Greene County Workhouse Inmate Bail & Bonds
Greene County bail and bond: from the Depot Street jail to the courthouse clerk
Adults arrested in Greene County are held by the Sheriff's Office at the Greene County Detention Center, 120 East Depot Street, Greeneville. The Sheriff's Office also runs a workhouse for sentenced inmates. Call the detention center at 423-798-1802 with questions about a person in custody. Court records and bond paperwork go through the Circuit Court Clerk in the courthouse at 101 South Main Street. Use Greene County Inmate Search to see the booking and charges before you leave home.
1. How do I tell if my relative is in the Greene County Detention Center?
Search Greene County Inmate Search first. It lists current inmates and their charges. If the name is missing, the booking may still be in progress. The detention center answers questions about people in custody at 423-798-1802, and the Sheriff's Office main line is 423-798-1800.
2. What is the difference between the jail and the workhouse?
The Sheriff's Office runs both. The Detention Center at 120 East Depot Street holds people awaiting court and serves as the jail. The workhouse is a second county facility with more beds, which houses people serving sentences. A person who has just been arrested will be at the Detention Center. Greene County Inmate Search shows the current location.
3. Where is the Sheriff's Office, and which number should I use?
The Sheriff's Office is at 116 East Depot Street, Greeneville, on the same street as the Detention Center. Call 423-798-1800 for the Sheriff's Office, or 423-798-1802 for the Detention Center. For court dates and bond paperwork, call the Circuit Court Clerk at 423-798-1760.
4. What hours does the courthouse clerk keep?
The clerk's office is in the Greene County Courthouse, 101 South Main Street, Suite 302. It is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Other lines at the same office are 423-798-1762 and 423-798-1765. After 5 p.m. there is a recorded jury line at 423-798-1764, which does not take bond questions.
5. Who decides how much bail a person needs to post?
A judge or magistrate sets bail, and the Sheriff's Office releases the person only after the amount is set. Deputies cannot negotiate it. When the amount is out of reach, a lawyer can ask the court to lower it or to release the person on a promise to appear.
6. What do judges weigh when they set bail?
State law points to how long the person has lived here, job history, family ties, earlier court appearances, how serious the charge is, and danger to others. A community member may vouch for the defendant, but may not vouch for more than two defendants at once. Whether the person is lawfully in Tennessee counts too. Bring proof of a job and a stable address.
7. How much does a bondsman cost in Greene County?
The usual premium for a Tennessee resident is about 10 percent of the bond, and nonresidents can be charged 10 to 15 percent. A bondsman may add a $25 one-time fee and a $12 tax. These charges are the bondsman's pay, not a deposit. Ask for a written receipt for each one.
8. How do I know that a bondsman can write bonds for Greene County?
The bondsman needs a state license from the Board of Professional Bondsmen and approval from the court in the 3rd Judicial District, which covers Greene, Hamblen, Hancock and Hawkins counties. If you hand over collateral, insist on a written receipt that describes it. A bondsman cannot surrender your relative without good cause.
9. Can the family put up the entire bail in cash?
Yes. Cash bail is the whole amount, and the court clerk takes the deposit. A clerk may accept a debit card or a payment app and pass the fee along. The Circuit Court Clerk at 423-798-1760 can tell you what the office takes. Outside office hours, ask the detention center at 423-798-1802 how a cash payment is handled.
10. Can land or a house be pledged for bond?
Tennessee real estate can be used, and so can a written agreement from two people who are not professional bondsmen or lawyers. Property bonds are slower than cash. Call the clerk at 423-798-1760 to learn which papers the court wants before you gather deeds, and expect every owner to sign.
11. When does the person first see a judge?
Tennessee requires that an arrested person go before a magistrate without unnecessary delay. At that first appearance the magistrate explains the charge, the right to counsel, the right to remain silent and the general conditions of release. Ask the clerk's office which court holds the first date.
12. Why does the record say no bond?
A no-bond entry can mean a capital charge, a hold from another court, a probation violation, or a bond that is still being set. The constitution now excludes only capital offenses from bail.
13. Why did a domestic case take so long to release?
In stalking, child abuse, elder abuse and some domestic cases, the official may not release the person for 12 hours unless a finding shows no threat to the victim. Cases of aggravated assault with strangulation or a weapon can be held up to 24 hours. Release carries a no-contact order and may include GPS monitoring.
14. Do DUI releases come with extra conditions?
Often they do. The judge may order an ignition interlock device for many alcohol-related driving charges, with proof sent to the district attorney within 10 days. Repeat alcohol offenses can bring daily alcohol monitoring at the defendant's cost. A lawyer can say which conditions fit.
15. Who is the public defender for Greene County?
The 3rd Judicial District Public Defender covers Greene, Hamblen, Hancock and Hawkins counties and can be reached at 423-587-7053. Request appointed counsel from the judge at the first appearance. A lawyer can press for release without money or for a lower amount.
16. What happens if the person is a minor?
Juvenile cases are private, so Greene County Inmate Search may not list a minor. Call the Sheriff's Office at 423-798-1800 to learn where the young person is held, and the Circuit Court Clerk at 423-798-1760 for hearing dates.
17. What happens when someone misses court?
The judge can forfeit the bond and issue a warrant. Fines, costs and restitution are a surety's burden only if the bond lists them and the surety signed on. Call the clerk the same day at 423-798-1760 and talk to a lawyer about resetting the date.
18. Is money for the inmate's account the same as bail?
No. Money for commissary or phone time does not release anyone. Anyone who demands gift cards or a wire transfer to free a relative is running a scam. Hang up and call the detention center at 423-798-1802 yourself. Cash paid to the clerk is refunded at discharge, less fines and court costs.
Greene County bond contacts
- County jail
- Greene County Detention Center, 120 East Depot Street, Greeneville, TN 37743; 423-798-1802
- Bond guide
- Jail bail and bond page
- Custody lookup
- Greene County Inmate Search
- Sheriff's Office
- 116 East Depot Street, Greeneville; 423-798-1800
- Circuit Court Clerk
- Courthouse, 101 South Main Street, Suite 302, Greeneville; 423-798-1760, 423-798-1762 or 423-798-1765; Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Public defender
- 3rd Judicial District, 423-587-7053
- Juvenile cases
- Sheriff's Office 423-798-1800; clerk 423-798-1760
Bond amounts, fees and office hours can change with a court order. Call the clerk or the Detention Center to confirm your own figures before you send money. Think of this page as a starting guide rather than legal advice.
How do Bail Bonds work at Greene County Workhouse
The Greene County Sheriff recommends that you might want to use a bail bond agent licensed to do business in Greene 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 Greene 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 Greene 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 Greene County Workhouse, or the courthouse in Greene County where the offense took place.
Call 423-798-1804 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Greene County inmate locator.
Greene County Workhouse
Address:
817 West Summer Street
Greeneville, TN 37745
Phone:
423-798-1804
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Greene County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Greene County?
Who can set bail in Greene County?
When is bail set in Greene County Tennessee?
Does Greene County have bail?
Yes, Greene County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Greene County?
Greene 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 Greene County?
Bail is set by a magistrate or judge.
When is bail set in Greene 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 Greene 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 Greene County Workhouse 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, Greene 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 Greene 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 Greene County have bail?
Yes, Greene County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Greene County?
Greene 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 Greene 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 Greene County Tennessee?
Yes, your attorney can request a bond reduction.
In Greene 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 Greene County Tennessee?
Yes, Tennessee does offer online bail payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Greene County Workhouse for more information about the jails in Greene County.
What options are there to pay bail in Greene 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 Greene County Workhouse for more information about posting bail in Greene 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 Greene 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 Greene County Workhouse 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.