Van Buren County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Van Buren County

Tennessee • Van Buren County • Bail & bond help

Van Buren County bail and bond: a plain guide for families in Spencer

Van Buren County keeps people arrested here in the Van Buren County Jail in Spencer, and the Sheriff's Department answers at 931-946-2118. Use the Van Buren County Inmate Search to read the charge and the bond amount. Court paperwork runs through the Circuit Court Clerk at 931-946-2153.

Where do I start when someone has been picked up in Van Buren County?

With the Van Buren County Inmate Search. Type the last name and read the charge and bond. A booking from the last few hours may not be posted, so look again later.

The Sheriff's Department at 931-946-2118 covers what the search does not.

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Is the jail in Spencer, or are inmates driven to another county?

Van Buren County has its own jail and the Sheriff's Department runs it. The sheriff's office and the county offices share the courthouse campus at 121 Taft Drive, Spencer, TN 38585, so Spencer is the place to start.

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Who gives the order that sets bail?

A judge or magistrate. Tennessee Code 40-11-105 entitles a person arrested for a bailable offense to bail, and the figure must be set for that person. A deputy can release only after the court has set bail (40-11-106).

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Where do I take paperwork or ask about a court date?

The Circuit Court Clerk, 121 Taft Drive, Spencer, TN 38585, telephone 931-946-2153. The County Clerk is in the same building at 931-946-2121, open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Call first and ask what the clerk needs from you.

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What does a cash bond mean in dollars?

The whole amount. Section 40-11-118 says the deposit equals the bail, with no portion taken off. A clerk may accept a debit card or mobile cash app, and the payer covers that fee.

Ask the Circuit Court Clerk at 931-946-2153 where deposits are accepted and until when.

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What does a bondsman collect?

A Tennessee resident should be asked for about 10 percent of the bond. A nonresident may be asked for 10 to 15 percent. Up to $25 may be added once as an initiation fee, with a $12 bail tax (40-11-151).

The fee is the bondsman's pay and is not returned. Keep a copy of every receipt.

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How do I know a bondsman is allowed to write bonds here?

Two approvals are needed. The Board of Professional Bondsmen issues a license (40-11-321), and the court in the judicial district approves the bondsman. Van Buren County is in the Thirty-First Judicial District.

Courts can suspend bondsmen whose conduct harms clients (40-11-125).

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Can a bondsman keep my watch or truck title?

Only if you receive a written receipt that describes each item and how to get it back. A bondsman who wants to return a client to jail needs good cause, such as a broken contract term (40-11-151).

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Does land count as security?

Yes, Tennessee land does. Attorney General Opinion 03-054 names four forms of bail: cash, in-state real estate, a written promise from two sufficient sureties who are not bondsmen or lawyers, and a professional bondsman.

A property bond takes more steps than cash. The Circuit Court Clerk at 931-946-2153 can say how Van Buren County processes one.

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What do judges consider when choosing a figure?

Under 40-11-118(b): how long the person has lived in the area, work and finances, family, character, mental condition, record, past attendance at court, the offense, the possible sentence and danger shown by the record. Lawful presence in Tennessee is a factor too.

A person who vouches for a defendant is limited to two defendants at once.

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Will the judge let him sign and go home?

The court has to weigh it first. Recognizance or an unsecured bond is the starting point (40-11-115(b)). Next are the least onerous conditions (40-11-116). Money bail follows only if those will not assure appearance (40-11-117).

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Is anyone ineligible for bail?

Capital offenses are outside the right to bail under Article I, section 15 of the Tennessee Constitution. Excessive bail is barred by section 16. Holds from other counties and probation matters can also stop a release.

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My neighbor was arrested after a fight at home. How long until release?

Section 40-11-150 blocks release within 12 hours of arrest in stalking and listed domestic cases unless the official finds no threat to the victim. If the charge is aggravated assault involving strangulation, serious injury or a deadly weapon, the hold can run to 24 hours. A no-contact order comes first, and GPS monitoring applies in the aggravated case.

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What happens with a DUI arrest?

Judges can require an ignition interlock under 40-11-118(d). Repeat alcohol cases can bring transdermal monitoring that the defendant pays for. Tampering with the monitor is a Class B misdemeanor.

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What will the first appearance look like?

The person is taken before a magistrate without unnecessary delay (Tenn. R. Crim. P. 5). The magistrate reads the charge and explains the right to a lawyer and the right to remain silent. A felony defendant does not enter a plea.

Preliminary hearings take place within 14 days for those in jail and within 30 days for those released.

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How do I request a free lawyer?

Tell the judge you cannot afford one. The Thirty-First Judicial District Public Defender serves Van Buren County at 931-473-6356.

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Our 16-year-old was arrested. What now?

Juvenile matters are separate from adult court, and the files are private. Call the Circuit Court Clerk at 931-946-2153 to ask which court has the case and when the first hearing is, and call the Sheriff's Department at 931-946-2118 to learn where your child is.

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Will money on a jail account bring him home?

No. Money placed for the store or phone calls is not bail and does not release anyone. Only a court-approved payment, bondsman or property bond does.

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What if he does not show up in court?

The court can forfeit the bond (40-11-139 and 40-11-201) and order an arrest. Cash can be lost, and a bondsman can surrender the defendant (40-11-132). Contact the Circuit Court Clerk at 931-946-2153 immediately.

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When will I see my deposit again?

Once the defendant is discharged, the clerk returns it (40-11-119), after fines and court costs are subtracted (40-11-121). A surety owes fines, costs or restitution only if the bond says so and the surety consented (40-11-118(c)).

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Van Buren County bail contacts

Jail
Van Buren County Jail, Spencer; Sheriff's Department 931-946-2118
Custody lookup
Van Buren County Inmate Search
Circuit Court Clerk
121 Taft Drive, Spencer, TN 38585; 931-946-2153
County Clerk
931-946-2121; Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Public defender
Thirty-First Judicial District, 931-473-6356
Bond help
bail instructions for the Van Buren County jail

Phone lines and costs can change, and every bond is decided on its own facts. Verify with the clerk or the Sheriff's Department before you hand over money. This page is general information and does not give legal advice.

How do Bail Bonds work at Van Buren County Jail

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

Call 931-946-2118 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Van Buren County inmate locator.

Van Buren County Jail

Address:
121 Taft Drive
Spencer, TN 38585
Phone:
931-946-2118

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Van Buren County


Does Van Buren County have bail?

What kind of bonds are accepted in Van Buren County?

Who can set bail in Van Buren County?

When is bail set in Van Buren County Tennessee?

 

 

Does Van Buren County have bail?

Yes,  Van Buren County recognizes most types of bonds.

 

 

What kind of bonds are accepted in Van Buren County?

Van Buren 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 Van Buren County?

Bail is set by a magistrate or judge.

 

 

When is bail set in Van Buren 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 Van Buren 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 Van Buren 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, Van Buren 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 Van Buren 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 Van Buren County have bail?

Yes,  Van Buren County recognizes most types of bonds.

What kind of bonds are accepted in Van Buren County? 

Van Buren 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 Van Buren 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 Van Buren County Tennessee? 

Yes, your attorney can request a bond reduction.

In Van Buren 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 Van Buren County Tennessee?

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

What options are there to pay bail in Van Buren 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 Van Buren County Jail for more information about posting bail in Van Buren 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 Van Buren 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 Van Buren 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.

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Van Buren County

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Every detail on this page is checked by hand, not scraped. This unofficial directory helps friends and family of incarcerated individuals find critical information — inmate lists, locations, bail resources, visitation hours, rules, and text, phone, email, and mail services — for jails, detention centers, and prisons across the United States.