Macon County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Macon County bail and bond: getting someone out of the Lafayette jail
The Macon County Jail holds people arrested in Macon County. The Sheriff's Office runs it from 902 Highway 52 Bypass East in Lafayette and answers at 615-666-3325. Start with Macon County Inmate Search to see the booking, the charges and the bond amount. Court business is a separate stop: the clerk and the General Sessions judge work out of the county courthouse, also in Lafayette.
Where can I see whether someone has been booked?
Search Macon County Inmate Search by last name. A new booking may take a bit to appear, so try again later in the day before assuming the worst.
If you need a person on the phone, the Sheriff's Office number is 615-666-3325. Give the full name and birth date.
Who picks the bail figure?
The court does, through a judge or magistrate looking at one person at a time. Tennessee Code 40-11-105 gives a person arrested on a bailable charge a right to be admitted to bail. Officers can only release once bail exists (40-11-106).
So asking the jail to knock the number down will not work. Ask the court.
How does a cash bond work in Macon County?
You pay the entire bail amount. Section 40-11-118 provides for a cash deposit equal to the bail, taken by the court clerk, who may accept debit cards or mobile cash apps and bill the payer for the fee.
The Circuit Court Clerk answers at 615-666-2354. The county courthouse is at 201 County Courthouse in Lafayette. Ask about hours and about payments after closing.
How much do bondsmen charge?
About 10 percent of the bond for a Tennessee resident (40-11-151), and 10 to 15 percent for someone from another state. One $25 initiation fee and a $12 bail tax can be added.
The fee is the cost of the service. Keep copies of all receipts.
Should I worry about a bondsman who asks for a car title?
Collateral is allowed, but only with a written receipt naming every item and explaining how to get it back. The bondsman also cannot hand your relative back to the jail without good cause.
Licensed bondsmen carry a license from the Board of Professional Bondsmen (40-11-321). They must also be approved by the courts of the Fifteenth Judicial District, which includes Macon County.
Can a house or land count as bond?
Yes, if it is real estate in Tennessee. The court needs to examine the ownership papers first, which takes time. Phone the Circuit Court Clerk at 615-666-2354 to ask what Macon County wants and who must sign. Another option is a written bond signed by two sufficient sureties who are neither bondsmen nor attorneys.
What reasons does the judge weigh?
Time spent living in the area, job history, finances, family ties, character and mental condition, record, past court attendance, the severity of the charge, the likely sentence and any danger shown by the record are all named in 40-11-118(b). Lawful presence in Tennessee is a factor as well.
A responsible community member can vouch for a defendant, but each person may vouch for only two at a time.
Is a no-money release possible?
Yes. Under 40-11-115(b) the court starts with release on the defendant's own recognizance or an unsecured bond. Money bail follows only if lesser conditions would not reasonably assure appearance (40-11-117), and the conditions have to be as light as will work (40-11-116).
Ask at the first appearance and show proof of work and housing.
What stops a release even when bail has been posted?
A hold from another county, a probation hold, or the 12-hour wait after certain domestic and stalking arrests (40-11-150). Capital charges are not bailable under Article I, section 15.
Call the Sheriff's Office at 615-666-3325 to find out which applies.
How does the domestic hold work?
Release is barred for 12 hours after arrest in covered domestic, stalking and abuse cases unless the official finds no threat to the victim. With strangulation, serious injury or a deadly weapon in an aggravated assault, the hold may run up to 24 hours, and the court must issue a no-contact order and require GPS monitoring before bond.
Is DUI treated differently at bail?
It can be. A judge may order an ignition interlock device under 40-11-118(d) in certain alcohol cases, and repeat offenders can face transdermal alcohol monitoring that they pay for.
When does he go before a judge, and who provides a free lawyer?
Tennessee Rule of Criminal Procedure 5 requires that the person be taken before a magistrate "without unnecessary delay." The judge reviews the charge, the right to counsel and the right to stay quiet. In a felony, a preliminary hearing comes within 14 days if the person is held and within 30 if released.
Ask the judge for a public defender. The Fifteenth Judicial District office is at 615-443-2771.
Who handles General Sessions?
The General Sessions judge's office is at 615-666-4027. The Circuit Court Clerk at 615-666-2354 keeps the dockets and can tell you the date and room of a hearing.
What if the arresting officer was from Red Boiling Springs or Lafayette?
Local police make arrests inside city limits. Get the report number and the facility name from that department, and check Macon County Inmate Search. Holds from other agencies can delay release even after bail is paid.
My 17-year-old was taken in. Where do we go?
Juvenile matters have their own docket. Call the clerk at 615-666-2354 or the courthouse to learn where the youth is held and when the detention hearing is. The adult search leaves juveniles out.
Is paying for the jail phone the same as bail?
No. Phone and commissary money stays with the account provider. Bail comes in through the clerk, a bondsman or a property bond, and nothing else. Ignore any message offering a quicker release for a fee.
What happens if he skips a hearing?
If he misses, the bond can be forfeited under 40-11-139 and 40-11-201 and a warrant can follow. A cash depositor can lose the deposit, and a bondsman can surrender the defendant (40-11-132). Call the clerk right away.
When can I get my deposit back?
After the conditions are satisfied and the defendant is discharged, the clerk returns it (40-11-119), after fines and court costs come out (40-11-121). A surety owes no fines, costs or restitution unless the bond says so with the surety's consent (40-11-118(c)).
Macon County bail contacts
- Jail
- Macon County Jail, 902 Highway 52 Bypass East, Lafayette, TN 37083; 615-666-3325
- Custody lookup
- Macon County Inmate Search
- Courthouse
- 201 County Courthouse, Lafayette, TN 37083
- Circuit Court Clerk
- 615-666-2354
- General Sessions judge
- 615-666-4027
- Public defender
- Fifteenth Judicial District, 615-443-2771
- Bond help
- bail instructions for the Macon County jail
Fees, office hours and phone numbers can change, and a judge may impose conditions not covered here. Ask the clerk before you pay anything in Lafayette. This page gives general help only and is not legal advice.
How do Bail Bonds work at Macon County Jail
The Macon County Sheriff recommends that you might want to use a bail bond agent licensed to do business in Macon 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 Macon 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 Macon 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 Macon County Jail, or the courthouse in Macon County where the offense took place.
Call 615-666-7155 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Macon County inmate locator.
Macon County Jail
Address:
902 Hwy 52 Bypass East
Lafayette, TN 37083
Phone:
615-666-7155
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Macon County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Macon County?
Who can set bail in Macon County?
When is bail set in Macon County Tennessee?
Does Macon County have bail?
Yes, Macon County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Macon County?
Macon 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 Macon County?
Bail is set by a magistrate or judge.
When is bail set in Macon 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 Macon 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 Macon 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, Macon 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 Macon 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 Macon County have bail?
Yes, Macon County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Macon County?
Macon 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 Macon 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 Macon County Tennessee?
Yes, your attorney can request a bond reduction.
In Macon 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 Macon County Tennessee?
Yes, Tennessee does offer online bail payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Macon County Jail for more information about the jails in Macon County.
What options are there to pay bail in Macon 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 Macon County Jail for more information about posting bail in Macon 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 Macon 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 Macon 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.