Hawkins County Detention Center Inmate Bail & Bonds
Hawkins County bail and bond: the Rogersville Justice Center and who handles what
Adults arrested in Hawkins County are booked into the Hawkins County Detention Center, which sits inside the Justice Center at 117 Justice Center Drive in Rogersville and is run by the Sheriff's Office. To see whether your person is in custody, what the charge is and what bail was set, use Hawkins County Inmate Search. The Sheriff's Office line is 423-272-4848. The jail holds people; the clerk's offices and judges in the same complex handle the court side, so most families visit two doors, not one.
1. Is my son in the Hawkins County jail right now?
Start with Hawkins County Inmate Search. Type the last name first if the first try shows nothing. A person booked within the last hour or two may not appear yet, so look again later in the day.
For anything the screen cannot answer, call the Sheriff's Office at 423-272-4848. Sheriff Scott Stewart's office is in Suite 1304 of the Justice Center. Know the person's full legal name and birth date before you call.
2. Who decides the bail, and when?
A judge or magistrate sets it. Under Tennessee Code 40-11-105, a person arrested on a bailable offense is entitled to be admitted to bail, and the decision must be made for that individual. A jailer cannot simply read a number off a chart and release someone, and an officer may take bail only after it has been set (40-11-106).
The General Sessions judge's office is at 115 Justice Center Drive, 423-272-3300. Court staff there can tell you the next hearing date.
3. Where does cash bail go, and how much is it?
Cash bail is the full amount, not a slice of it. Under 40-11-118, a defendant whose bail is set may deposit that exact figure with the court clerk, and the clerk may take debit cards or mobile cash apps and pass its processing fee to the payer. The Circuit Court Clerk's office is Suite 1237 at 115 Justice Center Drive, 423-272-3397.
Because the clerk keeps office hours, ask the Sheriff's Office at 423-272-4848 how a payment is handled when the clerk is closed. Get a written receipt every time.
4. Do I have to use a bondsman?
No. A bondsman is one of four ways to post a bond in Tennessee. The others are cash, real estate in Tennessee, or two sufficient sureties who are not professional bondsmen or lawyers.
Under Tennessee Code 40-11-151, the premium for a Tennessee resident should be about 10 percent of the bond, plus a one-time $25 initiation fee and a $12 bail tax. Ask for a receipt for each charge.
5. How do I know a bondsman is legitimate?
Ask for the license. Professional bondsmen are licensed by the Board of Professional Bondsmen under 40-11-321, and each must also be approved by the courts of the judicial district where he or she writes bonds. Hawkins County is in the Third Judicial District. A bondsman who is not approved there cannot write your bond.
Collateral beyond the fee requires a written receipt that describes each item and how to redeem it.
6. Can land or a house be used as security?
Yes, if the property is real estate in Tennessee. It is slower than cash because the court has to review the papers before the person walks out. The Circuit Court Clerk at 423-272-3397 can tell you what the Hawkins County court requires for a property bond and which forms to bring.
Every owner has to sign, and title must be clear.
7. What does the judge weigh when picking the amount?
Section 40-11-118(b) lists the factors: how long the person has lived here, job history and finances, family ties, character and mental condition, prior record and past court appearances, the nature of the charge, and whether the record shows danger to anyone. A responsible community member may vouch for the person, but nobody can vouch for more than two defendants at one time.
Bring proof of a job and a home address to the first hearing.
8. Can he go home without paying anything?
Sometimes. Under 40-11-115(b), the court looks first at release on the defendant's own promise or an unsecured bond, weighing ties to the community, work and record. Money bail comes in only when lesser conditions will not reasonably assure that the person returns (40-11-117), and the court must use the least onerous conditions that will do the job (40-11-116).
Ask the judge directly at the first appearance for release without money. A lawyer can make the request stronger.
9. Why does the record say no bail, or why was he not released after paying?
Three common reasons. A capital charge is not bailable under Article I, section 15 of the Tennessee Constitution. A hold from another agency, such as a warrant from another county, stops release even after bail is paid. And a domestic or stalking arrest can carry a hold of 12 hours before release, described in the next answer.
Ask the Sheriff's Office at 423-272-4848 which one applies.
10. What is the hold after a domestic violence arrest?
Under 40-11-150, a person arrested for stalking or certain domestic offenses may not be released within 12 hours of arrest unless the official finds no threat to the victim. If there is probable cause of serious bodily injury or a deadly weapon, the 12-hour hold applies and a no-contact order is required before bond. In an aggravated assault case with strangulation or a weapon, the hold can run up to 24 hours.
Release conditions can include no contact, no firearms and GPS monitoring.
11. He was arrested for DUI. Are there extra bail conditions?
Possibly. Section 40-11-118(d) calls for an ignition interlock device on certain alcohol-related cases, such as a crash with property damage, a child in the car, or a prior listed conviction, unless the judge finds it would not serve justice. A third or later alcohol DUI can require transdermal alcohol monitoring that the defendant pays for.
12. What happens at the first appearance, and who is the free lawyer?
The person is brought before a magistrate "without unnecessary delay," as Tennessee Rule of Criminal Procedure 5 puts it. The magistrate explains the charge, the right to a lawyer and the right to stay silent. For a felony, a preliminary hearing is set within 14 days if the person stays in jail, or within 30 days if released.
A person who cannot afford a lawyer can ask the judge for one. The public defender for the Third Judicial District, which covers Hawkins County, answers at 423-587-7053.
13. Where is the courthouse, and where are the other court offices?
The Hawkins County Courthouse is at 150 East Washington Street in Rogersville, 423-272-7359. Most criminal business now runs from the Justice Center on Justice Center Drive: the Circuit Court Clerk in Suite 1237, General Sessions in Suite 1222 and Juvenile Court in Suite 1207, all at number 115.
If you are unsure where a hearing is, call General Sessions at 423-272-3300 before you drive.
14. My daughter was picked up by a town police officer. Where is she?
Hawkins County has several towns, including Rogersville, Church Hill, Surgoinsville, Bulls Gap and Mount Carmel, and part of Kingsport lies in the county. Each town's officers make arrests inside its limits. Ask the arresting department for the name of the jail and a report number, then check Hawkins County Inmate Search.
15. My 17-year-old was booked. Who handles that?
Juvenile cases go to Hawkins County Juvenile Court, Suite 1207 at 115 Justice Center Drive, 423-272-2904. Court staff can tell you whether a child is being held, where, and when the detention hearing is.
A juvenile record is not public, so the adult search above will not list a child.
16. If I put money on his jail account, does that count as bail?
No. Money added for phone calls or commissary stays on the account and never reaches the court. Bail goes to the clerk, to a bondsman, or by property bond. Never send either payment to someone who contacts you by text or social media.
17. What if he misses court after I post the bond?
The court can declare the bond forfeited under 40-11-139 and 40-11-201, and the person can be arrested on a capias. A cash depositor risks the deposit. Call the Circuit Court Clerk the same day at 423-272-3397 to learn what the court requires next.
18. Do we get the cash deposit back?
Under 40-11-119, the clerk returns a cash deposit once the bond conditions are met and the defendant is discharged. Under 40-11-121, the deposit is applied first to fines and court costs, so a smaller refund is normal. A surety is not liable for fines, costs or restitution unless the bond says so, and never without the surety's consent (40-11-118(c)).
Hawkins County bail contacts
- Jail
- Hawkins County Detention Center, Justice Center, 117 Justice Center Drive, Rogersville, TN 37857; 423-272-4848
- Custody lookup
- Hawkins County Inmate Search
- Courthouse
- 150 East Washington Street, Rogersville, TN 37857; 423-272-7359
- Circuit Court Clerk
- 115 Justice Center Drive, Suite 1237; 423-272-3397
- General Sessions
- 115 Justice Center Drive, Suite 1222; 423-272-3300
- Juvenile Court
- 115 Justice Center Drive, Suite 1207; 423-272-2904
- Public defender
- Third Judicial District, 423-587-7053
- Bond help
- Hawkins County bail and bond instructions
Amounts, hours and phone numbers change, and a judge can order terms that differ from what is described here. Call the office before you carry money anywhere. This guide explains the process and is not legal advice.
How do Bail Bonds work at Hawkins County Detention Center
The Hawkins County Sheriff recommends that you might want to use a bail bond agent licensed to do business in Hawkins 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 Hawkins 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 Hawkins 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 Hawkins County Detention Center, or the courthouse in Hawkins County where the offense took place.
Call 423-272-4848 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Hawkins County inmate locator.
Hawkins County Detention Center
Address:
117 Justice Center Drive
Rogersville, TN 37857
Phone:
423-272-4848
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Hawkins County
Does Hawkins County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Hawkins County?
Who can set bail in Hawkins County?
When is bail set in Hawkins County Tennessee?
Does Hawkins County have bail?
Yes, Hawkins County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Hawkins County?
Hawkins 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 Hawkins County?
Bail is set by a magistrate or judge.
When is bail set in Hawkins 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 Hawkins 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 Hawkins 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, Hawkins 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 Hawkins 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 Hawkins County have bail?
Yes, Hawkins County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Hawkins County?
Hawkins 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 Hawkins 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 Hawkins County Tennessee?
Yes, your attorney can request a bond reduction.
In Hawkins 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 Hawkins County Tennessee?
Yes, Tennessee does offer online bail payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Hawkins County Detention Center for more information about the jails in Hawkins County.
What options are there to pay bail in Hawkins 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 Hawkins County Detention Center for more information about posting bail in Hawkins 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 Hawkins 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 Hawkins 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.