By Patricia Jones The Knox County Jail is part of the correctional system operated by the Knox County Sheriff’s Office in Knoxville, Tennessee. The county uses three facilities to house people who are awaiting court proceedings, serving qualifying sentences, participating in work release or waiting for transfer.
The two principal secure detention locations are:
Knox County Jail
- 400 West Main Street
- Knoxville, Tennessee 37902
- Phone: 865-342-9620
Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility
- 5001 Maloneyville Road
- Knoxville, Tennessee 37918
- Phone: 865-281-6700
Knox County also operates a Work Release Center at 4900 Maloneyville Road.
How to Search the Knox County Jail Roster
The Knox County Sheriff’s Office provides two official public lookup options:
- The Inmate Population List, showing people currently incarcerated in Knox County
- The 24-Hour Arrest List, showing people arrested during the preceding 24 hours
The current inmate list is the better option when someone may have been in custody for more than one day. The arrest list is useful when the arrest occurred recently. People who cannot find a record online may call the Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility at 865-281-6700 for confirmation.
Search results may include information such as:
- The person’s full booking name
- Identification number
- Booking or arrest date
- Current facility
- Listed criminal charges
- Bond information
- Court or custody status
The information can change during the day as people are booked, released, transferred or taken to court.
What If Someone Is Not Listed?
A recent arrest may not appear immediately. Detention staff must complete the intake process before the record becomes available through the public system.
Booking can involve confirming the person’s identity, entering charges, taking fingerprints and photographs, conducting medical and safety screenings and assigning a housing location.
A person may also be missing from the current list because they:
- Posted bond and were released
- Were transferred to another county
- Entered state or federal custody
- Were released following a court hearing
- Were booked under a different spelling or legal name
- Have not completed intake processing
For urgent confirmation, contact the detention facility directly rather than relying on an older screenshot or third-party roster.
Does an Inmate Listing Prove Guilt?
No. Appearing in the Knox County inmate population system means that a person is or was held in custody. It does not prove that the person committed the listed offence.
Many county inmates are awaiting arraignment, trial, sentencing or transfer. Others may be held because of a warrant, probation matter, court order or request from another agency.
Charges can later be amended, reduced or dismissed. Every accused person remains legally presumed innocent unless guilt is established through a guilty plea or court judgment.
Which Knox County Facility Holds the Inmate?
The Knox County Corrections Division operates three facilities. A person’s location may depend on classification, sentence status, security needs and available space.
The downtown Knox County Jail is located at 400 West Main Street. The larger Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility is located at 5001 Maloneyville Road. The Work Release Center is at 4900 Maloneyville Road.
An inmate can be moved between these facilities. Family members should confirm the current location before arranging a visit or attempting to deliver approved funds.
How Does Visitation Work?
Inmates at the Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility and Knox County Jail are generally allowed two scheduled visits each week.
Visits are scheduled through the county’s approved CorrectPay system. The exact visitation time depends on the inmate’s facility, housing unit and assigned side or pod.
Onsite video visitation for the downtown jail is conducted at:
Knox County Visitation Center
- 5109 Maloneyville Road
- Knoxville, Tennessee
Visitors without a suitable computer or internet connection may use the public kiosks at this visitation center after creating an account and scheduling an appointment. Remote visits may be conducted using a home computer, tablet or another supported device.
Visitors should carry a valid driver’s licence or state identification card. Visits may be monitored and recorded. Inappropriate clothing, sexual conduct, threats or other rule violations can cause a visit to be terminated and may lead to a loss of visitation privileges.
How to Send Mail to an Inmate
Personal inmate mail should be addressed through the Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility, even when the inmate is assigned to another Knox County correctional location.
The official format is:
- Inmate’s full name and IDN
- Unit number and pod assignment
- Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility
- 5001 Maloneyville Road
- Knoxville, Tennessee 37918
The inmate’s identification number, unit and pod assignment should be included to reduce delays.
Books must generally be sent directly by an identifiable publisher. Personal property is not accepted unless the facility commander or an authorised representative approves it in advance.
How to Add Money to an Inmate Account
Deposit ATMs are available in the lobbies of the Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility and Knox County Jail. Another ATM is located at the onsite visitation center.
The published charge for a cash deposit is $3.45. Credit-card deposits carry the $3.45 charge plus a 5% surcharge. Funds can also be added through CorrectPay.
Money in an inmate account may be used for:
- Commissary purchases
- Electronic messaging
- Technology accounts
- Video visitation services
Telephone time is funded separately through IC Solutions.
Money orders and cashier’s cheques are accepted by mail only. They should be made payable to the Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility and include the inmate’s name and identification number. Letters should not be placed in the same envelope as a money order or cashier’s cheque.
How to Confirm Bond or Court Information
A bond amount displayed online can change following a court appearance, additional charge or outside-agency hold.
A blank or zero bond amount does not necessarily mean the person can leave without payment. It may mean:
- Bond has not yet been set
- The person is being held without bond
- Another agency has placed a hold
- The inmate is serving a sentence
- A court order is required before release
Court dates and case information should be checked with the appropriate Knox County court. The Knox County Criminal Court directory lists the downtown jail number as 865-342-9620 and the Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility number as 865-281-6700.
Custody Notifications
Tennessee’s SAVIN system allows victims and concerned members of the public to register for notifications about changes in an offender’s custody status.
The published toll-free number is 888-868-4631. The service may provide notice when a participating inmate is released or transferred.
The official Knox County inmate population list is the best starting point for locating someone in custody. For immediate questions about housing, release, mail or visitation, contact the Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility at 865-281-6700 or the downtown Knox County Jail at 865-342-9620.