Common Questions About Knox County Court Records
Where do I search Knox County court records?
Start with the case type. General Sessions and Fourth Circuit party searches use the OnBase Public/JIMS tool. Documents for those courts can be pulled by docket number in the Hyland eCommerce portal. Circuit and Civil Sessions filings are in the paid KnoxCircuit Records service, and Chancery records go through the Clerk and Master. There is no single search box for every court, so see the Knox County court records page for each tool.
Who is the Knox County Criminal Court Clerk?
Mike Hammond is the Criminal, General Sessions-Criminal, and Fourth Circuit Court Clerk. His office is at the City-County Building, 400 Main Street, Suite 149, Knoxville, TN 37902, with a phone of 865-215-2375 and hours of Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The office cannot give legal advice or reset court dates. More clerk details are on the Clerk of Court page.
Who handles civil Circuit and Civil Sessions records?
Charles D. Susano III is the Clerk of Circuit Court, Civil Sessions Court, and Juvenile Court. Circuit Court is general jurisdiction and hears appeals from limited courts. Civil Sessions is the small claims court for cases under $25,000. This is a different office from the Criminal Court Clerk, so a civil case goes here. See the Circuit Court page for more.
Are juvenile records public in Knox County?
No, with few exceptions. The Circuit Court page states that under Tennessee law, juvenile records are private. Access is usually limited to parties, attorneys, agencies, or those with a court order. If you believe you have a right to a juvenile record, contact the Juvenile Court or an attorney before assuming you can view it. General access rules are on the court records page.
How do I find a Knox County court date?
The Criminal Court Clerk offers a "Find my Court Date" link and a phone app for criminal, General Sessions-Criminal, and Fourth Circuit matters. The JIMS search also shows case information, and an inmate profile may show a court date for someone in custody. For a civil, chancery, or juvenile case, use the matching clerk instead. The court dockets page explains the tools.
What does the Knox County inmate roster show?
The public roster shows the name, date of birth, IDN number, document type, booked or served date, charge, bond type and amount, court date, division, court event, and court role. The document type explains why a person is held, such as a warrant or a mittimus. It does not show a Social Security number or a home address. See the inmate records page for the search.
Is there a Knox County released-inmate list?
No separate official released-inmate list was found. To track a release, use the current inmate population list, the 24-hour arrest list, a VINELink notification, or TDOC FOIL for state custody. You can also call Inmate Services at 865-281-6700. The released inmates page walks through each tool and how to confirm a release.
How do I search Knox County marriage records?
Use the Tennessee County Clerk marriage lookup with names for both applicants, plus the search-both and exact-match options. The County Clerk only holds records for couples who applied for a license in Knox County. Certified copies cost $5.50 in person or $9.02 online. The marriage and divorce records page covers the search and the application.
Who handles Knox County divorce records?
Fourth Circuit Court hears divorces, orders of protection, and child custody, and its records run through the Criminal Court Clerk's office. Some divorce-related matters may also sit in Chancery. The Register of Deeds, which handles real-property records, directs divorce-record seekers to Fourth Circuit and Chancery. See the marriage and divorce records page for how to request a decree.
Can I get a local Knox County criminal background search?
Yes. The Criminal Court Clerk sells a local background package for $15 that includes three searches: name, alias name, and Social Security number. Each extra alias is $5, and the package covers Knox County and Knoxville charges back to the 1980s. It is not a statewide check. The arrest records page explains the difference between local and statewide searches.
Is there a Knox County warrant search?
No official public active-warrant name search was found. The Sheriff's Criminal Warrants Unit accepts tips and lists a LEIDS contact at 865-215-2442. If you think you have a warrant, the safest path is an attorney or the relevant court clerk, not an unofficial site. The warrant records page explains how warrants work and what to do.
How do I pay Knox County court costs?
The Criminal Court Clerk accepts payment online through KnoxCourtPay, by an automated phone line at 1-865-999-0817, in person, and by mail. Card payments add a 2.5 percent service charge plus $0.50. A person who cannot pay in full can ask the clerk to set up a cost agreement. Details are on the Clerk of Court page.
What is the difference between a traffic court record and a driver record?
A traffic court record is the case file in City Court or General Sessions. A Tennessee MVR is an official driving history kept by the Department of Safety, costing $5 online, with federal privacy law limiting access. They are different files held by different agencies. The traffic court records page explains the City Court and General Sessions split.
How do I expunge a Tennessee record?
Expungement is a court-ordered process for eligible records, and it starts in the court where the matter began. Dismissals, a no true bill, a not-guilty verdict, an arrest without charges, and nolle prosequi cases may qualify at no cost. Once granted, the order goes to agencies like the arresting agency, the jail, TDOC, and the TBI. See the arrest records page for more.
Are adoption records public in Knox County?
No. Adoption records are private and confidential and are not open to the general public. Eligible persons may request access through the Tennessee Department of Children's Services and Vital Records procedures. These records can include sealed adoption files, court records, and agency records. Broader confidentiality rules are on the public records page.
The Tennessee adoption records page explains who may request access and how the confidential process works.
Where are Knox County federal court cases?
Federal cases are not in the county system. Knox County sits in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, and federal records are searched through PACER. A Knox County arrest can stay local or, in some cases, move to federal court, where the file is kept federally rather than by the county clerk. For county cases, see the court records page.
The Eastern District of Tennessee handles federal cases for the Knoxville area, with records available through PACER.
How do I look up Knox County jail population data?
The Sheriff publishes a live inmate population list rather than a statistics dashboard. It shows individual entries, not a single count, demographic table, or trend line. For national context, the Bureau of Justice Statistics and the Vera Institute publish jail rates. The inmate population page explains what the roster includes and where broader numbers come from.
Still Have Questions?
For the right office, see the Clerk of Court page. For broader access rules, see public records. For records by topic, browse court records, arrest records, inmate records, warrant records, marriage and divorce, or probate records.