Decatur County Detention Center Inmate Bail & Bonds
Decatur County bail and bond: the small jail in Decaturville and the clerk who runs the court files
People arrested in Decatur County are held at the Decatur County Detention Center, which the Sheriff's Office operates in Decaturville at 38 East Main Street. Look the person up in Decatur County Inmate Search to see the booking and the bond amount. The one office that handles both Circuit Court and General Sessions paperwork is the Circuit Court Clerk, 22 West Main Street, at 731-852-3125. That clerk is your best contact for court dates, case numbers, and questions about posting a bond.
Is the jail big enough that people get sent elsewhere?
Decatur County keeps its own pretrial inmates at the detention center in Decaturville. It is a small facility, so a person you cannot find in the county search may simply be moments from booking. Check Decatur County Inmate Search again after a few hours before you assume a transfer.
What does the Circuit Court Clerk do for a family in this situation?
The clerk keeps the criminal files for Circuit Court and General Sessions at 22 West Main Street, Decaturville. Call 731-852-3125 for a court date, a case number, or a question about how a bond is filed. Mail goes to P.O. Box 488, Decaturville, TN 38329.
When is the clerk's office open?
The office opens Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. On Wednesday it closes at noon, with the day running 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Plan any trip to the window around that short Wednesday.
Who picks the bond, and can it be argued down?
A judicial officer chooses the amount after looking at the arrest. A General Sessions judge can hear a request to change it. Because Tennessee requires an individual decision for each defendant, the jail cannot release anyone on a generic price list.
What do judges ask about the defendant?
They ask how long the person has lived here, whether there is steady work, who the family members are, whether past court dates were kept, and how serious the charge is. They also ask whether releasing the person would put anyone at risk. A respected community member who vouches can help, up to two defendants per voucher.
Can my brother or sister go home without putting up money?
Possibly. The judge must think first about release on the person's own promise or an unsecured bond, and about the lightest workable conditions. Money bail is for situations where those options fall short. A lawyer is the best person to raise it.
What is the difference between paying cash and hiring a bondsman?
Cash means the full bond goes to the court, and it returns to the payer after the case, less fines and costs. A bondsman keeps a premium that does not come back, about ten percent for a Tennessee resident, and promises the rest to the court.
Which fees ride along with a bondsman's premium?
A $25 initiation fee and a $12 bail tax may be added. A nonresident can be charged ten to fifteen percent. The bondsman owes you a duplicate receipt for each payment and a written list of any collateral kept.
How do I know a bondsman is allowed to work in Decatur County?
Ask for two things: the state license from the Board of Professional Bondsmen, and proof of approval from the court in the 24th Judicial District. A bondsman may not surrender your relative without good cause.
May a family use real estate or friends to guarantee a bond?
Tennessee real estate may secure the bond. Two sufficient sureties who are neither bondsmen nor lawyers may also sign a written agreement. The Circuit Court Clerk at 731-852-3125 can tell you what paperwork the court wants.
What mistakes slow down a release?
Missing identification, a misspelled name, or a bond posted for the wrong case. Carry the person's full legal name, birth date, and the booking number from Decatur County Inmate Search. Bring your own photo ID, too.
What can delay a release even after a bond is paid?
A 12-hour hold applies to stalking, child abuse, abuse of an older or vulnerable adult, and domestic cases that involve serious injury or a deadly weapon, unless the official sees no threat. An aggravated assault involving strangulation or a weapon can mean up to 24 hours.
What promises does a victim-related release order contain?
The order bars threats and contact, keeps the defendant away from the victim's home and usual places, bars weapons, alcohol, and controlled drugs, and may require GPS monitoring at the defendant's expense. The defendant receives a copy at release and may ask for a prompt hearing.
Which charges rule out bail?
Capital offenses. The Tennessee Constitution makes every other prisoner bailable by sufficient sureties. In a murder case, expect a hearing rather than a quick posting.
Is a DUI treated differently?
Often. The court may order an ignition interlock device and demand proof of installation within 10 days. A third or later alcohol offense can add transdermal monitoring. The defendant, not the county, pays for the device.
What does the first courtroom visit look like for a felony?
The arrested person goes before a magistrate without unnecessary delay. For a felony the judge explains the charge and the right to counsel. A preliminary hearing is set within 14 days for someone held in jail and within 30 days for someone released.
What if the defendant fails to come to a scheduled date?
The bond can be forfeited and an arrest order issued. A surety does not owe fines, costs, or restitution unless the written bond says so and the surety agreed. Reach the clerk the same day to ask about next steps.
Who represents people who cannot pay a lawyer?
The Public Defender for the 24th Judicial District serves Decatur County at 731-584-3384. Request appointed counsel when you first see the judge. The lawyer may ask for release without money or a smaller bond.
What about a minor taken into custody?
Juvenile cases run apart from adult cases, and a young person's name is protected. Ask the Circuit Court Clerk at 731-852-3125 for the hearing time and for the place where the young person is being held.
Are jail account deposits the same as bail?
No. Commissary and phone deposits do not free anyone. A caller who asks for gift cards or a wire transfer to release an inmate is running a scam. Hang up and contact the clerk at 731-852-3125.
Decatur County bond contacts
- County jail
- Decatur County Detention Center, 38 East Main Street, Decaturville, TN 38329
- Bond guide
- Jail bail and bond page
- Custody lookup
- Decatur County Inmate Search
- Circuit and General Sessions Clerk
- 22 West Main Street, Decaturville, TN 38329; 731-852-3125
- County Clerk
- 731-852-3417
- Public defender
- 24th Judicial District; 731-584-3384
Bond amounts, fees, and hours can change with a court order. Courts can change amounts, fees, and hours. Check the details of your case with the clerk before paying. It does not replace a lawyer who knows your case.
How do Bail Bonds work at Decatur County Detention Center
The Decatur County Sheriff recommends that you might want to use a bail bond agent licensed to do business in Decatur County.
However if you don't want to use a bail bond agent:
- You can always pay a cash bond yourself, or use your home in Decatur County, or in some cases the state of Tennessee, but the benefit of using a bail bond agent is that they take responsibility for making sure the inmate shows up for court in Decatur County, and if they don't, then they take the financial responsibility.
- The typical fee for a bond in Tennessee is between 10-20% of the bail amount; usually 15% or less. So if an offender has a bail of $10,000.00, their bond will be $1,500.00.
- Pay by cash, cashier's check, money order or credit card at the Decatur County Detention Center, or the courthouse in Decatur County where the offense took place.
Call 731-852-3703 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Decatur County inmate locator.
Decatur County Detention Center
Address:
21 S. South Street
Decaturville, TN 38329
Phone:
731-852-3703
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Decatur County
Does Decatur County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Decatur County?
Who can set bail in Decatur County?
When is bail set in Decatur County Tennessee?
Does Decatur County have bail?
Yes, Decatur County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Decatur County?
Decatur County recognizes most types of bonds. The court will consider what type of bonds will be accepted depending on the circumstances of the arrest.
Who can set bail in Decatur County?
Bail is set by a magistrate or judge.
When is bail set in Decatur County Tennessee?
Bail is set during the defendant’s first court hearing, also known as a bail hearing. This court appearance will be scheduled within 72 hrs. of arrest not counting weekends or holidays.
What is Bail?
Bail is what the arrested in Decatur County must pay or do to stay out of jail until the first court appearance.
The agreement to bail acts as a promise that the arrested will return to court for court dates and trial. Bail usually refers to a dollar amount, but bail can also mean something that has to be done, or a condition such as reporting to an officer of the court, a curfew, restraining orders or attending a treatment program.
Bail is usually a significant enough amount of money and/or condition that the person will be negatively impacted and has incentive to return to court and not flee. A flight risk usually means that the person would flee the area, and not necessary that they are going to take an airplane.
If a judge in Tennessee feels that the arrested will return to court for further proceedings, the arrested could be released under a conditional release without needing to pay bail money. This is called Released on Own Recognizance, or ROR.
Conditions for ROR might be to obey all court orders and laws, maintain contact with the lawyer, report changes in residence or have no contact with the victim. Family support will show the court that there are people who will make sure that the defendant makes it to court.
If the judge or bail schedule determines that the defendant would be a danger to the public if they were released, bail can be denied, and the person will be detained in the Decatur County Detention Center until the case is resolved or goes to trial.
Bail can be denied if the defendant did not comply with bail conditions from a previous arrest. Bail is usually denied in cases of violent offenses.
What is the difference between Bail and Bond?
Bail and bond are used interchangeably to mean the same thing but technically, they are different. The bail is the amount to be paid and a bond is a signed document promising payment of the bail amount with certain conditions. Think of a bond as a loan to pay for the bail.
The bond payment is always written to the court in your municipality, Decatur County or district directly and does not go through the defendant. Chances of obtaining a bond from a bond company or clerk of court are better if family is involved.
The thought of being in jail can cause the arrested to panic and try to secure a bond immediately.
DO NOT panic and take the time to understand all the options.
More courts are now trying to work with defendants to make bail work and might provide non-monetary options or even reduce the bail.
Payments to a bond company are not refundable. It is a long process to get back property title or money that was given to the clerk of court or bondsperson to secure the bond. This could put your loved ones into a difficult financial situation.
Another reason not to unnecessarily rush into securing a bond is that if the court notes that you came up with the money to pay a bond company, they may assume you have resources to pay a defense attorney and decline public defense.
On the other hand, as anyone who has ever been involved in their criminal defense understands, fighting your case while ‘out on the streets’ gives you a much better chance of either winning, or getting a more favorable sentence.
What are the different types of bonds in Decatur County?
Based on a review of information from the arrest, the judge or bail officer will determine and notify the accused of which types of bonds are available to them.
To describe the types of bonds, let’s use an example of buying your neighbor’s car. Your neighbor decides the price of the car and how they would be paid.
Similarly, the court (meaning a police or bail officer, clerk of court, bail magistrate or judge) determines the bail amount and how it would be paid.
Here are different options that the seller of the car or the court might consider:
You could pay full asking price for the car in cash. This is similar to paying cash bail. The full amount of bail would be paid to the town or county clerk or at the jail. Cash, cashier’s checks and credit cards are usually accepted.
You could sign an agreement on your own or with another person to pay for the car at a future date knowing that your neighbor would know where to find you if you stopped payment. This would be similar to a cash bond or a personal recognizance (PR) bond which are bonds to where someone representing the defendant signs paperwork promising to pay the bail amount if the defendant does not show up to court. There is no money due up front.
If the defendant does not show up, the full amount of the bail will be due to the court and the people who signed the paperwork will be responsible for paying the court and the court will send the sheriff’s department to arrest you.
Cash bonds and PR bonds are types of unsecured bonds because you are not securing it with any money down. In bond terms, a surety is a person who will be responsible for making sure that you will show to court and will be responsible to pay the bond if the arrested person does not show up.
Surety can be family, friend or a bondsperson. Your attorney cannot act as a surety.
You can put a deposit down for your neighbor’s car and sign an agreement that the car will be paid off at a later date. Cash percentage in lieu of bonds is when the defendant pays a percentage of the bail amount, usually 10%, to the court which then holds the money until the case is over.
The amount is returned to the person who paid the 10% after the case is over. In most cases, the full amount is not returned if there are court fees or fines due. This is a type of surety bond if another person signs the bond paperwork.
You could sign an agreement that if the car were not paid off, that your neighbor would get your house or something of value.
A property bond is a bond that the courts might consider in which the bond is pledged in land or home real estate (mobile homes are not accepted).
Usually, the property must be in the same state as the courts, and it must be worth at least 1 ½ - 2 times the amount of the bond.
There are multiple court fees involved to execute a property bond with the courts and a tedious process to get the property deed back. This is another type of surety bond if another person or a bond company is used to secure the bond.
You could also go to a local bank and take out a car loan offering property or anything of value for collateral. You may get someone to co-sign on the loan and offer their property. The bank charges fees, interest and could keep your property if you did not pay the loan back, or even on time.
A professional bondsperson makes money, at least 10% of the bond amount by providing you with a “loan” called a bond. The percent that they charge is fixed by the state and cannot be negotiated. The defendant or surety does not get that 10% or more back even if the terms of the bail are met.
With a property bond, the property deed would need to be signed over to the bondsperson and everyone on the deed would need to be involved.
A Transfer Bond is transferable across state lines but generally a bond company will only assume the loan to adjoining states. In addition to the 10% fee, there is a transfer fee owed to the bonding company between $50-$100.
Since the bondsperson signed off, to be responsible that you show to court as your surety, they can send a bounty hunter to bring you to court if you flee. A bondsperson does not have to give you a bond if the defendant seems to be too much of a risk.
Ask the bondsperson to explain all the costs: percentage, fees or court fees. There is never a reason to rush through signing the paperwork with a bond company. Make sure that everything told to you is in writing and that you understand what you are signing. Ask questions, and if you feel rushed or don’t understand the contract with the bond company, you might want to call another one.
(There have been phone scams where a bond company calls and informs a person that their family member has been arrested and they ask for financial information. A bondsperson will not call asking for money without involvement of the arrested.)
Does Decatur County have bail?
Yes, Decatur County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Decatur County?
Decatur County recognizes most types of bonds. The court will consider what type of bonds will be accepted depending on the circumstances of the arrest.
Who can set bail in Decatur County?
Bail is set by a magistrate or judge.
When is bail set in Tennessee?
Bail is set during the defendant’s first court hearing, also known as a bail hearing. This court appearance will be scheduled within 72 hrs. of arrest not counting weekends or holidays.
Can I get the bail or bond reduced in Decatur County Tennessee?
Yes, your attorney can request a bond reduction.
In Decatur County Tennessee, who can pay bail for me?
The person posting bail should be a relative or close friend, called a surety, because they are promising and taking responsibility that you will return to court to get their money back.
A surety is not responsible for court fees or paying off personal debts for the defendant. A professional bondsperson who is approved by the State of Tennessee could be the surety and execute a bond to the court on your behalf.
Can bail be paid online in Decatur County Tennessee?
Yes, Tennessee does offer online bail payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Decatur County Detention Center for more information about the jails in Decatur County.
What options are there to pay bail in Decatur County Tennessee?
Most all jail and courts accept cash, a cashier or bankers’ check. Some accept a credit card with fees. Please contact the jail for specific information on what methods of payment are accepted. Go to the Decatur County Detention Center for more information about posting bail in Decatur County.
Will I get all my bond money back in Tennessee?
Bail money is returned to the person who paid the bail; in whole or in part once the case is finished. There may be fees, restitution (money to pay for damage caused by the crime) or fines that come out of that amount. If you used a bondsperson, you would not get your 10% back. Property is returned by the court or bondsperson after the appropriate requests and formal paperwork are completed with the court.
Can I get bail or a bond with no money down in Decatur County?
No, unless released on own recognizance you will be required to pay some money down to secure bail.
A cash bond or a personal recognizance (PR) bond are bonds where someone representing the defendant signs paperwork promising to pay the bail amount if the defendant does not show up to court. There is no money due up front.
If the defendant does not show up, the full amount of the bail will be due to the court and the people who signed the paperwork will be responsible for paying the court and the court will send the sheriff’s department to arrest you.
What are the least expensive and affordable bail bonds in Tennessee?
The Decatur County Detention Center or court in this jurisdiction can provide you with a list of approved and licensed bond companies, but they cannot recommend a specific company. You are not obligated to use the first company available and can call several companies to compare what kind of bonds that the bondsperson is willing to execute.
The percentage of bail that the bond company can charge is set, usually at 10%, by the state and cannot be negotiated.