Wayne County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Wayne County bail and bond: the Waynesboro jail and the road to release
Adults arrested in Wayne County are held at the Wayne County Jail in Waynesboro, which the Wayne County Sheriff's Office runs from 1016 Andrew Jackson Drive, Suite 101. Call 931-722-3615. Use Wayne County Inmate Search to check custody, bail, and release before you call. The state certifies the jail for 128 beds, and it is often full, so be patient on the phone. Bail is set by a judge, and money for the court goes to the Circuit Court Clerk.
Is my family member in the Wayne County jail?
Short answer: look on Wayne County Inmate Search, then call 931-722-3615. A booking can take an hour or more to show. Have the full name, birth date, and arrest date ready. Ask whether the person has been moved to another county for space.
Does the jail hold everyone arrested in Wayne County?
It is the county's own jail. The state certifies it for 128 beds, and it is often full. Because space is tight, ask the Sheriff's Office whether your relative is in Waynesboro or has been placed elsewhere.
Who sets the bail?
A judge or magistrate does. The jail cannot lower it, raise it, or waive it. Under Tennessee law a person arrested for a bailable offense has a right to bail, and the judge has to look at that person's own facts. Time in the community, work, family, past court record, and the charge all count.
Which office should I call for the court side?
The Circuit Court Clerk answers at 931-722-5519. The General Sessions judge's office answers at 931-722-5563. The County Clerk, 931-722-5544, keeps county records but is not the place to pay a bond. When in doubt, begin with the Circuit Court Clerk.
What are all the ways to get released?
Four forms of bail exist in Tennessee. A cash deposit equal to the full bail. A bond secured by real estate in the state. A bond signed by two sufficient sureties who are not bondsmen or lawyers. Or a bond written by a professional bondsman. Some people are released on their own promise to appear, and the judge looks at that choice first.
How do I pay cash bail?
Pay the whole amount to the court clerk. Call 931-722-5519 to ask for hours, what payment types are taken, and whether you must come to the courthouse or the jail. Bring a photo ID and the person's full legal name. Tennessee lets a clerk accept debit cards or payment apps and pass the fee to the payer. Keep the receipt with the case number.
What does a bondsman cost, and what must I get in writing?
For a Tennessee resident the charge is about 10 percent plus a $37 fee, and it is not refundable. The bondsman needs a state license and court approval. Get a copy of the contract, a receipt for every payment, and a written list of any collateral with the way to get it back. The bondsman cannot take your relative back to jail without good cause.
Can I use land, a house, or a farm?
Yes, if it is in Tennessee and the judge accepts it. Every owner signs. The court checks value and ownership first, so the release comes later than with cash. The Circuit Court Clerk, 931-722-5519, can tell you what to bring.
What does it mean if no bond is shown?
Possible causes: a capital charge, which is not bailable; a hold from another county; a probation violation; a federal or immigration hold; or bail not yet set. The Sheriff's Office at 931-722-3615 can tell you which. Wait for a number before you pay a bondsman.
How does the 12-hour domestic violence rule work?
After an arrest for stalking, abuse of a child or elder, or many domestic offenses, no release is allowed for 12 hours unless an official writes that the victim faces no threat. If strangulation, serious injury, or a weapon is involved in an aggravated assault, up to 24 hours. A no-contact order must come first, and GPS may be ordered.
When will the judge see my relative?
Rule 5 of the Tennessee Rules of Criminal Procedure says it must happen without unnecessary delay. In felony cases the magistrate explains the charge and the right to a lawyer. The preliminary hearing follows within 14 days for someone in custody and 30 days for someone released. Ask 931-722-5563 for dates.
Can I get the bail reduced?
A lawyer can ask for a hearing. The court starts with release on a promise to appear, then uses the lightest conditions that will keep the person coming to court. It resorts to money bail only if less costly steps would not work. Excessive bail is banned by the state constitution.
Who is the free lawyer in Wayne County?
The judge can appoint the public defender when a person cannot pay. Wayne County is in the 22nd Judicial District, and the Public Defender answers at 931-380-2598. Mention the case number and the arrest date.
What should I bring when I go to pay?
Bring a government photo ID, the person's full legal name and birth date, the case number if you have it, and the exact amount in the form the clerk says it takes. Write down the clerk's name when you pay. Ask for a receipt that shows the amount, the date, and the case number, and keep it until the case is fully over.
Is a deposit on the jail account the same as bail?
No. An account deposit buys phone time and store items. It never reduces bail or buys release. Pay bail to the clerk or to a licensed bondsman only.
My child was arrested in Wayne County. What now?
Call the General Sessions judge's office, 931-722-5563, to ask where the child is held and when the hearing is. Juvenile records stay private, so a child will not show on the adult search. A parent or guardian should plan to attend.
What if the defendant misses court?
Missing court puts the bond at risk and can lead to an arrest warrant. The bondsman may surrender the person to the jail. Call the Circuit Court Clerk, 931-722-5519, and a lawyer the same day.
When does the clerk return cash, and how can I avoid scams?
The clerk returns a cash deposit at the end of the case, after fines and costs. A bondsman's fee is not returned. Gift cards, wire transfers, and app payments requested by a caller are scams. Look up the Sheriff's Office number yourself, 931-722-3615, and call it.
Wayne County bond contacts
- County jail
- Wayne County Jail, Waynesboro, TN; 931-722-3615
- Bond guide
- Jail bail and bond guide
- Custody lookup
- Wayne County Inmate Search
- Sheriff's Office
- 1016 Andrew Jackson Drive, Suite 101, Waynesboro, TN 38485; 931-722-3615
- Circuit Court Clerk
- 931-722-5519
- General Sessions
- Judge's office 931-722-5563
- County Clerk
- 931-722-5544
- Public defender
- 22nd Judicial District Public Defender 931-380-2598
Hours, fees, and phone numbers can change. Confirm the details of your case with the Sheriff's Office or the Circuit Court Clerk first. This page is not legal advice.
How do Bail Bonds work at Wayne County Jail
The Wayne County Sheriff recommends that you might want to use a bail bond agent licensed to do business in Wayne 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 Wayne 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 Wayne 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 Wayne County Jail, or the courthouse in Wayne County where the offense took place.
Call 931-722-3615 Option 2 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Wayne County inmate locator.
Wayne County Jail
Address:
1016 Ralph Horton Drive
Waynesboro, TN 38485
Phone:
931-722-3615 Option 2
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Wayne County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Wayne County?
Who can set bail in Wayne County?
When is bail set in Wayne County Tennessee?
Does Wayne County have bail?
Yes, Wayne County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Wayne County?
Wayne 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 Wayne County?
Bail is set by a magistrate or judge.
When is bail set in Wayne 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 Wayne 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 Wayne 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, Wayne 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 Wayne 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 Wayne County have bail?
Yes, Wayne County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Wayne County?
Wayne 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 Wayne 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 Wayne County Tennessee?
Yes, your attorney can request a bond reduction.
In Wayne 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 Wayne County Tennessee?
Yes, Tennessee does offer online bail payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Wayne County Jail for more information about the jails in Wayne County.
What options are there to pay bail in Wayne 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 Wayne County Jail for more information about posting bail in Wayne 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 Wayne 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 Wayne 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.