal Center Drive,
Farragut, TN 37934
Phone: (865) 218-3363
Fax: (865) 675-2096
Knoxville City Court
800 Howard Baker Jr. Avenue,
P.O. Box 2749,
Knoxville, TN 37901
Phone: (865) 215-7474
Fax: (865) 215-7440
The Fourth Circuit, Criminal, and General Sessions Courts have the same Clerk. You can search dockets from this court on the Clerk's website. To make copies of court records, come to the Clerk's office in the City County Building or call (865) 215-2375. The fee for copies is 50 cents per page. There is an additional $5 charge for certified copies.
There is another Clerk for the Circuit, Civil Sessions, and Juvenile Courts. While the records of the Juvenile Court are closed, the public can look up the dockets of the Circuit Court and Civil Sessions. Visit the Clerk's office in the City County Building to ask about obtaining copies of the records of these courts.
Most of the records of the Knox County Chancery Court are sealed or redacted when publicly available. However, the parties involved may still obtain these records by contacting the court. Make your request by vising the Chancery Court in Suite 125 of the City County Building or call (865) 215-3015.
Visit or call the Farragut Municipal Court and the Knoxville City Court for their records.
All property records for Knox County are maintained by the Office of the Assessor. Use the Property Lookup tool provided on the Assessor's website to search for property records in the county.
Vital Records
The Circuit and the Chancery Courts hear most divorce cases in Knox County but the Fourth Circuit Court issues most of the county's divorce decrees. Contact the Chancery and Fourth Circuit Court to request copies of your divorce judgement and case records.
The Tennessee Department of Health's Office of Vital Records also provides divorce records for all counties of the state. To requests for a certified copy of a divorce certificate, mail a completed and signed application to:
Tennessee Vital Records
1st Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower
710 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37243
Notarize the application when requesting for certified copies and include a photocopy of a government-issued ID. The fee for each certified copy of a divorce certificate is $15 payable with check or money order made out to Tennessee Vital Records. You may include $5 to expedite processing.
Knox County residents can also request for certified copies of birth, death, and marriage certificates in this way. However, they have to send notarized birth, death, or marriage applications as applicable. Fees and requirements remain the same as above.
The Vital Records Division of the Knox County Department of Health can also issue birth and death certificates. Simply submit a Birth or Death Certificate Request Form in person or by mail to:
Vital Records
140 Dameron Ave.
Knoxville, TN 37917
Include a copy of your driver's license and a check or money order for $15 in the mail. The office is situated on the first floor of the building behind the security/information desk. It opens to the public from Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
The Knox County Clerk's Office also provides certified copies of marriage licenses. You can request a copy online and pay with a credit card. Alternatively, visit any of these locations of the Clerk's Office:
Main Office
Old Knox County Courthouse
300 W. Main Avenue
Knoxville, TN 37902
Phone: (865) 215-2385
Monday - Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Cedar Bluff
1028 Old Cedar Bluff Road
Knoxville, TN 37923
Phone: (865) 215-8500
Monday - Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
North Knoxville / Crossroads Centre
7328 Norris Freeway
Knoxville, TN 37918
Phone: (865) 215-3400
Monday - Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
East Knoxville
3010 S. Mall Road
Knoxville, TN 37917
(The old Markman's Jewelry Store, in front of Lowe's Home Improvement)
Phone: (865) 549-5184
Monday-Friday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
South Knoxville
7339 Chapman Hwy. - Chapman Plaza
Knoxville, TN 37920
Phone: (865) 577-4510
Monday-Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The fee for each certified copy of a marriage license is $5.50 when requested in person. It costs $9.02 when requesting online.
Are Property Records Open to the Public in Knox County?
The Tennessee Open Records Act allows public access to Knox County property records. Anyone seeking copies of these records may contact the Property Assessor.
Where and How to Find Property Records in Knox County
The Knox County Property Assessor's Office creates and maintains property records in the county. The office also issues copies to all interested persons. Details on Knox County property records are collated from reappraisals carried out by the Assessor's Office every four years. However, property owners may request reassessments where the need arises.
To obtain records of recorded property, interested requestors may apply to the Assessor's Office. Individuals may visit the office in person or send mail requests with written applications describing the records. Note that these applications should contain all available information on the desired record. Mail and in-person requests should be submitted to the:
Knox County Property Assessor
City County Building
Suite 204
400 Main Street
Knoxville, TN 37902
Phone: (865) 215-2360
Fax: (865) 215-3671
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Mondays through Fridays
How to Look Up Knox County Property Records
The Knox County Property Assessor's Office maintains a searchable online property database. Through the Property Lookup function, interested persons may search online records by entering any known keywords. Examples include a name, mailing address, property ID number, and a physical address. Residents may also search by combining keywords such as a name and an address.
Where the property owner's full name is not known, the requestor may provide a partial name followed by an asterisk. When searching by the Property ID number, searchers must omit any spaces. Furthermore, if the ID has no alpha character, the user should add a hyphen after the first three numbers.
The database provides general information on each available property. Details include the owner's names, property ID, alternate ID, address, property class, neighborhood, and deed acres. Available information also includes a value history with annual market values calculated from multiple factors such as the land value, improvement value, and total appraisal. Other obtainable property information includes sales history, extension details, land details, and legal description. Users may also download property reports for each record viewed.
Location of Knox County Property Assessors
Knox County Property Assessor
City County Building
Suite 204
400 Main Street
Knoxville, TN 37902
Phone: (865) 215-2360
Fax: (865) 215-3671
