Hamilton County Jail & Detention Center Inmate Bail & Bonds

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Hamilton County

Tennessee • Hamilton County • Bail & bond help

Hamilton County bail and bond: how release works after a Chattanooga arrest

Anyone arrested in Hamilton County is processed through the Hamilton County Jail & Detention Center at 601 Justice Way in Chattanooga, a facility the Sheriff's Office runs. Start with the Hamilton County Inmate Search to see the charge and the bond amount. Cash goes to the Criminal Court Clerk downtown, and a bonding company has to be one the Clerk has accepted. The jail line is 423-209-7125.

How do I find out whether someone is in the Chattanooga jail right now?

Type the last name into the Hamilton County Inmate Search. A booked person shows up with the charge and the bond. Bookings can take a while to post, so try again later if the name is missing.

Still nothing? Call the jail at 423-209-7125 or the booking reports line at 423-209-7050. The Sheriff's Office main number is 423-209-7000.

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Where is the jail, and is it the same place as the courthouse?

No. The jail sits at 601 Justice Way, Chattanooga, TN 37421. The Sheriff's Office also operates Silverdale Detention Center, so ask the jail line which building a person is in before you drive anywhere.

The courts are downtown. The Courts Building is at 600 Market Street.

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Who decides how much the bail is?

A judicial officer. Tennessee Code 40-11-105 gives a person arrested on a bailable charge the right to be admitted to bail, and the number has to fit that individual. Jailers may release someone only after bail has been set (40-11-106).

The General Sessions Criminal Division works around the clock, and its clerks handle arrest paperwork from an office at the jail.

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Where do I pay cash bail?

In person at the Criminal Court Clerk, Room 102 of the Courts Building, 600 Market Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402. The office number is 423-209-7500.

The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Under 40-11-118, cash bail equals the whole bail amount, and debit cards or mobile cash apps may be accepted with the processing charge passed to the payer.

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My bail is posted after hours or on a weekend. What then?

The General Sessions Criminal Division, which is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, is the place to ask. Call the jail at 423-209-7125 and ask who is taking bail payments at that moment, then confirm it before you leave the house with cash.

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Can any bondsman post the bond?

No. A bonding company must be one that the Criminal Court Clerk's Office has verified and accepted. Statewide, the Board of Professional Bondsmen licenses bondsmen (40-11-321), and the court in each judicial district must approve them too.

Ask the company which Hamilton County approval it holds. Call the Clerk at 423-209-7500 if you want to compare.

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What does a bonding company charge?

The notice in 40-11-151 says a Tennessee resident should expect a premium of about 10 percent of the bond, and a nonresident 10 to 15 percent. A $25 initiation fee and a $12 bail tax can be added once.

Get a duplicate receipt every time you pay. The premium is the price of the service and is not returned when the case ends.

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What if the bondsman wants a car title or jewelry?

The law requires a written receipt that lists each item and says how you get it back. If you are handed nothing in writing, do not leave the items.

A bondsman also cannot take the defendant back to jail on a whim. Section 40-11-151 requires good cause, such as a broken term of the contract.

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Can real estate secure a bond here?

Yes, in Tennessee real estate counts. State Attorney General Opinion 03-054 describes four forms of bail: cash, in-state property, a written promise from two sufficient sureties who are not bondsmen or lawyers, and a professional bondsman.

A property bond needs paperwork and review, so release is slower than with cash. The Clerk at 423-209-7500 is the office to ask about how property is accepted.

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What does the judge look at before choosing a number?

Section 40-11-118(b) lists the factors: years in the area, job and money situation, family ties, character and mental condition, past record and court attendance, the seriousness of the charge, the likely sentence, and any danger the record shows. Lawful presence in Tennessee counts as well.

A community member who vouches for a defendant may do so for no more than two defendants at once.

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Is there a way to go home without paying anything?

Sometimes. The court must first look at release on recognizance or an unsecured bond (40-11-115(b)), then use the least onerous conditions that will assure the person returns (40-11-116). Money bail is meant for cases where those steps fall short (40-11-117).

Bring proof of address, work and family to the first appearance.

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When is no bail possible at all?

Capital offenses cannot be bailed under Article I, section 15 of the Tennessee Constitution. A hold from another county, a probation matter or a federal detainer can also keep a person inside after money is paid.

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My husband was arrested for domestic assault. Why can't he come home today?

Under 40-11-150, a person arrested on a stalking or listed domestic charge cannot be freed within 12 hours unless the official finds no threat to the victim. If the case is aggravated assault with strangulation, serious injury or a deadly weapon, the hold may run up to 24 hours.

A no-contact order is required first. GPS monitoring is required in the aggravated assault case, and the defendant pays if able.

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What extra rules follow a drunk-driving arrest?

Section 40-11-118(d) calls for an ignition interlock in many alcohol cases, such as a crash with property damage, a minor in the car, or a prior conviction. Repeat offenders can be ordered onto transdermal alcohol monitoring and pay for it. Tampering with the device is a Class B misdemeanor.

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What happens at the first court appearance?

A person must be taken before a magistrate without unnecessary delay under Tennessee Rule of Criminal Procedure 5. The magistrate explains the charge, the right to a lawyer, and the right to stay silent. Felony cases are not entered with a plea at that stage.

A preliminary hearing is held within 14 days for someone in jail and within 30 days for someone out on bond. Hamilton General Sessions does not hold jury trials.

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Can I get a free lawyer, and where is that office?

Tell the judge you cannot afford one. The Eleventh Judicial District Public Defender serves Hamilton County at 423-634-6374 and is based at 720 Cherry Street, one block from the Courts Building.

Judges often ask about your income and your ability to post a bond when they decide who qualifies.

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Where does a teenager go after an arrest?

Juvenile cases go to Hamilton County Juvenile Court at 1600 East Third Street, Chattanooga, TN 37404, which is also where the Juvenile Detention Center is. The detention center number is 423-209-5158.

A juvenile does not appear in the adult inmate search. Parents should call the detention center first and ask when the detention hearing is.

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Does money on a commissary or phone account help him get out?

No. Deposits for the store, books or calls through correctpay.com or GettingOut.com are for use inside the jail. Bail goes through the Clerk or a bonding company, never through those sites. For video-visit help, GettingOut answers at 866-516-0115.

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What happens if he misses court after the bond is posted?

The court can declare the bond forfeited (40-11-139 and 40-11-201) and issue an arrest order. A cash bond can be lost. A bondsman can surrender the defendant to the jail under 40-11-132.

If a court date was missed by mistake, call the Clerk at 423-209-7500 at once to ask what the next step is.

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How do I get my cash back, and do victims get alerts?

After the case ends and the defendant is discharged, the clerk returns the deposit (40-11-119), but fines and court costs come out first (40-11-121). A surety is not on the hook for fines, costs or restitution unless the bond says so and the surety agreed (40-11-118(c)).

Crime victims can sign up for custody alerts through VINE at 866-277-7477.

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Hamilton County bail contacts

Jail
Hamilton County Jail & Detention Center, 601 Justice Way, Chattanooga, TN 37421; 423-209-7125
Custody lookup
Hamilton County Inmate Search
Booking reports
423-209-7050
Sheriff's Office main line
423-209-7000
Criminal Court Clerk
Room 102, Courts Building, 600 Market Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402; 423-209-7500; Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Public defender
Eleventh Judicial District, 423-634-6374
Juvenile Court and detention
1600 East Third Street, Chattanooga, TN 37404; 423-209-5158
Bond help
bail instructions for the Hamilton County jail

Hours, numbers and costs can change, and a judge rules on each bond individually. Verify with the Clerk or the jail before paying. This page gives general information and is not legal advice.

Paying an Inmate's Bail or Bond in Hamilton County

The Hamilton County Sheriff recommends that you might want to use a bail bond agent licensed to do business in Hamilton 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 Hamilton 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 Hamilton 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 Hamilton County Jail & Detention Center, or the courthouse in Hamilton County where the offense took place.

Call 423-209-7050 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Hamilton County inmate locator.

Hamilton County Jail & Detention Center

Address:
601 Justice Way
Chattanooga, TN 37421
Phone:
423-209-7050

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Hamilton County


Does Hamilton County have bail?

What kind of bonds are accepted in Hamilton County?

Who can set bail in Hamilton County?

When is bail set in Hamilton County Tennessee?

 

 

Does Hamilton County have bail?

Yes,  Hamilton County recognizes most types of bonds.

 

 

What kind of bonds are accepted in Hamilton County?

Hamilton 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 Hamilton County?

Bail is set by a magistrate or judge.

 

 

When is bail set in Hamilton 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 Hamilton 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 Hamilton County Jail & 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, Hamilton 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 Hamilton 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 Hamilton County have bail?

Yes,  Hamilton County recognizes most types of bonds.

What kind of bonds are accepted in Hamilton County? 

Hamilton 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 Hamilton 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 Hamilton County Tennessee? 

Yes, your attorney can request a bond reduction.

In Hamilton 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 Hamilton County Tennessee?

Yes, Tennessee does offer online bail payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Hamilton County Jail & Detention Center for more information about the jails in Hamilton County.

What options are there to pay bail in Hamilton 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 Hamilton County Jail & Detention Center for more information about posting bail in Hamilton 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 Hamilton 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 Hamilton County Jail & 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.

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Hamilton County

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Every detail on this page is checked by hand, not scraped. This unofficial directory helps friends and family of incarcerated individuals find critical information — inmate lists, locations, bail resources, visitation hours, rules, and text, phone, email, and mail services — for jails, detention centers, and prisons across the United States.