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Johnson City Detention Center Visitation Center

City Jail

Last Updated: May 12,2026

General Facility Information

Facility Address
601 E Main St, Johnson City, TN 37601
Phone
423-434-6145
Facility Type
Adult
Security Level
City Jail - medium

Visitation Table of Contents


Visitation Hours

What Happens When Someone Is Arrested by Johnson City Detention Center

The Johnson City Detention Center in Johnson City, Tennessee is a municipal law enforcement agency. Officers patrol the city, respond to calls, investigate crimes, and make arrests within Johnson City's jurisdiction. Johnson City Detention Center does not operate a long-term jail. Arrestees may be held briefly in a Johnson City Detention Center holding cell or booking room, typically only for the few hours required to complete initial processing, before being transferred to the Washington County jail for arraignment and longer-term housing. If you're trying to locate or contact someone just arrested in Johnson City, the destination within hours of arrest is almost always the county jail, not Johnson City Detention Center.

Holding at Johnson City Detention Center

Police department holding is short-term by design. Most arrestees brought to Johnson City Detention Center are held only long enough for fingerprints, photographs, an inventory of personal property, and entry into the booking system. Holding can last a few hours to roughly 24 hours, depending on the time of arrest, court schedules, and intake capacity at the receiving jail. Late-night and weekend arrests often sit longer because court arraignments are limited to business hours and the transfer van may not run until morning. During this window, visitors are not permitted and phone calls may not yet be available.

Transfer to the County Jail

After initial processing at Johnson City Detention Center, arrestees are transferred to the Washington County jail. The county jail handles longer-term pretrial detention, arraignment scheduling, bond intake, and any sentenced time served locally. Once the transfer is complete, the arrestee shows up in the county jail's inmate roster, becomes available for phone calls under the jail's contracted provider, and follows the county jail's visitation rules. To find the arrestee after transfer, use the InmateAid inmate search and look for the Washington County jail record. The county jail's facility page on InmateAid covers visitation, phone discount setup, and money transfer options once your person is in their system.

First Phone Call After Arrest

Arrestees at Johnson City Detention Center may or may not receive a phone call during the brief holding period. Most jurisdictions allow at least one call after booking, but the timing depends on staffing, processing volume, and whether the call happens at Johnson City Detention Center or after transfer to the county jail. The call is typically routed through the facility's contracted phone provider as a collect call or via a prepaid account. To make sure you don't miss the first call when it comes through, set up a prepaid account in advance through InmateAid's discount calling service.

Bail, Bond, and Release

Johnson City Detention Center does not set bail. Bail is set by a judge at arraignment, which usually happens at the county courthouse after transfer to the Washington County jail. Minor misdemeanor arrests may qualify for cite-and-release at the scene or station-house release after booking at Johnson City Detention Center, in which case the arrestee is released without ever going to county jail. Felony arrests and serious misdemeanors almost always go to the county jail to wait for arraignment, which can take hours, overnight, or until the next business day depending on when the arrest occurred. For specific bond information, contact the receiving county jail.

Visiting Someone Arrested by Johnson City Detention Center

There is no visitation at Johnson City Detention Center because the holding period is too short and the facility is not built for visitors. Once the arrestee is transferred to the Washington County jail, that facility's visitation rules apply, including approved visitor lists, scheduled visiting hours, ID requirements, and dress codes. To find the receiving facility and its visitation rules, search for the Washington County jail through the InmateAid inmate search and review the visitation section on that facility's page.

To confirm whether someone is still at Johnson City Detention Center or has been transferred to the county jail, call 423-434-6145.

General Visitation Information

Johnson City Detention Center - Visitation

Visitation Hours:

  • Sunday First Visit: 12:30 PM-2:30 PM
  • Sunday Second Visit: 3:00PM -5:00PM

Visitation Address: Fairmont (old gym) 1405 Lester Harris Road Johnson City, TN

Visitation Rules:

  1. Inmates will be allowed one (1) non-contact visit through the window during regular visitation times within their first two weeks of entry giving ample time for visitation forms to be approved. Once visitation forms are approved inmates will be allowed contact visitation.
  2. No visitation forms will be approved for persons under the age of 18 and not an immediate family member (i.e. child, brother or sister). Anyone allowed to visit under the age of eighteen (18) must be under the supervision of an adult. a. Anyone over the age of 18 years old must submit a copy of their driver’s license, or a photo ID from the Department of Motor Vehicles with their visitation form. (No exceptions) b. Anyone under the age of 18 years old must submit either a copy of their original birth certificate or a copy from the Department of Health with their visitation form. (No exceptions)
  3. The following will apply for persons with past criminal felony convictions: a. No visitation forms will be approved for persons with felony convictions other than immediate family members. Immediate family members consist of child, spouse, sibling, parent or grandparent only. b. Any spouse with a prior felony conviction must provide proof of marriage.
  4. No visitor will be allowed to enter the visitation area without an approved visitation form on file.
  5. No inmate will be allowed to leave her assigned table to walk a visitor to the door. The only exception to this rule is if the inmate has to use the restroom facilities. The inmate must ask the permission of the correctional officer on duty if she wishes to use the facilities, at that time the visit will be terminated. (No exceptions)
  6. No purses, no wallets, no diaper bags, no weapons (i.e. pocketknives, etc.), no ice cream, or open beverages of any kind from an outside source will be allowed inside the visitation area. Can drinks ONLY (No exceptions)
  7. Visitors with infants or small children may bring the appropriate items needed to care for the child during visitation in a gallon size zip-lock bag (i.e. diapers, bottles, etc.). Visitors must leave these items at the Officer’s table and they will be allowed to use them as needed.
  8. All visitors are subject to being searched. Anyone refusing to be searched will be denied admittance to visitation. (No exceptions)
  9. Visitors can enter the building one at a time only. Once said visitor has exited the building, they cannot re-enter for any reason.
  10. Only five (5) visitors per inmate will be allowed in the visitation area at any one time, including but not limited to children. (No exceptions)
  11. Adults and children over the age of twelve (12) must sit across from the inmate. (No exceptions)
  12. No tobacco products of any kind will be allowed inside the visitation area.
  13. The following restaurants are the only ones approved: any deviations from the approved list will not be allowed into the visitation area. (No exceptions) Absolutely No Whole Sheet, Layer Cakes, Energy Drinks, Milkshakes/Ice Cream/Fountain Drinks/Coffee Allowed. Unopened can sodas only. McDonald’s Hardee’s Pal’s Taco Bell Little Caesar’s Dairy Queen Fazoli’s Long John Silver’s
  14. There will be no physical contact except for one quick hug to your child or grandchild before and after visit. (No exceptions) Violation will result in loss of contact visits.
  15. Children must be kept under control at all times by the guardian that brings them to visitation, not the inmate.
  16. Inmates must keep their hands above the table at all times.
  17. A receipt must be presented for any food item being brought into the visitation area.
  18. Inmates are allowed to send out excess mail every Sunday of each month. Any inmate that is receiving property during Sunday visit must have a written memo from the Superintendent. (No exceptions)
  19. Children are not allowed to use any of the visitation area facilities due to a liability factor involved.
  20. Inmates are not allowed to wear jewelry of any kind to visitation.
  21. Any item (i.e. excess mail, etc.) Being brought to visitation by the inmate, to be given to a visitor must be left at the officer’s table. Inmates will not be allowed to take any items to their table. Items may be picked up by the visitor(s) upon his or her leaving the visitation area. Any item brought to the inmate, by a visitor, must be brought to the detention facility 30 minutes prior to the visit. Not after the visit. (No exceptions)
  22. Inmates are to stay seated until their visitors have exited the building.
  23. Visitors with the smell of alcohol on their breath or appears to be under the influence of a narcotic drug will be denied access to the visitation area and possible suspension of visitation for a specific period of time as deemed necessary by the superintendent.
  24. Each inmate will be assigned a table and at no time will two inmates be allowed to share the same table. If an inmate goes to visitation and has no visitors present, said inmate will have to leave the visitation area and set in the area designated for no visitation.
  25. No food is to be passed between the inmates and correctional officers at any time.
  26. These rules are steadfast and are to be strictly adhered to. Any changes will come from the superintendent only.

Johnson City Detention Center - Visitation Form