McMinn County TN Jail

McMinn County TN Jail basic information to help guide you through what you can do for your inmate while they are incarcerated. The facility's direct contact number: 423-745-5620

This facility is for adult inmates.

The McMinn County TN Jail is a medium-security detention center located at 1319 S White St in Athens, TN. This county jail is operated locally by the McMinn County Sheriff's Office and holds inmates awaiting trial or sentencing. Most of the sentenced inmates are here for less than two years. McMinn County accepts inmates from surrounding towns, municipalities, the US Marshal's Service and the Athens Police Department who do not have their own long-term lock-up.

There are new detainees delivered to the jail daily, you can see arrest records here. Some are released after putting up bail, are released to a pretrial services caseload, are placed under supervision by a probation agency, or are released on their own recognizance with an agreement to appear in court. If there is no release, the inmate must wait here at the jail for their court appearance as a guest of the County, getting a bed and three square meals.

Trustees are inmates who work in the jail as cooks, as orderlies for the staff, in the laundry or in the commissary. The trustees are paid a very small amount for their time and some jail gives the trustees a few days off their sentence in exchange for their work.

When an inmate arrives in jail they are put together in a large holding cell with other inmates in the intake. While in intake they are under heightened observation. Violent and out of control inmates are segregated.

Can I Get Work Release?

Work release is when you are released from jail during the day so that you can go to work. At the end of the day, you return to jail for the night. There are a number of requirements to be able to get into the work-release program. Most programs require your employer to fill out some paperwork. If you want to get into the work release program then apply prior to being sentenced to jail. This will minimize the amount of time you spend in jail waiting to get into the program.

Can I call my family in Jail?

McMinn County TN Jail has a phone program where inmates make outbound calls only, you cannot call into jail. Since you are paying for those calls don't make it a habit of accepting collect-calls, they are over $15 each. The alternative is to set up an account through their third-party phone company which charges steep fees for each minute used. You are paying for them to call you. Click here if you are going to speak a lot and need a discount on the calls.

Remember – These phone calls are recorded and conversations can be used against you or the inmate so do not discuss your case over these phone lines.

visitation Info

McMinn County Jail – Visitation

The McMinn County Sheriff’s Office encourages inmates to have visits with family and friends.

Due to the safety and security of the McMinn County Justice Center, including the safety of all employees, inmates, volunteers, and visitors, we must impose guidelines or rules in reference to inmate visitation.

Inmates will be limited to receiving visits from those individuals whose names have been submitted and approved on an Authorized Visitation List. These lists are limited to five (5) visitors’ maximum.

Any person with a felony conviction within the last twenty-four (24) months or confined in any correctional facility within the last twelve (12) months, or has a known gang affiliation, will not be permitted in this facility for visitation purposes.

Upon assignment to a permanent housing unit, inmates in the McMinn County Sheriff's Office corrections facility may complete and submit names for their approved visitor list. Only one (1) list may be submitted within a ninety (90) day period. Approved visitation lists may only be revised once in a ninety (90) day period.

Visitation schedules are posted in each housing unit.

Limits on the number of visitors may be imposed based upon schedule, space and personnel constraints. Each inmate will be permitted three (3) visitors’ maximum per visit.

Visitation sign-in starts approximately fifteen (15) minutes prior to the visit.

Visitors’ must follow the instructions of MCSO staff or the visit will be terminated. Any violation of the rules will result in the termination of your visit and may result in your visitor being permanently barred from visiting you.

The following is a list of rules and guidelines pertaining to inmate visitation:

1. All visitors must present proper identification (federal, state, or local issued photo i.d. to include name, address, and date of birth) at time of each registration.
2. All visitors are subject to search prior to entry into the facility. Failure to comply with this procedure is grounds for denial of visitation.
3. Visitors under the influence of alcohol or drugs will not be admitted into the facility.
4. Proper attire is required at all times. Shoes and shirts must be worn. Suggestive clothing, see-through fabric, extremely short shorts, miniskirts, and hats may not be worn.
5. Visitors under the age of eighteen (18) must be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian and their birth certificate, unless he/she is legally married to the inmate receiving the visit or he/she has been emancipated by the court. It is up to the visitor to provide this documentation at each visit.
6. All children must be closely supervised at all times before, during and after the visit. Children may not be left unattended at any time.
7. Visitors may not convey or pass any article(s) to any inmate or receive any article(s) from an inmate.
8. Valid identification only will be allowed into the visitation area. All other items such as large coats, keys, hand held wallets, purses, satchels, diaper bags, tobacco products, or any food or drink products will not be allowed. (visitors with infant children will be permitted to retain one (1) diaper, one (1) baby bottle, and one (1) baby blanket per child.)
9. Eating or drinking in the visitation area is prohibited.
10. Tobacco products of any kind are strictly prohibited in the visitation area. Anyone caught will have visitation privileges terminated.
11. All visitors must remain inside the assigned booth at all times during the visit.
12. Loud talking, excessive emotional outburst, or any other type of disruptive behavior is not allowed in the visitation area.
13. A visit is automatically terminated if a visitor or inmate leaves the assigned booth.
14. No cellular telephones, cameras, audio or video equipment will be allowed into the visitation area without prior approval.
15. Any vandalism or destruction of McMinn County property is prohibited.
16. Violation of any of the above regulations may result in the termination of the visit and/or suspension of future visitation privileges.
17. The introduction of, or attempt to introduce into the facility or upon facility grounds, any contraband, to wit: any written or recorded communication; any currency or coin; any article of food or clothing; any intoxicating beverage; any narcotic or drug of any kind or nature; or is intended to be used as an aid in assisting or attempting to assist an escape is a felony and will be prosecuted under all applicable federal and state laws.