How to Visit Knox County Detention Center, TN (TN)
Before you make the trip, confirm your person's custody status using Knox County's online tools, then verify any visit details with Inmate Services.
The Knox County Sheriff’s Office publishes an online inmate roster on its website, and you can search it by name. It’s the fastest way to check whether someone is currently listed and to pull up their basic booking information.
When you look someone up, check for any custody "hold" information on the roster. Knox County's roster spells out temporary holds with a clear end time, like: "24 HOUR HOLD UNTIL 01-25-2026 @ 0949 HOURS." That timestamp helps you figure out whether a hold might still be active when you're planning to visit.
If anything on the roster is confusing or you need clarification, call Inmate Services at 865-281-6700. They handle questions about the information listed on the roster.
Note: If an alleged sexual abuse incident occurred within the last 120 hours, staff may ask those involved to avoid actions that could destroy physical evidence (washing, brushing teeth, changing clothes, urinating, defecating, drinking, or eating).
Steps to Follow
- ✓ Search the Knox County Sheriff’s Office online inmate roster by name
- ✓ If you have questions about the inmate information you find, call Inmate Services at 865-281-6700
Note: If you're reporting alleged sexual abuse within 120 hours of the incident, tell staff immediately. Avoid washing, brushing teeth, changing clothes, urinating, defecating, drinking, or eating so evidence can be preserved.
Use the online roster as your starting point, then verify the details before you head in. The roster is a public service, but it changes. Treat it as a snapshot. If the listing shows a temporary hold with an end timestamp (like "24 HOUR HOLD UNTIL [date] @ [time] HOURS"), double-check that the hold status is still accurate for your visit plans. For confirmation or questions about what you're seeing, call Inmate Services at 865-281-6700.
- Find the person on the online roster: Search by name and open the entry that matches.
- Write down any hold details and timestamps: Note any temporary hold language and the end time shown.
- Call Inmate Services (865-281-6700) with specific questions: Ask them to confirm the information you found and anything you need to know before you attempt a visit.
Note: If sexual abuse is alleged and the incident is recent (within 120 hours), ask staff what to do next and follow their instructions to preserve physical evidence.
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