Law Enforcement - Historical Notes

Jails and Prisoners

The following act once affected jails and prisoners in Greene County, but is no longer operative.

1. Acts of 1805, Chapter 55, authorized a tax levy by the Greene County Court for the purpose of constructing a stone jail.

Militia

Those acts once affecting Greene County, which related to the militia and to other law enforcement agencies other than the sheriff, are mentioned below in chronological order.

1. Acts of 1803, Chapter 1, was a militia law for Greene County, placing the county troop in the third regiment of the Tennessee militia, and specifying that the annual muster would be held in Greeneville on the second Thursday of October.
2. Acts of 1815, Chapter 119, specified that the Greene County militia was part of the third regiment.
3. Public Acts of 1819, Chapter 68, revised and amended the militia laws of the state.  The militia of Greene County composed the third regiment and held regimental musters on the third Thursday in October.
4. Private Acts of 1824, Chapter 37, was another militia law for Greene County, which created the ninetieth regiment of the second battalion.  The regimental muster was to be held on the second Thursday in October and the battalion would muster on the second Saturday in April of each year.
5. Public Acts of 1825, Chapter 69, revised and amended the militia laws of the state.  The militia of Greene County composed the third regiment and ninetieth regiment; the third regiment held a regimental muster on the third Thursday in October, and the ninetieth regiment, on the fourth Thursday in October.
6. Public Acts of 1835-36, Chapter 21, divided the militia of the state into companies, battalions, regiments, brigades and divisions.  The militia of Greene County composed the seventh and eighth regiments of the state.  The counties of Greene, Jefferson and Cocke constituted the second brigade of the first division.
7. Acts of 1837-38, Chapter 157, provided that the annual muster of the second brigade would be held on the first Friday and Saturday in September of each year in Greeneville.
8. Acts of 1839-40, Chapter 56, revised and amended the militia laws of the state.  The militia of Greene County composed the seventh and eighth regiments of the second brigade.  The seventh regiment held musters on the second Monday in October, while the eighth held musters on Tuesday the next day.
9. Public Acts of 1861, Chapter 1, revised and amended the militia laws of the state.  The militia of Greene County composed the seventh and eighth regiments which were part of the second brigade.  Regimental musters were held on the second Monday in October for the seventh regiment and on the next day for the eighth regiment.

Offenses

The act briefly summarized below fell into this category in Greene County.  Also referenced below is an act which repealed prior law without providing new substantive provisions.

1. Private Acts of 1997, Chapter 5, repealed the Private Acts of 1949, Chapter 588 and any other acts amendatory thereto, relative to the prohibition of pyrotechnics in Greene County.

Sheriff

The following acts have no current effect but are included here for reference purposes since they once applied to the Greene County Sheriff's Office.  Also referenced below is an act which repealed prior law without providing new substantive provisions.

1. Acts of 1853-54, Chapter 76, authorized the sheriff of Greene County to appoint an additional deputy.
2. Acts of 1859-60, Chapter 122, released James Jones, the Greene County Sheriff, from payment of punitive damages of $683.17 in a judgment granted to the state against him for late tax collection.
3. Public Acts of 1917, Chapter 47, set the salary of the Greene County Sheriff to $2,000 per year.
4. Private Acts of 1919, Chapter 102, fixed the compensation for the Greene County Sheriff to $600 per annum.  The act was amended by Private Acts of 1929, Chapter 535, which increased the salary of the sheriff to $1,200 per annum.
5. Private Acts of 1921, Chapter 852, provided that the sheriff was to receive $600 annually for ex-officio services in addition to the other fees of this office.  This act was repealed by Private Acts of 1923, Chapter 102.
6. Private Acts of 1925, Chapter 28, was identical to Private Acts of 1921, Chapter 852, which provided that the sheriff was to receive $600 annually for ex-officio services in addition to the other fees of this office.
7. Private Acts of 1953, Chapter 381, abolished the fee system for compensation of the Greene County sheriff, setting his salary at $6,500 annually, to be paid from the fees of his office, with any excess fees going into the county general fund.