Hamilton County Jail History

From its humble beginnings in 1819, Hamilton County has grown from
a few settlers to a county with a population of over 360,000 and
includes one of the four largest cities in Tennessee. Throughout the
years, as the county has embraced modernization and wide-scale
industrial growth, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office has also had to
grow and expand to serve the increasing needs of such a prosperous
county. During the last 200 years, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office
has utilized several buildings and residences as the official jail of the
county.

According to the limited available historical documentation, the first

official Hamilton County jail was called Swim’s Jail and was originally
constructed for runaway slaves. Prior to this, some jails were simply
cells located in the basements of the sheriff’s home. Swim’s Jail was Above: Illustration depicting Swim’s Jail
(ca. 1870)
once detailed as a building containing only two cells that “was sized
for five people, but was currently holding nineteen.”

The pressure of an increasing number of inmates caused the reality of the state of the jail to be overlooked. In 1873, a
newspaper journalist voiced their disapproval of the jail conditions, which led to a grand jury requesting that the sheriff
improve the “Old Jail.”

The jury stated, “We have no doubt that three months

within the said place are more detrimental to the health of
its inmates than a five year sojourn would be within the
state penitentiary.” Increased public demand and
disapproval from the grand jury led to the sheriff’s office
taking action.

The “Old Jail,” was completed in 1881 under the

administration of Sheriff Hiram J. Springfield. It would
remain in use for almost 100 years until it was torn down
shortly after the completion of the Hamilton County Justice
Above: The “old” Hamilton County Jail (ca. 1970) Building in 1976.

The Hamilton County Justice Building originally housed approximately 250 inmates and also contained the Hamilton
County Sessions and Criminal Courts and administrative offices. In 1994, the Hamilton County Jail underwent a $7
million renovation and expansion. This allowed for modern amenities to be added or updated and increased the housing
capacity to over 500. The courts also moved from the jail to the newly constructed Hamilton County Courts Building
located at 600 Market Street.

Throughout the 200 year history of the Hamilton County’s jail has changed from two cells to a building in downtown
Chattanooga that can hold over 500 inmates with additional support from our Silverdale Detention Center. The growth
of Hamilton County has caused the jail to increase in size and capacity. Although the buildings may have changed or
have been renovated, the mission of the Corrections Division continues to be to provide consistent and fair treatment to
all inmates.

Hamilton County Justice Building (ca. 2021)