Fentress County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Fentress County bail and bond: everything sits in the Jamestown Justice Center
Adults arrested in Fentress County are held at the Fentress County Jail, which the Sheriff's Department runs from the Justice Center, 140 Justice Center Drive, Jamestown. The same building houses the Circuit Court Clerk, the Clerk and Master, the General Sessions judge's office, and probation. Call the Sheriff's Department at 931-879-8142. To check who is in custody, the bail amount, or a release, use Fentress County Inmate Search.
1. How do I find out if my family member is in the Fentress County jail?
Search the name on Fentress County Inmate Search. If it does not show, call 931-879-8142 and ask the desk to check the booking. A person arrested minutes ago may not be entered yet. The state certifies the jail for 166 beds.
2. Why do so many offices share one address?
Fentress County keeps its county court offices in the Justice Center in Jamestown. The Circuit Court Clerk, the Clerk and Master, the office of the General Sessions judge, probation, and the Sheriff's Department all work at 140 Justice Center Drive. For you it means one street address covers the jail side and the court side.
3. Which office do I call for what?
The Sheriff's Department, 931-879-8142, covers custody and the jail. The Circuit Court Clerk, 931-879-7919, keeps court files and money paid to the court. The General Sessions judge's office, 931-879-6724, handles misdemeanor and early felony hearings and also juvenile cases. The Clerk and Master, 931-879-8615, deals with civil matters, so it is rarely the right call for a bond.
4. Who decides the bail number?
A judge or magistrate decides it, and the jail only carries it out. Tennessee law says a person arrested on a bailable offense has a right to be admitted to bail. The court starts by considering release on a promise to appear, then adds the lightest conditions that work. Money comes last. Deputies cannot reduce the number as a favor.
5. Can I pay the whole amount in cash?
You can. The deposit equals the full bail amount and goes to the court clerk. Ask the Circuit Court Clerk at 931-879-7919 what days and hours payment is taken and what forms of payment are accepted, then bring the full legal name and case number. A receipt matters because the court returns the deposit when the case ends.
6. What will a bondsman cost me?
Plan on about 10 percent of the bond for a Tennessee resident, plus a $37 fee made up of a $25 initiation fee and a $12 tax. You do not get that money back. Only a bondsman licensed by the state and approved by the court in this district can write the bond. Read the contract, and get a receipt for each payment.
7. Can I use land in Fentress County for the bond?
Real estate in Tennessee can secure a bond when the judge agrees. Expect the court to check ownership and value before anything is signed, and expect every owner to sign. Call the Circuit Court Clerk, 931-879-7919, for the list of papers. Allow extra time, because land bonds do not move as fast as cash.
8. Can two private citizens guarantee the bond?
Yes. Two people who are not professional bondsmen or lawyers may sign a written bond if the court finds them sufficient. They should have property or steady income. If the defendant skips court, they can be called on to pay.
9. What does it mean when I see no bond?
Three common reasons exist. The charge is capital, and the Tennessee Constitution bars bail for capital offenses. A hold from another county, a probation violation, or an immigration detainer blocks release. Or the judge has not set the amount yet. The Sheriff's Department at 931-879-8142 can tell you which one it is.
10. What is the wait after a domestic violence or stalking arrest?
Release is barred for 12 hours after arrest for stalking, abuse of a child or elder, and many domestic offenses, unless an official finds no threat to the victim. If the arrest involves strangulation, serious injury, or a weapon, the hold may stretch to 24 hours. The court must set no-contact terms before bond, and GPS tracking may be required.
11. What is the first court date?
Tennessee Rule of Criminal Procedure 5 requires that an arrested person be taken before a magistrate without unnecessary delay. In a felony case, the magistrate explains the charge and the right to a lawyer. A preliminary hearing follows within 14 days for someone in jail, and within 30 days for someone released. The General Sessions judge's office can give you the date.
12. How do I ask for lower bail?
Hire a lawyer to file a request, or raise it with the judge at a hearing. The judge looks at how long the person has lived here, work, family, past court record, the charge, and community members who will vouch. One person cannot vouch for more than two defendants at the same time. Excessive bail is barred by the state constitution.
13. Who is the free lawyer for someone who cannot pay?
Ask the judge to appoint the public defender. Fentress County is in the 8th Judicial District, and the Public Defender's Office answers at 423-563-9701. Give the case number or the arrest date.
14. Is a deposit on a jail account the same as bail?
No. An inmate account pays for calls and store items. A deposit never buys release, and the jail cannot count it toward bail. Money sent to a company that promises freedom for a fee is a scam.
15. Who hears a juvenile case in Fentress County?
The General Sessions judge in Fentress County also sits as the juvenile judge. Call the judge's office at 931-879-6724 to learn where the young person is held and when the detention hearing will be. Juvenile records are private, and the adult search does not list them.
16. What if the defendant fails to appear in Jamestown?
Failing to appear lets the judge forfeit the bond and send out an arrest order. Tennessee law also lets a bondsman surrender the person to the jail. If that happens, call the Circuit Court Clerk, 931-879-7919, and a lawyer the same day. Quick action can sometimes get a new date set before an arrest.
17. When is cash returned, and which payment offers are scams?
The court clerk returns a cash deposit when the case is done, after taking costs and fines. The fee paid to a bondsman is never returned. Anyone who asks for gift cards, a payment app, or wire money, and promises a same-hour release, is not a court office. Call 931-879-8142 yourself to check.
Fentress County bond contacts
- County jail
- Fentress County Jail, run by the Sheriff's Department, 140 Justice Center Drive, Jamestown, TN 38556; 931-879-8142
- Bond guide
- Jail bail and bond guide
- Custody lookup
- Fentress County Inmate Search
- Sheriff's Department
- Justice Center, 140 Justice Center Drive, Jamestown, TN 38556; 931-879-8142
- Circuit Court Clerk
- Justice Center; 931-879-7919
- General Sessions and Juvenile
- Judge's office, Justice Center; 931-879-6724
- Clerk and Master
- Justice Center; 931-879-8615
- County Clerk
- 931-879-8014
- Public defender
- 8th Judicial District Public Defender 423-563-9701
Check the details of your case with the Sheriff's Department or the Circuit Court Clerk before paying anything. Hours, fees, and numbers can change. This is not legal advice.
How do Bail Bonds work at Fentress County Jail
The Fentress County Sheriff recommends that you might want to use a bail bond agent licensed to do business in Fentress 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 Fentress 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 Fentress 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 Fentress County Jail, or the courthouse in Fentress County where the offense took place.
Call 931-879-8142 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Fentress County inmate locator.
Fentress County Jail
Address:
140 Justice Center Drive
Jamestown, TN 38556
Phone:
931-879-8142
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Fentress County
Does Fentress County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Fentress County?
Who can set bail in Fentress County?
When is bail set in Fentress County Tennessee?
Does Fentress County have bail?
Yes, Fentress County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Fentress County?
Fentress 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 Fentress County?
Bail is set by a magistrate or judge.
When is bail set in Fentress 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 Fentress 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 Fentress County Jail 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, Fentress 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 Fentress 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 Fentress County have bail?
Yes, Fentress County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Fentress County?
Fentress 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 Fentress 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 Fentress County Tennessee?
Yes, your attorney can request a bond reduction.
In Fentress 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 Fentress County Tennessee?
Yes, Tennessee does offer online bail payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Fentress County Jail for more information about the jails in Fentress County.
What options are there to pay bail in Fentress 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 Fentress County Jail for more information about posting bail in Fentress 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 Fentress 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 Fentress County Jail 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.