Blount County Public Records / Blount County Arrest Records

Blount County Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Blount County

Arrest records in Blount County, Tennessee, are generally considered public records under state law. Pursuant to the Tennessee Public Records Act, codified at Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-503, all state, county, and municipal records are open for public inspection unless otherwise provided by law. This statute establishes a presumption of openness, meaning that records held by government agencies — including law enforcement — are accessible to members of the public upon request.

An important distinction exists between an arrest record and a conviction record. An arrest record documents the act of being taken into custody by law enforcement and does not indicate guilt or a criminal conviction. A conviction record, by contrast, reflects a formal finding of guilt by a court of law. Under Tennessee law, individuals who are arrested but not convicted may have grounds to seek expungement of those records. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) maintains the state's criminal history repository and oversees the dissemination of criminal records statewide.

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) 901 R.S. Gass Blvd, Nashville, TN 37216 Phone: (615) 744-4000 Tennessee Bureau of Investigation

What's in Blount County Arrest Records

Blount County arrest records contain a standardized set of data fields compiled at the time of booking. The following categories represent the typical contents of an arrest record maintained by the Blount County Sheriff's Office or the arresting law enforcement agency.

Arrestee Identifying Information:

Full legal name and any known aliases
Date of birth and age at time of arrest
Race, sex, height, weight, and physical descriptors
Home address at time of arrest
Social Security Number (may be redacted in public-facing records)

Arrest Details:

Date, time, and location of arrest
Name and badge number of arresting officer
Arresting agency (e.g., Blount County Sheriff's Office, Maryville Police Department)

Charge Information:

Specific criminal charges filed
Charge classification (felony, misdemeanor, or infraction)
Tennessee Code Annotated statute cited for each charge

Warrant Information (if applicable):

Warrant number and issuing court
Date warrant was issued
Jurisdiction of originating warrant

Booking Information:

Booking number and date
Facility where the individual was processed
Fingerprint and photograph (mugshot) records

Bond/Bail Information:

Bond type (cash, surety, or own recognizance)
Bond amount set by the court or magistrate
Bond conditions, if any

Court Information:

Case number assigned by the court
Scheduled court appearance dates
Assigned judge or judicial commissioner

Custody Status:

Current incarceration status
Release date and method of release
Transfer information if applicable

Additional Information May Include:

Narrative arrest report (may be subject to redaction)
Vehicle information if relevant to the arrest
Co-defendant information in multi-party cases

How To Look Up Arrest Records in Blount County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain arrest records through several official channels currently available in Blount County. The primary custodians of these records are the Blount County Sheriff's Office and the Blount County Criminal Court Clerk's Office.

To request records in person, individuals may visit the Blount County Sheriff's Office during public counter hours and submit a written public records request. Staff will process the request pursuant to the Tennessee Public Records Act, and a response is generally provided within seven business days. Fees may apply for copies of records.

Blount County Sheriff's Office 940 E. Lamar Alexander Pkwy, Maryville, TN 37804 Phone: (865) 983-3620 Blount County Sheriff's Office

To obtain court-related arrest records, members of the public may contact the Blount County Criminal Court Clerk, which maintains case files, charging documents, and disposition records.

Blount County Criminal Court Clerk 926 E. Lamar Alexander Pkwy, Maryville, TN 37804 Phone: (865) 273-5430 Blount County Criminal Court Clerk

Public counter hours for both offices are generally Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding state and federal holidays. Requestors should bring a valid government-issued photo identification when appearing in person.

How To Find Blount County Arrest Records Online

Several official online platforms currently provide access to Blount County arrest-related information. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation operates the Tennessee Felony Offender Information lookup tool, which allows members of the public to search for individuals convicted of felony offenses in the state.

The Blount County Sheriff's Office maintains an online inmate roster that reflects current and recent bookings at the Blount County Detention Facility. This roster is updated regularly and includes the name, charges, and booking date of individuals currently in custody.

The Tennessee Court Information System provides access to case information through the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts. Members of the public may search for criminal case records by name or case number through this portal.

Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts 511 Union Street, Suite 600, Nashville, TN 37219 Phone: (615) 741-2687 Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts

How To Search Blount County Arrest Records for Free?

Free access to Blount County arrest records is available through several official government resources. The following methods do not require payment of fees:

Blount County Inmate Roster: The Blount County Sheriff's Office provides a publicly accessible online roster of current detainees at no cost through its official website.
Tennessee Felony Offender Information Lookup (FOIL): The TBI's FOIL database is available at no charge and allows searches by name for individuals with felony convictions in Tennessee.
Tennessee Court Records: Basic case information through the Tennessee court system's online portal is accessible without a fee for standard name-based searches.
In-Person Inspection: Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-503, members of the public have the right to inspect public records in person at no cost. Fees may only be charged for copies or for extensive staff time required to fulfill a request.

Individuals seeking records for employment background checks or legal proceedings may require certified copies, which are subject to standard copy fees established by the respective agency.

How To Delete Arrest Records in Blount County

Tennessee law provides two primary legal mechanisms for limiting public access to arrest records: expungement (legal erasure of the record) and sealing (restricting public access while preserving the record for law enforcement purposes). These are distinct remedies with different eligibility requirements and legal effects.

Expungement results in the destruction or removal of the arrest record from public databases. Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-32-101, individuals may petition for expungement in the following circumstances:

The arrest did not result in a conviction (charges were dismissed, nolle prosequi entered, or the individual was acquitted)
The individual successfully completed a diversion program
The individual was convicted of certain eligible offenses and has completed all sentencing requirements, including a mandatory waiting period

Sealing restricts access to records without destroying them. Sealed records remain accessible to law enforcement and certain licensing agencies but are not available to the general public or most employers.

To initiate the expungement process in Blount County, individuals must:

Obtain a copy of the relevant case records from the Blount County Criminal Court Clerk
Complete the petition for expungement form available through the court clerk's office
File the petition with the Blount County Criminal Court and pay the applicable filing fee (currently $100 for eligible convictions; no fee for non-conviction arrests)
Serve copies of the petition on the District Attorney General's office
Attend any scheduled hearing if the petition is contested

Blount County District Attorney General's Office 363 Court Street, Maryville, TN 37804 Phone: (865) 273-5300 Blount County District Attorney General

What Happens After Arrest in Blount County?

The criminal justice process in Blount County follows a structured sequence from the point of arrest through final case disposition. Understanding this process assists members of the public in locating relevant records at each stage.

Arrest and Booking: Following an arrest, the individual is transported to the Blount County Detention Facility, where booking procedures are completed, including fingerprinting, photographing, and recording of personal information and charges.
Initial Appearance: The arrested individual appears before a judicial commissioner, typically within 48 hours, for a determination of probable cause and setting of bond.
Preliminary Hearing or Grand Jury: For felony charges, the case proceeds to a preliminary hearing in General Sessions Court or is presented to a grand jury for indictment.
Arraignment: Upon indictment or bound-over charges, the defendant is arraigned in Criminal Court and enters a plea.
Pre-Trial Proceedings: Discovery, motions, and plea negotiations occur during this phase.
Trial or Plea Disposition: The case is resolved through a guilty plea, dismissal, or jury/bench trial verdict.
Sentencing: If convicted, the court imposes a sentence pursuant to Tennessee sentencing guidelines.

Blount County General Sessions Court 341 Court Street, Maryville, TN 37804 Phone: (865) 273-5420 Blount County General Sessions Court

How Long Are Arrest Records Kept in Blount County?

Arrest records in Blount County are subject to retention schedules established under Tennessee state law and the policies of the Tennessee State Library and Archives. Under the Tennessee Public Records Commission guidelines, law enforcement agencies are required to maintain arrest records for specified minimum periods depending on the nature of the offense and the outcome of the case.

At present, the general retention standards applicable to Blount County law enforcement records include:

Felony arrest records: Retained permanently or for a minimum of 10 years following case disposition
Misdemeanor arrest records: Retained for a minimum of 5 years following case disposition
Juvenile arrest records: Subject to separate retention and confidentiality provisions under Tennessee juvenile justice statutes
Records subject to expungement orders: Must be destroyed or returned to the petitioner pursuant to court order under Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-32-101

Different agencies within the county — including the Sheriff's Office, the court clerk, and the TBI — maintain independent record sets and may apply different retention schedules. Records retention serves the dual purpose of preserving evidence for ongoing legal proceedings and maintaining accountability within the criminal justice system.

Tennessee State Library and Archives 403 Seventh Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37243 Phone: (615) 741-2764 Tennessee State Library and Archives

How to Find Mugshots in Blount County

What Mugshots Are Mugshots are official photographic images taken by law enforcement at the time of booking. They are part of the arrest record and serve as an identifying document within the criminal justice system.

Where Mugshots Are Maintained Mugshots are maintained by the Blount County Sheriff's Office at the Blount County Detention Facility. Copies are also transmitted to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation as part of the statewide criminal history record.

Finding Mugshots Members of the public may request mugshot images through a formal public records request submitted to the Blount County Sheriff's Office. Requests should identify the individual by full name and approximate date of arrest.

Can They Be Found Online The Blount County Sheriff's Office inmate roster currently displays booking photographs for individuals held in the detention facility. The TBI's criminal history database may also contain booking photographs accessible through official channels.

Obtaining Mugshots Officially To obtain a certified copy of a mugshot, individuals must submit a written public records request to the Blount County Sheriff's Office, specifying the subject's name, date of birth, and approximate arrest date. Standard copy fees apply.

Restrictions on Mugshot Access Mugshots associated with juvenile arrests are confidential under Tennessee law. Additionally, mugshots for records that have been expunged pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-32-101 must be destroyed and are no longer subject to public disclosure. Tennessee does not currently have a statute specifically regulating the commercial republication of mugshots by third-party websites, though legislative proposals on this issue have been considered.

Blount County Detention Facility 920 E. Lamar Alexander Pkwy, Maryville, TN 37804 Phone: (865) 983-3620 Blount County Detention Facility