Stewart County Detention Center Inmate Bail & Bonds

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Stewart County

Tennessee • Stewart County • Bail & bond help

Stewart County bail and bond: Cedar Street in Dover and the court offices on Donelson Parkway

Stewart County keeps its own jail. The Stewart County Detention Center is at 314 Cedar Street in Dover, and the Sheriff's Department answers there at 931-232-4053. Put the person's name into Stewart County Inmate Search to see if they are booked and what bail has been set. Money for a release is never paid to a deputy on the road; it goes through the court clerk, a licensed bondsman or an approved property bond. The clerks work from a separate building at 225 Donelson Parkway.

She was arrested in Dover last night. How do I confirm she is at the Cedar Street jail?

Search her name in Stewart County Inmate Search. You will see whether she is in custody, the charge and the bail. If the booking is only a few hours old, the record may not be up yet.

The Sheriff's Department at 314 Cedar Street can be reached at 931-232-4053. Sheriff Charles Gray's office runs the jail, so questions about a booking go to that line.

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Who picks the bail amount in Stewart County?

The judge or magistrate does, case by case. Tennessee Code 40-11-105 gives an arrested person the right to be admitted to bail on a bailable charge, and the Attorney General has read the law to require an individual decision, not a fixed price list. Under 40-11-106, a sheriff or officer can accept bail only after it is set.

The General Sessions judge can be reached at 931-232-5376.

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Where does the money go for a cash bond?

To the court clerk. Section 40-11-118 lets a defendant with bail set deposit the whole figure with the clerk, and the clerk may take a debit card or mobile app and pass on its fee. General Sessions cases are handled by the clerk at 931-232-8474, and Circuit Court cases by the Circuit Court Clerk at 931-232-7042. Both are on the second floor at 225 Donelson Parkway.

Cash comes back at the end of the case, less any fines and costs, so it costs less than a bondsman's fee.

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What if we cannot find the whole amount?

Then a professional bondsman is the usual choice. Under 40-11-151, a Tennessee resident should expect to pay about 10 percent of the bond as the premium, plus a $25 one-time initiation fee and a $12 bail tax. A nonresident's premium can run 10 to 15 percent. Demand a receipt that lists each charge.

A bondsman may not surrender the defendant arbitrarily. Good cause can include a failure to keep the promises in the contract, so read the contract first.

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How can we tell if a bondsman is approved for the 23rd District?

Stewart County is in the 23rd Judicial District, along with Cheatham, Dickson, Houston and Humphreys counties. A bondsman needs a license from the Board of Professional Bondsmen (40-11-321) and approval from each judicial district's courts. Ask to see both, and ask the Circuit Court Clerk at 931-232-7042 whether the company is approved to write bonds in the district.

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Can I use my land to secure the bond?

Tennessee permits real estate in the state to secure a bond, and a written bond signed by at least two sufficient sureties who are not bondsmen or attorneys is another route. Both take longer than cash because the court reviews the papers.

Start with the Circuit Court Clerk at 931-232-7042. Bring the deed, a tax bill and photo ID for each owner.

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What does the judge look at before setting bail?

The factors in 40-11-118(b) are the person's length of residence, work history and finances, family ties, character and mental condition, past record and appearances in court, the offense, and any danger the record shows. A responsible person in the community may speak up for the defendant, but may not do so for more than two defendants at a time.

The judge must keep the bail at the lowest level that will reasonably protect the community and make the defendant return.

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Can he be released with no money at all?

In many cases, yes. A court begins with release on the person's own recognizance or an unsecured bond (40-11-115(b)), looking at community ties, work and record. If that is not enough, it moves to the least onerous conditions that will assure the person comes back (40-11-116). Money is the last resort under 40-11-117.

Put the request to the judge at the first appearance, and bring proof of a job and a home address.

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Why does the roster show no bond?

One reason is a capital charge, which Article I, section 15 of the Tennessee Constitution leaves unbailable. Another is a hold from a different court or agency. A third is the waiting period after an arrest for domestic abuse or stalking: the official may not release the person within 12 hours unless there is no threat to the victim, and in an aggravated assault with strangulation or a weapon the hold can go to 24 hours.

The Sheriff's Department at 931-232-4053 can say which one applies.

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The arrest involved a protective order. Is that handled differently?

Yes. Section 40-11-150 covers stalking, child and elder abuse, domestic offenses and protection-order violations. The magistrate reviews the threat to the victim, then sets written conditions such as no direct or indirect contact, staying away from the victim's home, no weapons and no alcohol. A copy goes to the jail, and the defendant gets one at release.

A violation lets officers arrest the person again and the bail can be revoked.

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Who is the lawyer if the family cannot hire one?

The judge appoints one if the person cannot pay. The public defender for the 23rd Judicial District can be reached at 615-792-1308. At the first appearance the magistrate explains the charge, the right to counsel and the right to remain silent (Tenn. R. Crim. P. 5). For a felony, a preliminary hearing follows within 14 days for someone in jail and within 30 days for someone out on bond.

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Where is a teenager held, and who handles juvenile matters?

Stewart County Juvenile Court has a Youth Service Officer at 112 Natcor Drive in Dover, 931-232-6322. Call that office to learn whether a child is in custody, which facility holds the child, and when the court will hear the case. Juvenile records are private, so the adult search will not show a minor.

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Do the clerks sit in the same building as the jail?

No. The Circuit Court Clerk and the General Sessions clerk are on the second floor at 225 Donelson Parkway, with the Chancery Court Clerk and Master on the first floor at 931-232-5665. The jail is a short drive away on Cedar Street. Call the right clerk before you go so you walk to the correct counter.

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My brother's account at the jail is empty. Can I pay his bail the same way?

No. Money for phone calls and commissary goes into an inmate account and is never applied to bail. Real bail goes through the clerk, a bondsman or a property bond. Be careful of a caller who says to pay at once by app or gift card.

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What happens if he misses a court date?

The court can declare the bond forfeited (40-11-139 and 40-11-201) and order his arrest. A surety is not responsible for fines, costs or restitution unless the bond says so, and never without consent (40-11-118(c)). If a bondsman writes the bond, tell him right away so the surrender process under 40-11-132 can start.

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How do I get a deposit back?

The clerk refunds the deposit once the bond conditions are met and the defendant is discharged (40-11-119). Fines and court costs come out first (40-11-121), so expect less than the full amount if costs were ordered. A bondsman's premium is not refundable.

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Stewart County bail contacts

Jail
Stewart County Detention Center, 314 Cedar Street, Dover, TN 37058; 931-232-4053
Custody lookup
Stewart County Inmate Search
Circuit Court Clerk
225 Donelson Parkway, 2nd floor, Dover, TN 37058; 931-232-7042
General Sessions clerk
225 Donelson Parkway, 2nd floor; 931-232-8474
Clerk and Master
225 Donelson Parkway, 1st floor; 931-232-5665
General Sessions judge
931-232-5376
Juvenile Court
112 Natcor Drive, Dover, TN 37058; 931-232-6322
Public defender
23rd Judicial District, 615-792-1308
Bond help
Stewart County bail and bond instructions

Fees, hours and numbers change over time, and a judge may impose different terms. This is an overview, not legal advice.

How do Bail Bonds work at Stewart County Detention Center

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

Call 931-232-4053 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Stewart County inmate locator.

Stewart County Detention Center

Address:
314 Cedar Street
Dover, TN 37058

Phone:

931-232-4053

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Stewart County


Does Stewart County have bail?

What kind of bonds are accepted in Stewart County?

Who can set bail in Stewart County?

When is bail set in Stewart County Tennessee?


 

 

Does Stewart County have bail?

Yes,  Stewart County recognizes most types of bonds.


 

 

What kind of bonds are accepted in Stewart County?

Stewart 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 Stewart County?

Bail is set by a magistrate or judge.


 

 

When is bail set in Stewart 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 Stewart 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 Stewart 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, Stewart 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 Stewart 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 Stewart County have bail?

Yes,  Stewart County recognizes most types of bonds.

What kind of bonds are accepted in Stewart County? 

Stewart 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 Stewart 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 Stewart County Tennessee? 

Yes, your attorney can request a bond reduction.

In Stewart 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 Stewart County Tennessee?

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

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

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Stewart County