The Sheriff is a constitutional office in Tennessee, with four main areas of duty: Law Enforcement, Jail Operations, Securing the Operation of Courts, and Serving the Process of Courts. In McMinn County, the Sheriff’s Office is made up of the following divisions: Patrol, Corrections, Investigations, Courts, School Resource, and Administrative and Support Staff. The McMinn County Jail is certified to house 350 inmates. Sheriff Joe Guy has served since 2010.
Mission Statement
It is the mission of the McMinn County Sheriff's Office to ensure the safety of the general public, the employees of this institution and the inmates confined therein. We do this by managing high risk offenders, including those sentenced to life or death. We are committed to fulfilling our mission with all employees working together for a common goal. Creativity, flexibility and responsiveness is encouraged by our entire staff. We respect each staff member, as well as those we serve through fair, ethical, and courteous treatment. As law enforcement officers, our fundamental duty is to serve mankind; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation; the peaceful against violence or disorder; and to respect the constitutional right of all persons to liberty, equality and justice.
Some Fun Facts:
The office of Sheriff is one of the oldest public offices still in use, dating from the 10th century, from an old English office known as the “Shire Rave”.
The first Sheriff in America was William Stone in 1634 in Virginia. The first elected Sheriff was William Waters in 1658 in Virginia.
The first Sheriff in what is now Tennessee was Valentine Sevier in Watauga 1778.
The first Sheriff in McMinn Co was Spencer Beavers, who was also the longest serving, 24 years, from 1820 to 1842. The second longest serving Sheriff was Steve Frisbie, 16 years, 1994-2010. The third longest, in non-consecutive terms, was DT Nation, 10 years. Joe Guy is the 48th Sheriff of McMinn Co, and is currently the 4th longest serving Sheriff.
McMinn County has had several jails: in Calhoun 1820-1822, Athens Square 1822-1827, Knight Park in Athens 1827-1875, White St in Athens 1875-1952, Church St in Athens, 1952-1991, and the current jail on South White St, built in 1991 and expanded to a court complex in 2014.
Former Sheriff Larry Wallace is the only person ever to also serve as Colonel of the Tennessee Highway Patrol and the Director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
McMinn County is the only debt-free county in Tennessee.
This facility now offers an automated way for you to get inmate-specific and general facility information directly over the phone without the wait!
Access updated information 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
This facility now offers a way to fund inmate calls, no account required.
Inmate Debit Calling is now available at this facility, which makes paying for inmate calls easier than ever! You can now add money directly to an inmate’s debit calling account without having to set up your own prepaid phone account.
Jail’s state and name of the facility (Tennessee) (McMinn County Justice Center)
Inmate’s first and last name
Inmate’s I.D. number
Inmate Mail Services
You are permitted to write as many letters as you wish. We encourage you to correspond with your friends and family that are housed at the McMinn County Justice Center.
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 corresponding by mail.
The McMinn County Justice Center only accepts inmate mail in the form of postcards with the maximum dimension of 5-1/2 inches tall and 8-1/2 inches wide.
All postcards shall include the following information:
Sender’s Name
Sender’s Full Address
Inmate’s Name
Inmate’s Identification Number
Inmate’s Cell Location
Examples:
Jane Doe
Inmate # 123456
Athens, TN. 37303
McMinn County Sheriff’s Office
Inmate John Doe
Cell: BX 12 Inmate # 123456
c/o Securus Digital Mail Center
P.O. Box 951
Lebanon, MPO 65536
The only exception to this procedure for personal inmate mail will be standard size envelopes with maximum dimensions of 4-1/8 inches tall and 9-1/2 inches wide postmarked the 1st through the 7th of each month only containing appropriate personal photographs. Envelopes that have items pasted, attached, or containing additional items of any kind will be rejected and returned to sender.
Inmate legal mail will not be affected by this change.
THERE WILL BE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS PROCEDURE.
The following is a list of unacceptable postcard (Letter) forms that will not be accepted at this facility:
Postcards that contain threats of physical harm against persons or threats of criminal activity.
Postcards that threaten blackmail or extortion.
Postcards that contain plans to escape.
Postcards that contain plans for activities violating jail rules.
Postcards that are in code.
Postcards that contain information that, if communicated, would create a clear and present danger of violence and physical harm to a human being.
Postcards that contain other material that would, if communicated, create a serious danger to the security of the jail.
Postcards with any biohazards, including perfumes or lipstick.
Postcards marked with paint, crayons or markers.
No glue, glitter, staples, or any other adhesives.
Plastic or wrapping on letters.
Postcards with labels or stickers.
No colored postcards. White only.
Postcards will only be written on with blue or black ink. No other color.
Postcards depicting nudity, weapons, or gang references.
Any handmade postcards or postcards not of standard size.
Any postcards containing contraband that is defined by the McMinn County Sheriff’s Office.
If the postcard looks or appears to be tampered with, it will be rejected and returned to sender.
Inmate 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:
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.
All visitors are subject to search prior to entry into the facility. Failure to comply with this procedure is grounds for denial of visitation.
Visitors under the influence of alcohol or drugs will not be admitted into the facility.
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.
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.
All children must be closely supervised at all times before, during and after the visit. Children may not be left unattended at any time.
Visitors may not convey or pass any article(s) to any inmate or receive any article(s) from an inmate.
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.)
Eating or drinking in the visitation area is prohibited.
Tobacco products of any kind are strictly prohibited in the visitation area. Anyone caught will have visitation privileges terminated.
All visitors must remain inside the assigned booth at all times during the visit.
Loud talking, excessive emotional outburst, or any other type of disruptive behavior is not allowed in the visitation area.
A visit is automatically terminated if a visitor or inmate leaves the assigned booth.
No cellular telephones, cameras, audio or video equipment will be allowed into the visitation area without prior approval.
Any vandalism or destruction of McMinn County property is prohibited.
Violation of any of the above regulations may result in the termination of the visit and/or suspension of future visitation privileges.
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.
Inmate Bookings
This facility now offers an automated way for you to get inmate-specific and general facility information directly over the phone without the wait!
Access updated information 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Please use this automated system that is provided for you to access information regarding criminal charges, bond information, and court information. Corrections personnel will not provide this information over the telephone.
Warrant information will not be provided over the telephone to the public regarding specific individuals.
The TPRA provides that all state, county and municipal records shall, at all times during business hours, be open for personal inspection by any citizen of this state, and those in charge of the records shall not refuse such right of inspection to any citizen, unless otherwise provided by state law. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7- 503(a)(2)(A). Accordingly, the public records of the McMinn County Sheriff’s Office are presumed to be open for inspection unless otherwise provided by law. Personnel of the McMinn County Sheriff’s Office shall timely and efficiently provide access and assistance to persons requesting to view or receive copies of public records. No provisions of this Policy shall be used to hinder access to open public records. However, the integrity and organization of public records, as well as the efficient and safe operation of the McMinn County Sheriff’s Office, shall be protected as provided by current law. Concerns about this Policy should be addressed to the Public Records Request Coordinator for the McMinn County Sheriff’s Office or to the Tennessee Office of Open Records Counsel (“OORC”). The McMinn County Sheriff’s Office policy and procedure for public records request is available for inspection and duplication at the McMinn County Sheriff’s Office. This Policy shall be reviewed annually.
The minimum requirements for employment as a corrections officer:
Be at least eighteen (18) years of age
Be a citizen of the United States
Be a high school graduate or possess its equivalency, which shall include a general educational development (GED(R)) certificate
Not have been convicted of, or pleaded guilty to, or entered a plea of nolo contendere to any felony charge or to any violation of any federal or state
laws or municipal ordinances relating to force, violence, theft, dishonesty,
gambling, liquor, controlled substances or controlled substance analogues.
A criminal record check shall be conducted on all new facility employees, service providers with continuous access to restricted
areas, contractors, and volunteers prior to their assuming duties to
identify if there are criminal convictions that have a specific
relationship to job performance. This criminal record check includes
comprehensive identifier information to be collected and run against
law enforcement indices. If suspect information on matter with
potential terrorism connections are returned on the person, this
information shall be forwarded to the local Joint Terrorism Task
Force (JTTF) or another similar agency.
Not have been released or discharged under any other than honorable discharge from any of the armed forces of the United States.
Have the person's fingerprints on file with the Tennessee bureau of investigation.
Have passed a physical examination by a licensed physician.
Have a good moral character as determined by a thorough investigation conducted by the sheriff's office. Be free from any disorder as described in the current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders of the American
Psychiatric Association that would, in the professional judgment of the
examiner, impair the subject's ability to perform any essential function of
the job or would cause the subject to pose a direct threat to public safety.
An applicant must be certified as meeting these criteria by a Tennessee
licensed health care provider qualified in the psychiatric or psychological
fields.
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