Hardeman County Criminal Justice Complex Inmate Bail & Bonds
Hardeman County bail and bond: the Bolivar jail and the road to release
Hardeman County keeps its arrested adults in the Hardeman County Jail in Bolivar, which the Sheriff's Office runs. Search Hardeman County Inmate Search to see who is in custody, the charge, and any bail amount. The Sheriff's Office at 731-658-3266 covers the rest. Read on for how to post bail with cash, a bondsman, or property, and how a case moves forward.
What is the fastest way to learn if my relative is in jail in Bolivar?
Type the name into Hardeman County Inmate Search. The record shows the booking date, the charge, and the bail amount once a judge has set one. Newly booked people sometimes take an hour or two to appear.
Then phone the Sheriff's Office at 731-658-3266 for what the page leaves out.
Which jail holds Hardeman County's arrested adults?
The Hardeman County Jail in Bolivar, operated by the Sheriff's Office. Hardeman County keeps its own pretrial inmates and does not send them to another county's jail.
The Sheriff's Office takes calls at 731-658-3266. The mailing address is P.O. Box 250, Bolivar, TN 38008.
Why can't the jail simply name a price and let him go?
Because Tennessee requires a judge or authorized magistrate to look at each person. A jailer may release someone on bail only after bail has been set for that person, and a printed chart cannot replace that decision.
The court considers length of residence, work, family, history of coming to court, the charge, and the risk to others. Ask the Sheriff's Office at 731-658-3266 whether bail has been set.
What if bail is high?
A lawyer can ask the judge to lower it. Tennessee judges must pick the least restrictive conditions that will bring the person back to court, and they may use a promise to appear or an unsecured bond if that is enough.
Family can help by showing up with proof of address, job, and ties to Hardeman County.
Where do I pay a cash bond?
Cash bail is the full amount. It is paid to the court's clerk, or to an officer who is legally allowed to accept bail, and release follows after the paperwork. State law allows debit cards and mobile apps at the clerk, with the fee added.
Call the Sheriff's Office at 731-658-3266 to ask which office takes bail and in what form. For the Circuit Court Clerk, dial 731-658-6524.
How do bondsman charges work?
A Tennessee resident normally pays about 10 percent of the bail plus a $37 charge. If bail is $8,000, the premium runs about $800 plus the $37, and it is not given back.
Hardeman County lies in the 25th Judicial District. The bondsman must be licensed by the Tennessee Board of Professional Bondsmen and approved by the courts in the district. Demand a copy of the contract and a receipt for any collateral.
Can I post my farm or house?
Yes, if the real estate is in Tennessee. A bond can also rest on the signed agreement of two sufficient sureties who are not bondsmen or lawyers.
The court has to accept the papers first. Ask the Circuit Court Clerk at 731-658-6524 what the court wants to see.
How soon does he see a judge?
State rules direct that an arrested person be brought before a magistrate without unnecessary delay. The magistrate on a felony names the charge, tells the person about counsel and silence, and enters no plea.
A preliminary hearing is due within 14 days when the person is held and within 30 when released. The clerk at 731-658-6524 keeps dates.
Which Hardeman County court is next?
General Sessions Court handles misdemeanors and the first steps of felonies in Bolivar. Circuit Court takes felony cases that move forward, and its clerk answers at 731-658-6524.
Write each date and courtroom on paper the day you receive it.
Can a bondsman send him back to jail later?
Only for good cause. A Tennessee bondsman may not re-arrest or surrender a client arbitrarily. Good cause can include a missed court date or a failure to keep the promises in the contract, such as payments or check-ins.
Ask the bondsman to explain in writing what would count as a breach before you sign. If you pay a premium and the bondsman returns the client to jail without cause, speak with a lawyer or the Board of Professional Bondsmen.
Can bail be refused outright?
The Constitution allows it only for capital offenses. In other cases, short holds apply. Stalking and abuse arrests carry a 12-hour wait unless the official finds no threat to the victim, and domestic aggravated assault involving a deadly weapon, serious injury, or strangulation can mean up to 24 hours with a no-contact order and GPS monitoring before bond.
Probation and parole holds also stop release. The Sheriff's Office at 731-658-3266 will say which applies.
What conditions could be set?
Courts use no-contact orders, firearms bans, alcohol and drug testing, check-ins, curfews, and GPS. In drunk-driving cases with a crash, a child passenger, or a suspended license, the judge must order an interlock device unless explaining otherwise in writing.
Any violation can mean a new arrest.
Where do I turn if my daughter is under 18?
Her case goes through juvenile court, and the record is private, so the adult search may not list her. The Circuit Court Clerk at 731-658-6524 can say who sets juvenile hearings and where a detained child is held.
Ask for the next hearing date and whether a lawyer has been named.
Can I get a free lawyer?
If you cannot pay, ask the judge to appoint one. The 25th Judicial District Public Defender serves Fayette, Hardeman, Lauderdale, McNairy, and Tipton counties and answers at 901-465-7330.
Counsel can argue for lower bail and for conditions that keep a job.
What if he misses court after we posted?
The court can forfeit the bond and order his arrest. Cash can be lost, and a bondsman may surrender a client for good cause.
Phone the Circuit Court Clerk at 731-658-6524 at once and hire a lawyer to ask for the forfeiture to be set aside.
When does the clerk refund a cash bond?
After the case ends and every condition has been met, with fines and court costs deducted first. A premium paid to a bondsman is not refunded.
Keep the clerk's receipt and the case number. The County Clerk at 731-658-3541 can direct you to the right desk.
How can I protect my family from payment scams?
Jails and clerks here never ask for gift cards, crypto, or app payments to an individual. Pressure to pay in minutes is a warning.
Verify with the Sheriff's Office at 731-658-3266 before sending money.
Hardeman County bail contacts
- Jail
- Hardeman County Jail, Bolivar, TN 38008; 731-658-3266
- Custody lookup
- Hardeman County Inmate Search
- Circuit Court Clerk
- 731-658-6524
- County Clerk
- 731-658-3541
- Public defender
- 25th Judicial District, 901-465-7330
- Bail help
- Hardeman County jail bail instructions
Amounts, fees, and office hours can change, and a judge may set a figure that differs from what is typical. Call before paying anyone. This is general information and does not take the place of legal advice.
How do Bail Bonds work at Hardeman County Criminal Justice Complex
The Hardeman County Sheriff recommends that you might want to use a bail bond agent licensed to do business in Hardeman 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 Hardeman 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 Hardeman 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 Hardeman County Criminal Justice Complex, or the courthouse in Hardeman County where the offense took place.
Call 731-658-3016 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Hardeman County inmate locator.
Hardeman County Criminal Justice Complex
Address:
505 South Main Street
Bolivar, TN 38008
Phone:
731-658-3016
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Hardeman County
Does Hardeman County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Hardeman County?
Who can set bail in Hardeman County?
When is bail set in Hardeman County Tennessee?
Does Hardeman County have bail?
Yes, Hardeman County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Hardeman County?
Hardeman 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 Hardeman County?
Bail is set by a magistrate or judge.
When is bail set in Hardeman 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 Hardeman 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 Hardeman County Criminal Justice Complex 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, Hardeman 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 Hardeman 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 Hardeman County have bail?
Yes, Hardeman County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Hardeman County?
Hardeman 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 Hardeman 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 Hardeman County Tennessee?
Yes, your attorney can request a bond reduction.
In Hardeman 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 Hardeman County Tennessee?
Yes, Tennessee does offer online bail payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Hardeman County Criminal Justice Complex for more information about the jails in Hardeman County.
What options are there to pay bail in Hardeman 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 Hardeman County Criminal Justice Complex for more information about posting bail in Hardeman 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 Hardeman 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 Hardeman County Criminal Justice Complex 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.