Hickman County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Hickman County bail and bond: what to do after an arrest in Centerville
People arrested in Hickman County are held at the Hickman County Jail, which the Sheriff's Office runs from 108 College Avenue, Centerville. Call the Sheriff's Office at 931-729-6143 about someone in custody. The courts are on the same street at 104 College Avenue, where the Circuit Court Clerk and the General Sessions judge have offices. Check Hickman County Inmate Search to see the booking, the charges and any bond. Then read on for how to pay, whom to call and what the law allows.
How can I tell if my family member is in the Hickman County Jail?
Open Hickman County Inmate Search. It shows who is booked and why. Allow time for a fresh arrest to post. If the name does not come up, call the Sheriff's Office at 931-729-6143, and ask whether the person is in transit, at another county's jail, or held on a warrant from somewhere else.
Where are the offices I need, and how close are they?
The Sheriff's Office and jail are at 108 College Avenue. The Circuit Court Clerk is at 104 College Avenue, Suite 204, and the General Sessions judge's office is in Suite 210 of the same building. The Clerk and Master, who handles chancery matters, is in Suite 202. You can cover jail and court business on one street.
Who do I call for what?
For custody questions, call the Sheriff's Office at 931-729-6143. For court dates and court records, call the Circuit Court Clerk at 931-729-2211. The General Sessions judge's office answers at 931-729-3074. Keep the full name and birth date ready so staff can pull the right file.
Who picks the dollar figure on a Hickman County bond?
A judge or magistrate. The Sheriff's Office can release a person only after bail has been set, and it cannot raise or lower the figure. A lawyer can ask the General Sessions judge to review an amount. Under Tennessee law, each person is entitled to an individual decision, not an automatic number.
What reasons can the court use to raise or lower bail?
The judge looks at how long the person has lived in the area, work and financial history, family ties, reputation, any past failure to appear, the charge, and public safety. Someone who vouches for the defendant can help, but a person may vouch for only two defendants at a time. Whether the person is lawfully in Tennessee also counts. Bring written proof of address and work.
What does a Hickman County bondsman charge?
A Tennessee resident should be asked for about 10 percent of the bond, and a nonresident for 10 to 15 percent, plus a $25 initiation fee and a $12 tax. The bondsman keeps this money when the case ends. Ask for a receipt covering every charge and any property taken as collateral.
Is my bondsman licensed to work here?
Check two things. The state Board of Professional Bondsmen must have licensed the person, and the court in the 21st Judicial District, which includes Hickman, Lewis, Perry and Williamson counties, must have approved the bondsman. The Circuit Court Clerk at 931-729-2211 can point you to the court's rules before you sign a contract.
Can I just pay the whole bail in cash?
Yes, and no bondsman fee applies. Cash bail equals the full amount set. The court clerk takes the deposit and may allow a debit card or a payment app, passing any card fee on to you. When the case is over and the person is discharged, the clerk returns the deposit after subtracting fines and court costs.
What if I cannot afford cash but own land?
Tennessee land can secure a bond, and so can a written agreement signed by two people who are not professional bondsmen or lawyers. Expect more paperwork and more time than cash. Ask the Circuit Court Clerk at 931-729-2211 what documents to bring, and have every owner ready to sign.
How fast will the person see a judge?
An arrested person must be taken to a magistrate without unnecessary delay under Tennessee rules. For a felony, the magistrate explains the charge and the person's rights but takes no plea. The General Sessions judge's office, 931-729-3074, can tell you where the next hearing will be held.
What does "no bond" on a record mean?
It can be a hold from another county, a probation violation, a bond not yet set, or a capital charge. Today the constitution takes only capital offenses out of bail.
Why is someone arrested in a domestic case not freed quickly?
State law requires a 12-hour wait before release in stalking, child abuse, elder abuse and some domestic cases, unless the official finds no threat to the victim. If the case is aggravated assault involving strangulation or a deadly weapon, the wait can run to 24 hours. A no-contact order comes first, and the court may add GPS monitoring.
What extra rules can follow a DUI arrest?
A judge may order an ignition interlock for many alcohol-related driving offenses and require proof of installation within 10 days. After a third alcohol offense, or a vehicular homicide with a prior alcohol conviction, the court can require alcohol monitoring that the defendant pays for.
How do I get a lawyer if we cannot afford one?
The 21st Judicial District Public Defender serves Hickman, Lewis, Perry and Williamson counties at 615-790-5519. Ask for appointed counsel when the judge first sees the person. A lawyer can seek release on a promise to appear, which the court must weigh before it demands money.
Where can a minor be held?
Juvenile files are private, so Hickman County Inmate Search may not show a minor. Call the General Sessions judge's office at 931-729-3074 to learn which court date applies, and call the Sheriff's Office at 931-729-6143 to find where the young person is.
What if the person does not show up for court in Centerville?
The court can declare the bond forfeited and issue a warrant. A surety is responsible for fines, costs or restitution only if the bond says so and the surety agreed to it. Call the Circuit Court Clerk at 931-729-2211 right away and consult a lawyer about a new date.
Does money in a jail account count as bail?
No. Money for phone calls or commissary does not free anyone. Be suspicious of anyone asking for gift cards or a wire to release a relative. Call the Sheriff's Office at 931-729-6143 yourself to confirm what is true.
Hickman County bond contacts
- County jail
- Hickman County Jail, 108 College Avenue, Centerville, TN 37033; 931-729-6143
- Bond guide
- Jail bail and bond page
- Custody lookup
- Hickman County Inmate Search
- Sheriff's Office
- 108 College Avenue, Centerville; 931-729-6143
- Circuit Court Clerk
- 104 College Avenue, Suite 204, Centerville; 931-729-2211
- General Sessions judge
- 104 College Avenue, Suite 210, Centerville; 931-729-3074
- Clerk and Master
- 104 College Avenue, Suite 202, Centerville; 931-729-2522
- Public defender
- 21st Judicial District, 615-790-5519
Bond amounts, fees and office hours can change with a court order. Double-check amounts and hours for your own case with the clerk or the Sheriff's Office before paying. The page is an overview, not legal advice.
How do Bail Bonds work at Hickman County Jail
The Hickman County Sheriff recommends that you might want to use a bail bond agent licensed to do business in Hickman 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 Hickman 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 Hickman 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 Hickman County Jail, or the courthouse in Hickman County where the offense took place.
Call 931-729-6143 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Hickman County inmate locator.
Hickman County Jail
Address:
108 College Avenue
Centerville, TN 37033
Phone:
931-729-6143
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Hickman County
Does Hickman County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Hickman County?
Who can set bail in Hickman County?
When is bail set in Hickman County Tennessee?
Does Hickman County have bail?
Yes, Hickman County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Hickman County?
Hickman 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 Hickman County?
Bail is set by a magistrate or judge.
When is bail set in Hickman 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 Hickman 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 Hickman 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, Hickman 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 Hickman 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 Hickman County have bail?
Yes, Hickman County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Hickman County?
Hickman 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 Hickman 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 Hickman County Tennessee?
Yes, your attorney can request a bond reduction.
In Hickman 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 Hickman County Tennessee?
Yes, Tennessee does offer online bail payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Hickman County Jail for more information about the jails in Hickman County.
What options are there to pay bail in Hickman 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 Hickman County Jail for more information about posting bail in Hickman 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 Hickman 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 Hickman 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.