Look the name up on Clay County Inmate Search first. Then call the Sheriff's Department at 931-243-3266 and ask where the person is sleeping tonight. Clay County has only 14 jail beds, and some Clay County prisoners are held in other counties' jails. Write down the jail name and the booking number you are given.

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Space is the usual reason. A jail with 14 beds has little room to keep men and women apart, to separate people who must not share a cell, or to handle a busy weekend. Moving a prisoner does not change the court. The case stays in Clay County, and the Clay County judge still sets bail. Ask the Sheriff's Department who must receive a bond, since the paperwork may need to travel to the jail holding the person.

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The Sheriff's Department at 931-243-3266 is the starting point for custody, location, and what the jail will accept. For the court side, the Circuit Court Clerk answers at 931-243-2557 and the General Sessions judge's office at 931-243-3270. Keep the full legal name, birth date, and charge in front of you when you dial.

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The General Sessions judge or another magistrate does, not the jail. Staff can release someone only after an amount has been set, and they cannot change it. Tennessee law requires an individual decision for each person. The judge looks at how long the person has lived here, work, family, past court record, and the seriousness of the charge. The judge's office is at 931-243-3270.

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Cash means the whole amount. Under Tennessee law a person whose bail is set may put up a cash deposit equal to that amount with the court clerk. Call the Circuit Court Clerk at 931-243-2557 to ask about hours and accepted forms of payment. Because the jail is small and the prisoner may be elsewhere, ask before you drive. Get a receipt that shows the case number.

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For a Tennessee resident the charge is generally about 10 percent of the bond, plus a $37 fee. That money is the bondsman's pay, and it is not refunded. The company must be licensed by the state Board of Professional Bondsmen and accepted by the court for this district. The contract must come with receipts, and any collateral must be written on a receipt that says how you get it back.

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Yes, if the real estate is in Tennessee and the court accepts it. The judge who set bail makes the call, so expect paperwork and a wait. Phone the Circuit Court Clerk at 931-243-2557 before you gather deeds, and ask whether co-owners must sign. A bondsman may also accept property as collateral for his own fee, which is a separate deal.

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Two sufficient sureties can sign a written bond if neither is a professional bondsman or an attorney. The court decides if they are good enough, usually by checking property or steady income. Anyone who signs takes on a duty to pay if the defendant does not appear.

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It may mean the judge has not yet set an amount, or that a hold blocks release. Under the state constitution, a capital charge carries no right to bail. A warrant from another county, a probation hold, or a federal detainer also stops release even when this county's bail is paid. For the reason, ask the General Sessions judge's office at 931-243-3270.

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Yes. The law can hold a person arrested for stalking or a listed domestic or abuse offense for 12 hours unless an official finds no danger to the victim. In an aggravated assault case with strangulation, serious injury, or a weapon, the hold can reach 24 hours. Before bond the court must order no contact with the victim, and may order GPS monitoring.

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An arrested person must be brought before a magistrate without unnecessary delay. For a felony the judge explains the charge, the right to silence, and the right to a lawyer, and tells the person about a preliminary hearing. That hearing is due within 14 days for someone held in jail and within 30 days for someone out on bond. The judge's office at 931-243-3270 gives dates.

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A lawyer can ask the judge to review it. The court is told to start with release on a promise to appear, then add the lightest conditions that still keep the person coming to court. Money bail is a last step. The state also bars excessive bail. Bring proof of a job, a home address, and family ties.

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Tell the judge at the first appearance that you cannot pay for a lawyer. The 13th Judicial District Public Defender, whose office also serves nearby counties, answers at 931-526-9141. Have the case number or the booking date ready.

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No. A deposit pays for phone time and commissary only. Nothing on an inmate account counts as bail. Pay a court clerk or a licensed bondsman, never a stranger who texts you.

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Call the General Sessions Court at 931-243-3270 and ask which court has the case and where the young person is being held. Juvenile files are private, so the adult search will not list a minor. A parent should plan to attend every hearing.

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The bond can be forfeited and a warrant issued. A bondsman can also surrender the person to jail. Call the Circuit Court Clerk at 931-243-2557 right away and talk to a lawyer.

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The clerk refunds cash after the case is over, after taking court costs and fines. A bondsman's fee is never refunded. No agency accepts gift cards or app transfers for release. If a caller pushes you to pay in minutes, hang up and dial the Sheriff's Department yourself at 931-243-3266.

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