Knox County officials reduce jail population by 20 percent amid COVID-19 pandemic

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Tennessee Supreme Court Order, the General Sessions Court Judges of Knox County are taking new measures to reduce the spread of the virus.

Due to the population density at Knox County detention facilities and the need to reduce the spread of the coronavirus to inmates, correction officers and healthcare workers the following temporary measures are being put into place.

The Knox County District Attorney's Office has reduced the current inmate population in Knox County detention facilities by 20 percent in less than two weeks. As of the Supreme Court's order, many inmates have been released on their own recognizance.

Any individual arrested for a misdemeanor offense that does not involve domestic assault or DUI will be released on their own recognizance, according to officials.

Any individual who is arrested on a non-violent felony and is determined to be indigent should be released, according to Knox County officials.

"It's inherently damaging to anybody to have to sit in jail simply because there is a suspicion that he or she is a criminal," said Stewart Harris, a Lincoln Memorial University constitutional law professor.

On April 1, 2020, 15 people were released from the Knox County Detention Center in accordance with the directive from the courts.

Any person arrested on a violation of probation should be released if there are no pending violations of probation and the new violation 1) alleges a failed drug screen, 2) alleges ascension for less than three months, 3) alleges a new non-violent misdemeanor offense, 4) alleges the failure to satisfy monetary obligations in any form, or 5) any other alleged technical violation.

The order, however, does not limit the ability of the Knox County DA to seek bail for people who committed a crime while free on bond or revocation of bail to those who pose a threat to the community.

The order is set to stay in place until April 30, 2020 at 11:59 p.m.

Trials, often needing 12 people to make a jury, have been impacted as well.

"Here, the entire state of Tennessee is essentially under lockdown so there's nowhere it's safe to impanel the jury," explained Harris.

Trials have been postponed.

"It's quite possible the delays will be months or even over a year. It's very hard to say."

With the workload for attorneys down, Harris speculated public defenders may have more time to aid those behind bars.

There was a sign in the door of the Knox County Detention Center that stated only non-contact legal aid was permitted. Visitors and volunteers were not allowed.