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General
The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office values input from the citizens we serve. If you have a concern or question pertaining to a law enforcement issue, we welcome you to submit a tip by clicking the button below. Once submitted, your tip will be forwarded to the responsible personnel and unit for follow up.
HCSO completes background checks for other law enforcement agencies and for adoption documentation. However, for a more expedited process for adoption, it is recommended to go through the Hamilton County Criminal Court. The Criminal Court Clerk’s Office can be contacted via telephone at 423-209-7500. You can also visit them online by clicking the button below:
To verify a warrant, the individual may contact our Criminal Warrants Unit at 423-209-7296. Alternatively, an individual can surrender at the Hamilton County Jail and Detention Center located at 601 Justice Way.
Reports & Requests
Accident and Incident Reports may be obtained by contacting our Records Office at 423-209-7111 or can requested and picked up in person at our West Annex located at 6230 Dayton Boulevard.
Please note: Make sure that the report was completed by the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office. There are over seven additional law enforcement agencies with jurisdictional authority in different areas of Hamilton County.
For non-emergencies, residents can contact the HCSO’s Non-Emergency number 24/7 at 423-622-0022. For emergencies, please dial 911.
For non-emergencies, residents can contact the HCSO’s Non-Emergency number 24/7 at 423-622-0022. For emergencies, please dial 911.
Residents in the unincorporated areas of Hamilton County can contact dispatch at 423-622-0022 to report a crime. Any emergencies should be reported to 911.
All Tennessee Open Records Requests should be submitted via email to openrecords@hcsheriff.gov. Once received, the request will be acknowledged within (7) business day in accordance with Tennessee law.
Tennessee Open Records Requests are not for requesting background checks. Any request for information from a member of the media or from a private citizen can be, by law, treated as a Tennessee Open Records Request. Under the Tennessee Open Records Act, once a (TNORR) request has been made, the HCSO has seven (7) working days to respond. Upon such request, normal fees for procurement of information and printing can be charged to the entity or person who requests said information.
The HCSO reserves the right to treat any request from the media as a TNORR . The factors below are examples of when it may be necessary for the HCSO to respond to a media request for information as a Tennessee Open Records Request as opposed to an immediate response from the Public Information Officer:
⠀⠀⠀⠀• The request for information will require extensive review and time to compile information
⠀⠀⠀⠀• The request pertains to personnel records and other HR related issues
⠀⠀⠀⠀• The request will require the printing of information
⠀⠀⠀⠀• The request pertains to a closed Investigative Report (Closed)
⠀⠀⠀⠀• Lack of staff availability
The following information requests must be made to the HCSO via the TNORR process:
⠀⠀⠀⠀• Requests for personnel records, service time, employment status, or salary
⠀⠀⠀⠀• Requests for closed Internal Affairs Investigation Reports
⠀⠀⠀⠀• Inmate Records (booking reports, phone/audio conversations and inmate medical records)
⠀⠀⠀⠀• Investigative Records
The following information requests must be made to the Hamilton County District Attorney:
Requests for dash cam, body cam, or any other type of official video record* *If approved by the HCDA, the information will then be requested from the HCSO IT Division and will be supplied to the DA’s office and ultimately to the requestor.
To inquire into the status of your investigation or ask questions regarding your case, please see the list of responsible units and their contact information below:
* Property Crimes under $1000 – Property Crimes under $1000 are generally handled by Patrol Services. You may contact their personnel at (423) 209-8900
* Property Crimes over $1000 – Property Crimes over $1000 are generally investigated by Investigative Services. You may reach their personnel at (423) 209-8940.
* Violent Crimes (Crimes Against Persons) – Violent Crimes, including those to which charges are not immediately made, are generally Investigated by Investigative Services. You may reach their personnel at (423) 209-8940. Please note, on weekends, holidays and weekdays after 5:00 pm, you may leave a voicemail with the nature of your call and your contact information.
Inmate & Bond Services
Cash bonds can be paid at the Hamilton County Courts Building at 600 Market Street in Chattanooga, Tennessee in the Hamilton County Criminal Court Clerk’s Office. To pay a bond company, you must pay through a bonding agency that is verified and accepted by the Criminal Court Clerk’s Office. Criminal Court Clerk's Office phone number: 423-209-7500
Our facility offers free onsite video visits, as well as remote video visits. Before scheduling a visit, you must create an account on GettingOut.com. Once the account is approved by the facility you will be able to schedule a visit. Before visiting an inmate, please be aware of the following:
* Citizens must submit a picture of a government issued identification
* The Citizens’ first and last name must match the submitted identification
* Citizens will have to take a headshot through the sign-up process for verification purposes
* Anyone attempting to set up a video visit must be at least 18 years of age
* Visitors MUST be free from incarceration a minimum of 6 months prior to any visit
For questions regarding visitation you may call (423) 209-7086, or if you need help with GettingOut.com call (866) 516-0115. The visitation office is open between the hours of 10:00 am & 6:00 pm. To access remote video visitation, click the button below:
All inmate mail (Non-Attorney Client Correspondence) should be sent to:
Hamilton County Jail & Detention Center, TN
John Smith, SPN# (6 digits)
P.O. Box 247
Phoenix, MD 21131
All legal mail correspondence (Mail from an Attorney) should be mailed directly to the Hamilton County Jail at the following address:
"Inmate Full Name"
Hamilton County Jail & Detention Center
601 Justice Way
Chattanooga, TN 37421
Our facility offers free onsite video visits, as well as remote video visits. Before scheduling a visit, you must create an account on GettingOut.com. Once the account is approved by the facility you will be able to schedule a visit. Before visiting an inmate, please be aware of the following:
* Citizens must submit a picture of a government issued identification
* The Citizens’ first and last name must match the submitted identification
* Citizens will have to take a headshot through the sign-up process for verification purposes
* Anyone attempting to set up a video visit must be at least 18 years of age
* Visitors MUST be free from incarceration a minimum of 6 months prior to any visit
For questions regarding visitation you may call (423) 209-7086, or if you need help with GettingOut.com call (866) 516-0115. The visitation office is open between the hours of 10:00 am & 6:00 pm. To access remote video visitation, click the button below:
Property items are released by making an appointment. Please call 423-209-7042 to schedule an appointment.
Please note that your property may not be in possession of the Sheriff’s Office as there are over seven other law enforcement agencies with jurisdictional authority in different areas of Hamilton County. Please call to verify before coming to one of our locations.
Expungements orders are directed by the court and completed in the order they are received by our Records Unit. Once the expungement process is completed, the mugshot will be removed from our system. This does not, however, affect private, third party companies and news agencies who publish mugshots or have previously released information containing the individual’s criminal history.
Sex Offender Registry
Legal & Civil Processes
Please contact General Sessions Court- Civil Division. (Location: Hamilton County courts Building at 600 Market St – 1st Floor) or call 423-209-7630.
A restraining order is obtained by an attorney filing a petition. An order of protection can be obtained without an attorney – further information may be obtained from the Circuit Court by calling 423-209-6700. To file either, go to Circuit Court (located in the Hamilton County Courthouse) first floor to initiate the process. For more information, click the button below:
Process has been defined as “the means of compelling a defendant in an action to appear in court, or a means whereby a court compels compliance with it's demands” (Blacks Law Dictionary, 5th edition) Simply stated, process is an order of the court directing that an action be done.
Civil process in Hamilton County must be issued by one of the three civil courts. The required paperwork and forms for the type of process requested must be completed and presented to the Clerk of the Court. If the court grants the request, the process will be issued.
The Civil Warrants Unit may be contacted at 423-209-8970 between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:00 pm Monday through Friday.
Property & Vehicle Retrieval
Information may be obtained by calling the Property and Evidence Unit at 423-209-8962.
Note: Please make sure that you have a report number and/or property information such as a serial or VIN number. Without specific information, Evidence Technicians may not be able to locate your items in question by name alone.
Property items are released by making an appointment. Please call 423-209-8962 to schedule an appointment.
Please note that your property may not be in possession of the Sheriff’s Office as there are over seven other law enforcement agencies with jurisdictional authority in different areas of Hamilton County. Please call to verify before coming to one of our locations.
Please call the non-emergency number at 423-622-0022 to verify where your vehicle was towed and for contact information. It could be at a private towing company impound lot, another agency, or to one of our Sheriff’s Office locations.
Please note: Your property may not be in possession by the Sheriff’s Office as there are over seven other law enforcement agencies with jurisdictional authority in different areas of Hamilton County. Please call to verify before coming to one of our locations
