KNOXVILLE PUBLIC RECORDS

What are Knoxville Public Records

Per the Tennessee Open Records Act, public records are any data produced, filed, stored, and reproduced by state or local agencies. Public records may exist as handwritten or type-written documents, maps, statistical tables and graphs, photographs, or electronic communication such as emails. Knoxville public records are accessible to the public except as otherwise stated by law. According to the Open Records Act, certain portions or whole documents may be sealed or classified as confidential documents. Custodian agencies may seal or redact public records if it contains at least one of the following elements:

• Voter registration information and other identifying information.
• Health insurance and legislative records
• Information on investigations conducted at the behest of the Attorney General.
• Information compiled by internal audit workers.
• Trade secrets or commercial and financial information.
• Proprietary information.
• Security reports, systems, measures, and procedures.
• Medical records.

Crime Statistics

The Knoxville Police Department generates and maintains records of all arrest records within the city. More so, it creates and submits yearly crime statistics reports to the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) for inclusion into the Uniform Crime Report (UCR). Per the 2018 UCR, the city of Knoxville reported a total number of 10,335 reported crimes. This figure consists of 1,508 violent crimes and 8,827 property crimes. The reported violent crimes are - 20 murders and nonnegligent manslaughters, 132 rapes, 249 robberies, and 1,107 aggravated assaults. Conversely, the reported property crimes cover the following - 1,374 burglaries, 6,379 larceny-theft incidents, 1,074 motor vehicle thefts, and seven cases of arson.

These figures, when compared with the 2016 UCR, reveal a considerable decline in reported crimes within the city of Knoxville. The total number of reported offenses slid by 13 percent. The total number of reported violent crimes reduced by 9%, while property crimes reduced by 14 percent.

Are Knoxville Criminal Records Public?

Not all Knoxville criminal records are open and accessible to the public. Per the Tennessee Open Records Act, the custodian agencies determine if a document is confidential or available to the public. For instance, juvenile criminal records are confidential and exempted from public records. Requesters can access non-confidential Knoxville criminal records via the Knox County Criminal Court Clerk. To obtain Knoxville criminal records, contact the Knox County Criminal Court Clerk's Office via Phone: (865) 215-2375 or by Email: sessions@knoxcounty.org. On the other hand, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations (TBI) offers interested persons, and entities access to Knoxville criminal records. Requesters may obtain Knoxville criminal records online or via mail. The TBI charges $29 per criminal record search.

How to Obtain Knoxville Police Reports and Arrest Records

Knoxville police reports and arrest records are open and accessible to the public via various platforms maintained by state and local agencies. Per Tennessee law, only the record subject or legal representatives of the record subject may obtain unredacted police reports. Non-involved persons can only obtain redacted copies of police reports. To ascertain the cost and availability of arrest records, record seekers must contact the Records Unit at:

Police Headquarters
800 Howard Baker Jr Avenue
Knoxville, TN 37915
Phone: (865) 215-7231

Requesters may choose to obtain Knoxville police reports via mail or in-person visits. To receive arrest records via mail-in requests, send a written request stating the arrest report number, victim's name, location, and date of the arrest record and police report. Payment is in the form of a money order or checks payable to the Records Unit. Submit the written request alongside the search fee in a self-addressed stamped envelope to the above-listed address.

How to Find Sex Offender Information in Knoxville

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) maintains a statewide repository of all convicted sex offenders. Hence, requesters may obtain Knoxville sex offenders’ information via the TBI's sex offender database. To get sex offender information, input the following details - last and first name, aliases, city, county, and zip code. Alternatively, the Knox County Sheriff’s Office also maintains a database of all sex offenders residing within the city of Knoxville. It also features a community alert system, which alerts residents when a sex offender moves into their community.

How to Find Knoxville Inmate Records

The Knox County Sheriff’s Office maintains an online search portal for all inmates incarcerated within the county's correctional facilities. To get Knoxville inmate information, interested persons may utilize the Knox County Sheriff’s online search portal. The search portal showcases all incarcerated inmates’ names in alphabetical order and features the inmates' first and last names, date of birth, IDN#, bond type, and number, and charges.

Alternatively, the Tennessee Department of Corrections (TDC), through an online database, maintains the records of past and currently incarcerated inmates within the state. The online database features the offender's current status, photo, location, and active sentences. Hence, requesters may search for Knoxville inmate records using the inmate's name or TDIC number. In addition to this, requesters may utilize the Tennessee Felony Offender Search mobile app to obtain Knoxville inmate records. Download the mobile app to search for past and currently incarcerated inmates in the custody of the TDC. Via the mobile app, requesters can view inmate information such as the inmate's current status, location, and parole eligibility.

How Do I Visit an Inmate in Knoxville Jail

Families and friends of inmates at Knoxville correctional facilities may visit inmates via remote or onsite visits. To visit inmates via remote video, sign up on the Securus Video Connect. Visitors must provide a clear photograph (without hats or sunglasses) and a valid picture ID to get approved to use the Securus Video Connect platform. Onsite visitation occurs at the correctional facility via a video visitation terminal.

Court Records

As a part of the Sixth Judicial District of Tennessee, the city of Knoxville and Knox County courts provide the public with access to different types of Knoxville court records. Criminal records, probate records, traffic records, domestic relations records, and civil records are publicly accessible court records.

Location of Courts in Knoxville

The courts in Knoxville and Knox County include two Circuit Courts, one Chancery Court, one Criminal Court, two General Sessions Courts, one Juvenile Court, and two Municipal Courts. The courts’ addresses are listed below:

Knox County Circuit Court
City-County Building
400 West Main Street
Suite M-30
Knoxville, TN 37902
Phone: (865) 215-2400
Fax: (865) 215-4251

Knox County Fourth Circuit Court
City-County Building
400 Main Street
Suite M-15
Knoxville, TN 37902
Phone: (865) 215-2404

Knox County Chancery Court
400 West Main Street
Suite 125
Knoxville, TN 37902
Phone: (865) 215-2555 (Chancery Division)
Phone: (865) 215-2920 (Chancery Division)
Phone: (865) 215-2389 (Probate Division)
Fax: (865) 215-4289 (Probate Division)

Knox County Criminal Court
City-County Building
400 West Main Street
Suite 149
Knoxville, TN 37902
Phone: (865) 215-2492

Knox County General Sessions Court - Civil Division
City-County Building
400 West Main Street
Suite M-30
Knoxville, TN 37902
Phone: (865) 215-2518

Knox County General Sessions Court - Criminal Division
City-County Building
400 Main Street
Suite M-84
Knoxville, TN 37902
Phone: (865) 215-2375

Knox County Juvenile Court
City-County Building
400 West Main Street
Suite M-30
Knoxville, TN 37902
Phone: (865) 215-2400
Fax: (865) 215-4251

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

Are Knoxville Court Records Public?

Only non-confidential Knoxville court records are open and accessible to the public. Sealed and confidential court records are not accessible to the public and are often redacted when available to the public.

Can You Look Up a Knoxville Court Case Online?

The Knox County Criminal Court, Clerk's Office, provides an online search portal where requesters can request and obtain Knoxville court records. The online portal features information on different types of Knoxville court cases. To search for court case records, input the party's first and last name, select a court division, and a date range. Furthermore, requesters may utilize the Fourth Circuit Court Docket Search to obtain court records online. To commence a court record search, input the lead defendant and plaintiff's first and last name, select the date range and the court division.

The Tennessee Supreme Court, via its Public Case History search portal, enables requesters to access court records online. The Public Case History is a tool that allows requesters to search for appellate court records using one of the following criteria: the case style, the case number of the appeal, organization name, and the parties’ first and last names.

How to Obtain Knoxville Civil Court Case Records

Interested persons can access Knoxville civil court records online from the Knox County Circuit Court via the KnoxCircuit Records. This online platform grants requesters access to civil court records from October 4, 2017, to the present. Accessing civil court records on this platform is via subscription. A three-month subscription on the platform costs $120, while a one-year subscription costs $480. For more information on how to get Knoxville civil court records, contact the Clerk of Knox County Circuit Court Civil Sessions at:

City-County Building
400 Main Street
Suite M30
Knoxville, TN 37902
Phone: (865) 215-2400

How to Obtain Knoxville Criminal Court Case Records

The Clerk of the Knox County Criminal Court provides access to Knoxville criminal records online. Requesters may obtain these records by using the Criminal Courts’ online search portal. Input the party's first and last name, select the court division in charge of the record, and choose the date range.

The Knox County Criminal Court also requires a specified fee before requesters can obtain criminal records. Through the Courtfeepay platform, requesters must fill in their personal details (names, location, and email address), select the court in charge of the criminal records, and pay the specified fee for obtaining criminal records. For more information on how to obtain Knoxville criminal court records, contact the Clerk of the Knox County Criminal Court at:

City-County Building
400 Main Street
Suite M30
Knoxville, TN 37902
Phone: (865) 215-2375

What are Knoxville Vital Records?

Knoxville vital records are government-backed documents that contain information on all life events documented within the city. These vital records include - but are not limited to - birth records, death records, marriage records, and divorce records. State and local agencies or departments maintain and act as custodian agencies for vital records. Hence, requesters can obtain vital records from these custodian agencies by following the set instructions.

Where and How to Obtain Knoxville Divorce Records

The Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) via the Vital Records Office maintains a statewide repository of death records recorded within the state. The Vital Records Office provides access to copies of Knoxville divorce records via walk-in and mail-in services. Divorce records from 1970 to the present are available at the TDH's Office of Vital Records.

Whereas requesters may obtain divorce records from July 1, 1945, to December 31, 1969, accessible via the Tennessee Library and Archives. To get divorce records within the time frame, the Library and Archives provide a five-year range search for divorce records. To obtain divorce records prior to 1945, the Library and Archives also grants a 5-year search per record request. However, requesters must provide the record subjects' names, the divorce date, and the county where the divorce took place.

The Library and Archives charge $5 for photocopies or email copies of divorce records. This fee covers up to 20 pages of divorce records, while additional documents beyond the initial 20 copies cost $0.5 each. Payment is non-refundable, and it is payable through money orders, checks, credit cards, or debit cards. The Library and Archives charge an additional $5 for certified copies of divorce records.

To obtain divorce records from the Library and Archives, fill out the Index Search Form and submit the completed form alongside the search fee to the:

Tennessee State Library and Archives, Public Services
403 Seventh Avenue North
Nashville, TN 37243-0312

The TDH's Vital Records Office maintains divorce records from 1970 to the present. To obtain divorce records via mail, send a completed and signed divorce record request form, a photocopy of a government-issued ID, and a money order or check payable to the Tennessee Vital Record to the:

Tennessee Vital Records
1st Floor
Andrew Johnson Tower
710 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37243

To get divorce records via walk-in services, requesters may fill out a paper-based request form and present a valid ID to the Customer Service Window at the:

Tennessee Vital Records
1st Floor
Andrew Johnson Tower
710 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37243

Where and How to Obtain Knoxville Marriage Records

The TDH, via the Vital Records Office, maintains records of marriage events at the state level. Requesters can obtain marriage records from January 1, 1970, to the present through TDH's Vital Records Office. The Tennessee Library and Archives maintains a statewide catalog of marriage events from July 1945 to December 31, 1969. Whereas Knoxville marriage records from 1861 to June 30, 1945, are accessible at Knox County. The Library and Archives arranged marriage records by the groom's name. Hence, requesters must provide the groom's name before accessing the Library and Archives Office’s marriage records. More so, the Library and Archives will search for marriage records within a five-year range. Records may search and obtain marriage records by themselves and also make copies of their search results. The Library and Archives charge $5 for photocopies, mail, or email copies of marriage records. This fee covers up to 20 pages of marriage records, while additional copies beyond the initial 20 copies cost $0.5 each. Payment is through money orders, checks, credit cards, or debit cards. To obtain marriage records from the Library and Archives via mail, fill out the Index Search Form and submit the completed form alongside the search fee to the:

Tennessee State Library and Archives, Public Services
403 Seventh Avenue North
Nashville, TN 37243-0312

In addition to this, Record seekers may get access to copies of marriage records from the TDH's Vital Records Office via mail or in-person requests. To obtain copies of marriage records in person, requesters fill out a paper-based request and provide a valid ID at the Customer Service Window of the Vital Records Office. Ineligible requesters may need to provide additional proof of entitlement to the record being requested. Credit/debit cards, money orders, checks, and cash payments are accepted at the Customer Service Window.

1. Accessing marriage records via mail-in requests requires the following steps:
2. Complete and sign the marriage record request form.
3. Provide a copy of a government-issued ID.
4. Include the specified fee in a money order or check payable to the Tennessee Vital Records.
5. Mail the request to the:

Tennessee Vital Records
1st Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower
710 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37243

Where and How to Obtain Knoxville Birth Records

Interested persons may request copies of birth certificates from Knox County's Vital Records Division - the primary custodian agency for birth records. Note that only the following are eligible to request birth certificates - the record subject, the record subject’s parents, the legal guardian, and the record subject’s spouse. To get copies of birth certificates in person, follow these steps:

1. Download and fill out the birth certificate request form. Requesters may also obtain paper-based forms at the Vital Records Office.
2. Bring the completed form, a copy of a state or federal-issued ID, and a $15 fee to the:

Knox County Health Department Vital Records office
140 Dameron Avenue
Knoxville, TN 37917

Obtain copies of birth records via mail through the following steps:

1. Fill out the birth record request form.
2. Compile the completed request form, a $15 search fee, and a copy of a government-issued ID in a self-addressed envelope.

Mail to the Knox County Health Department at:

140 Dameron Avenue
Knoxville, TN 37917

Alternatively, the TDH's Vital Records Office maintains a statewide repository of birth events. Hence, requesters may obtain copies of birth records from the Vital Records via mail or in-person requests.

To obtain copies of birth records in person, fill out a paper-based request form, and provide a valid ID at the Customer Service Window of the Vital Records Office. Ineligible requesters may need to provide additional proof of entitlement to the record. Credit/debit cards, money orders, checks, and cash payments are accepted at the Customer Service Window. Accessing marriage records via mail-in requests requires the following steps:

1. Complete and sign the marriage record request form.
2. Provide a copy of a government-issued ID.
3. Include the specified fee in a money order or check payable to the Tennessee Vital Records.

Mail the request to the:
Tennessee Vital Records
1st Floor
Andrew Johnson Tower
710 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37243

Where and How to Obtain Death Records

The Knox County Vital Records Division provides eligible requesters with access to copies of death records. Requesters may obtain Knoxville death records via mail in-person requests. To obtain death records via mail, complete and fill out the death record request form. Submit the completed form alongside a copy of a government-issued ID and a $15 search fee to the:

Knox County Health Department Vital Records office
140 Dameron Avenue
Knoxville, TN 37917

In addition to this, requesters may visit the Vital Records Office at the Knox County Department of Health.