Skip to main content

Author: admin

Video FAQ on Bail Process

Bail is basically money that you must deposit with the court in which your criminal case exists if you want to remain free from jail while your court case is ongoing.  After you are arrested, a magistrate or judge will set a bail bond amount for your particular case.  Due to the large number of inmates that the Shelby County Jail and other city jails within Shelby County process, it often takes several hours for a magistrate or judge to set a bail bond amount on a new inmate. 

The purpose of bail is to insure that a defendant appears for all of his or her set court appearances on a criminal case.  A bail bond amount can range anywhere from $100 on a misdemeanor charge to hundreds of thousands of dollars on a felony charge.  In order for a defendant to remain free from jail while he or she waits for his case to come to a conclusion, this money must be deposited with the courts by someone on the defendant’s behalf.  As long as the defendant goes to all of his or her court dates, the bail money is returned to the person who paid it after the case comes to a conclusion.  In this situation, this cash bail bond money is returned whether the defendant is found guilty or not.

Most of us do not have the financial resources to deposit such large amounts of bail money with the court.  Fortunately, a bail bond company can help a defendant get out of jail while awaiting trial without having to deposit such large amounts of bail money with the court.  A bail bond company charges certain non-refundable fees to perform this service.

Watch this video FAQ to learn about the bonding process

See our Bail Process page for more information.

How Much is Bail?

Bail amount is very subjective. The Constitution’s Eighth Amendment prohibits “excessive bail,” but that’s not very helpful when you try to translate this decade to decade. What is excessive to you or me is not excessive at all to someone like Amazon honcho Jeff Bezos. So, the bail amount is basically a one-size-fits-all price that may or may not be “excessive” under certain circumstances.

If the initial bail amount is “excessive”, considering all the facts, an attorney may be able to get the bail reduced at a subsequent hearing. As is mostly the case in criminal proceedings, there is usually some give and take involved at this hearing. At United Bonding Company (bail bond near me), your bondsman can assist by providing you a lot more information about this process, answer your questions, and get your friend or loved one out of jail fast.

Initial Determination

In Tennessee, a judge, magistrate, or judicial commissioner sets bail amounts. That’s the amount of money defendants must pay to get out of jail before they see a judge.

To get out of jail straightaway, the defendant can either post the entire bail amount with the court in cash or pay a bail bondsman a flat fee for their bonding services to write a surety bond. United Bonding Company will provide you a Bail Bond Assessment free of charge.

Using the services of a bondsman is typically best, and not just because there is less financial risk. A bail bondsman is basically a resource person to help you get out of jail fast and with less complications, and that’s very useful in these situations.

Bail Reduction Hearing

If the defendant cannot afford to post bail or pay a surety bond premium, an attorney can ask for a bond reduction hearing. At that hearing, the judge will listen to the evidence and decide what a reasonable bail would be. Some factors include:

  • Defendant’s connection to the community,
  • Severity of the offense,
  • Defendant’s ability to travel,
  • Amount of evidence against the defendant, and
  • Defendant’s threat to the community if released.

Sometimes, there are additional conditions on release such as an Ignition Interlock Device or GPS monitoring.

United Bonding Company is the premier bonding company in Memphis and serves western Tennessee and proud members of Tennessee Association of Professional Bail Agents. Their professional and confidential bondsmen work hard to secure your fast release from jail and also provide bail bonds for the Shelby County Juvenile Court. Call (901) 577-1138 for more information about the bail and bail bonds process or read more at our page https://bailbondmemphis.com/bail-bonds-process/.

*DISCLAIMER**

Please be advised that www.bailbondmemphis.com and United Bonding Company is not an attorney or law firm and does not provide legal advice. If you are seeking legal advice, you are strongly encouraged to consider consulting with a competent attorney in your jurisdiction who can provide you with legal advice on your particular matter given that individual state, county or city laws may vary. www.bailbondmemphis.com provides INFORMATION ONLY and the information provided is for informational purposes only AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR SUBSTITUTED FOR LEGAL ADVICE. THE INFORMATION INCLUDED IN OR AVAILABLE THROUGH THE SITE MAY INCLUDE INACCURACIES OR TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS. No guarantees are made and the use of the website, content, and any information provided is at your own risk.

The Smart Way To Turn Yourself In.

A public arrest is one of the most embarrassing things that can happen to a person. When officers come to your place of work or home and lead you away in handcuffs, nothing good happens. In fact, these incidents can have wide-ranging effects that include problems at work and difficulties with relationships. Public arrests are particularly hard on children https://www.prisonfellowship.org/resources/training-resources/family/ministry-basics/impact-of-incarceration-on-children/.

To avoid at least some of this embarrassment, many people want to know how to turn yourself in. Checking into 201 Poplar Avenue as soon as possible on your own time, and on your own terms, is a much better alternative than arriving in the backseat of a police car.

Types of Warrants that Bondsmen Handle

There are basically two types of warrants: arrest warrants and bench warrants. Although they are different, United Bonding Company, (bail bond near me) serving the Memphis-area and western Tennessee, writes bonds on cases with both of these types of warrants.

In most cases, a judge issues a bench warrant if the defendant does not comply with a court order. These orders could include:

  • Failure to appear in court,
  • Not paying child support,
  • Failure to take care of a ticket on time,

Typical Booking and Bookout Procedures

Bail bondsmen can make advance arrangements when a defendant wants to take care of Shelby County warrants. So, most defendants do not even go into cells. Instead, they complete all the jail intake paperwork and then wait in a designated holding area while they are booked in, their bond is set and their bail bond paperwork is processed.

Since your bondsman has all the paperwork prepared in advance, the wait time can usually be shortened. Then, defendants receive their post-release instructions, and they go home. If there are any bail related questions or problems, your bondsman can help you find the answers and take care of them.

Being proactive when you have a warrant and calling United Bonding Company to turn yourself in is easier and more convenient than waiting to be arrested at an unknown time in the future. United Bonding Company has been serving clients throughout western Tennessee for over 19 years and their bondsmen are available 24/7 every day of the year. They offer affordable, compassionate and understanding bonding services and also provide bonds in the Shelby County Juvenile Court. Member of TAPBA Tennessee Association of Professional Bond Agents www.tapba.org.

*DISCLAIMER**

Please be advised that www.bailbondmemphis.com and United Bonding Company is not an attorney or law firm and does not provide legal advice. If you are seeking legal advice, you are strongly encouraged to consider consulting with a competent attorney in your jurisdiction who can provide you with legal advice on your particular matter given that individual state, county or city laws may vary. www.bailbondmemphis.com provides INFORMATION ONLY and the information provided is for informational purposes only AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR SUBSTITUTED FOR LEGAL ADVICE. THE INFORMATION INCLUDED IN OR AVAILABLE THROUGH THE SITE MAY INCLUDE INACCURACIES OR TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS. No guarantees are made and the use of the website, content, and any information provided is at your own risk.

FAQ’s About Shelby County Bench Warrants

Most crimes, except for murder and other very serious offenses, have a statute of limitations. In most misdemeanors, the statute of limitations is only a year. But Shelby County warrants never expire https://www.tncourts.gov/rules/rules-criminal-procedure/4. Once issued, they remain active until served.

So, as you can imagine, there are plenty of people who have outstanding warrants and do not even know it.  Unfortunately, many jurisdictions will not verify whether or not you have a warrant without you physically coming into the police station.  However, some jurisdictions do verify warrants over the phone or allow you to search a database online.

To find out if you’re on this dreaded list, you can contact each individual law enforcement agency in Tennessee, wait on hold (and for probably a long time) and ask for the information you need.  For some jurisdictions, such as Shelby County, Tennessee, you can look online on their warrant search database. Or, you can ask United Bonding Company (bail bonds near me) to perform an active warrant search, and you’ll know the results within minutes.

What’s the Difference Between a Bench Warrant and an state warrant?

State warrants usually involve felony infractions, like aggravated assault or drug trafficking. Typically, after the grand jury issues an indictment, a judge issues an state warrant. That’s assuming the defendant has not been arrested on that charge previously and already made bail. Bench warrants, on the other hand, usually involve the violation of a court order, like a missed court appearance. Moreover, once they are executed, bench warrants compel appearance before a certain judge. That being said, some of the normal or standard court appearance procedures at 201 Poplar Avenue in Memphis may not apply in these situations.

How Do I Take Care of a Bench Warrant?

The first thing to do if you have a bench warrant is to call your attorney.  He or she can often take you into the courtroom and get you a new court date.  

Sometimes, a defendant with a warrant has not yet been able to hire an attorney.  In situations such as this, a defendant can also turn him or herself in and pay the entire amount of the warrant in cash or work with a bondsman at United Bonding Company or another bonding company or his or her choosing and obtain a surety bond. If you deposit the entire amount with the jail, the court usually refunds most of the balance when the case is resolved. A surety bond usually only requires a nonrefundable premium, which is generally 10%  percent of the bail amount and they might be able to finance a portion of the premium for you.

If you are already out on a bail bond with United Bonding Company, in most instances, we will work with you through your attorney to get your warrant recalled. In these instances, you will usually not have to make a new bail bond. Please understand that you must show a willingness to openly communicate and cooperate with the bail bond company in order to get your bench warrant recalled.  Otherwise, you are at risk of being arrested by your bondsman.

How Are Bench Warrants Served?

In this context, bench warrants are just like state warrants. Typically, the warrant goes into the law enforcement database. If the defendant gets pulled over for a traffic violation, and this usually happens happens to everyone eventually, the arresting officer is legally required to take the defendant into custody. People can also get arrested for outstanding warrants when they try to renew their driver’s licenses or go to visit other people in jail. Additionally, if you are looking to take that vacation tour throughout Europe, people with outstanding warrants usually cannot obtain passports. If you are already out on bond and a warrant is issued for your arrest, the bonding company will attempt to arrest you if you do not cooperate with the bonding company to get your warrant resolved.

If I’m Behind on Child Support, Do I Have an Active Warrant?

Maybe.  Judges surely can issue a warrant for reasons that include failure to pay child support, falling behind on alimony payments, failure to pay fines, and even failing to appear for jury duty. A state warrant is not always issued in these kinds of cases, though.  To be on the safe side, the only way to know for sure if you have a warrant or not is to inquire with the local authorities yourself or call United Bonding Company and ask for a free warrant search in Shelby County. Please understand that if you have an state warrant as a result of a secret indictment, there is no way for you to know whether or not you have a warrant without attempting to turn yourself in.  United Bonding Company is unable to GUARANTEE that you don’t have any warrants for your state.

United Bonding Company has provided bonding services for over 19 years in Shelby County and Western Tennessee and also provides bonds in the  Shelby County Juvenile Court. United Bonding Company is a member of TAPBA https://www.tapba.org/ Tennessee Association of Professional Bond Agents.

*DISCLAIMER**Please be advised that www.bailbondmemphis.com and United Bonding Company is not an attorney or law firm and does not provide legal advice. If you are seeking legal advice, you are strongly encouraged to consider consulting with a competent attorney in your jurisdiction who can provide you with legal advice on your particular matter given that individual state, county or city laws may vary. www.bailbondmemphis.com provides INFORMATION ONLY and the information provided is for informational purposes only AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR SUBSTITUTED FOR LEGAL ADVICE. THE INFORMATION INCLUDED IN OR AVAILABLE THROUGH THE SITE MAY INCLUDE INACCURACIES OR TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS. No guarantees are made and the use of the website, content, and any information provided is at your own risk.

How and Why Can My Bond Get Revoked?

Judicial Bond Revocation

Judges have the authority to revoke a defendant’s bond if he or she does not abide by the conditions of release. Re-arrest is a good example. Once the judge learns about the incident, the judge will sometimes revoke bond.

Other reasons that a bond could bed revoked are a failure to check in or a failure to have an ignition interlock device installed on their car. In situations like these a judge may also revoke the defendant’s bond, or he or she may give the defendant a chance to make things right or let the defendant off with a warning.

The bond agent may surrender a defendant to the court if it is determined by the judge that the bonding company has good cause to do so.  This is solely at the judge’s discretion. Sometimes, the defendant violates a technical condition, like failure to check in and the judge will allow the bonding company to surrender the bond. Other times, especially with regard to co-signers, the person just gets a bad feeling about the situation and no longer wants to guarantee surety.  A co-signer will often need to come testify in court in order to surrender a bond for this reason

United Bonding Company has been serving clients for over 19 years in the greater Shelby County area and Western Tennessee. Their professional bond agents are available 24/7 every day of the year and provide fast, professional, and confidential bond release services. United Bonding also provides bonds in the Shelby County Juvenile Court and are members of TAPBA Tennessee Association of Professional Bond Agents www.tapba.org.

*DISCLAIMER**

Please be advised that www.bailbondmemphis.com and United Bonding Company is not an attorney or law firm and does not provide legal advice. If you are seeking legal advice, you are strongly encouraged to consider consulting with a competent attorney in your jurisdiction who can provide you with legal advice on your particular matter given that individual state, county or city laws may vary. www.bailbondmemphis.com provides INFORMATION ONLY and the information provided is for informational purposes only AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR SUBSTITUTED FOR LEGAL ADVICE. THE INFORMATION INCLUDED IN OR AVAILABLE THROUGH THE SITE MAY INCLUDE INACCURACIES OR TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS. No guarantees are made and the use of the website, content, and any information provided is at your own risk.

Visiting Someone in Shelby County Jail

Visiting someone in jail can be hard enough.  It’s doubly hard if you don’t know where to go, when to go and how to follow the rules.   Below are important pieces of information to guide your visit to the Shelby County Jail.

Jail Visiting Location/Days/Hours

Shelby County male inmates are housed in downtown Memphis at 201 Poplar Avenue.  The women’s facility is in East Memphis at 6201 Haley Road.  Click the link below to determine the days and times for visitation at each facility. https://www.shelby-sheriff.org/jail-visitation

Note that eligible days for visitation are also determined by the first initial of the last name of the inmate.  You can use the link to determine which days are available by inmate: https://www.shelby-sheriff.org/jail-visitation

Shelby County Official Jail Information Phone is 901-222-4700.

Shelby County Jail Rules, Regulations, and Policies

The following rules apply to all visitors who wish to visit with an inmate in the custody of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Jail Division:

1. All adult visitors must have proper photo identification (e.g., State Driver’s License or Federal/State approved identification card, etc.) With the approval of the Chief Jailer or designee, individuals over the age of 65 with a social security card, but lacking photo identification, may be allowed to visit.

2. Children under the age of eighteen (18) must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Children must be under the supervision of the parent/legal guardian at all times and are not to be left unattended in the visitation area for any reason, no exceptions.

3. All visitors must place approved personal articles in the provided container for x-ray examination and pass through a walk-through scanner and/or hand held metal detector. Visitors may be asked to submit to a clothed body search. All outer garments (e.g; coats, jackets, etc.) must be removed and placed on the scanner. Jackets cannot be worn as the primary upper garment. Visitors who fail to clear the metal detector and/or refuse a clothed body search will not be allowed to visit. All visitors denied a visit will be recorded in the Offender Management Systems (OMS). The inmate will be informed of the reason(s) for his/her visitor denial.

4. Visitors are expected to stay for the entire visiting period and early departures will end the visitation period.

5. All visitors must talk in normal conversational tones. Profane/obscene language/gestures or loud talking will result in termination of the visit.

6. Visitors may be barred and/or prohibited from visiting for actions such as, but not limited to: fighting, assault, planning or aiding an escape, security violations, disrespect toward department staff, unruly behavior, any sexual behavior, possession/passing contraband, appearing to be under the influence of alcohol/drugs, inappropriate attire, failure to follow staff directives, or violation of these rules and regulations. Staff may recommend that a visitor be barred for rule violations by completing an OMS report and reporting the matter immediately to the Captain or designee.

7. Visitors must be dressed appropriately in order to be admitted. Here are the basic guidelines: a. Visitors’ clothing must be worn in an appropriate manner. The Captain or designee will reject visits based on clothing that appears to be too large or to small, or creates obvious gaps or exposure. b. Appropriate shoes must be worn for basic foot protection. Open toe shoes are permitted however shower shoes, flip flops, house shoes, etc., are not permitted. c. No logos on clothing which contain pictures, slogans, or vulgarity, or any clothing determined by the Jail Division as being associated with a security threat group. The association may be made by color, designs, or logos affixed to the clothing, or the manner in which the clothing is worn. d. Excessive clothing may not be worn, such as two (2) pair of pants or an extra shirt under their top layer of clothing. No saggy and baggy pants. e. Neckline of garments are to be no lower than three (3) inches from the base of the neck. Sleeveless shirts or dresses or clothing exposing a bare chest or midriff is not permitted. f. No short shorts or short dresses. No midriff shirts or short shirts. Shorts must extend down to at least two (2) inches above the knee and dresses must be no more than two (2) inches above the knee while standing. Splits should not expose the leg no more than two (2) inches above the knee while standing. Underwear must be worn. g. No spandex or spandex-type fabrics. h. No clothing that is suggestive, provocative or offensive in nature. i. No clothing that is transparent or translucent in nature. j. Hats, scarves, bandannas with any form of questionable logos are not permitted. Hair rollers (Male or Female) are not permitted.

8. Persons who have been arrested and/or in custody within the past year to include felonies and misdemeanors (to include persons on house arrest wearing leg monitors) cannot visit.

9. A number of items are not allow to be brought in the jail such as: food (including gum), drinks, tobacco products to include all smoking materials, purses, umbrellas, cell phones, pagers, cameras, radios, tape records/players, lighters, sharp objects and weapons, etc. The exception to this is one (1) plastic baby bottle, one (1) blanket, one (1) diaper and car seat for an infant. No Strollers Allowed.

10. Visitor lockers are provided for the storage of personal items that are not allowed in the jail for a charge of .50(fifty) cents quarters only. The SCSO is not responsible for items left in the visitation area/lockers.

11. Individuals dropping off approved items in visitation for inmates must present valid identification (e.g., State Driver’s License, State/Federal identification card, etc.) Any item being dropped off for an inmate must be pre-approved by the appropriate Program Manager or Health Service Authority. The officer will notify the proper designee to verify before accepting the item and checking it for contraband. Once the item(s) has been accepted this information must be recorded in OMS.

Call United Bonding Company (901) 577-1138 for fast release from jail.

United Bonding Company is conveniently located across the street from the 201 Poplar Avenue jail location in Memphis, TN and will help secure fast, professional, and confidential release out of jail for you and your loved ones. They also provide bonding services for Shelby County Juvenile Court.  Keep your friends and family members close by knowing where and how to get in touch with them. If you have more questions about how bail bonds work, see this page of our website: https://bailbondmemphis.com/bail-bonds-process/. United Bonding Company has served clients for over 12 years and is a member of TAPBA www.tapba.org Tennessee Association of Professional Bail Agents.

*DISCLAIMER**

Please be advised that www.bailbondmemphis.com and United Bonding Company is not an attorney or law firm and does not provide legal advice. If you are seeking legal advice, you are strongly encouraged to consider consulting with a competent attorney in your jurisdiction who can provide you with legal advice on your particular matter given that individual state, county or city laws may vary. www.bailbondmemphis.com provides INFORMATION ONLY and the information provided is for informational purposes only AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR SUBSTITUTED FOR LEGAL ADVICE. THE INFORMATION INCLUDED IN OR AVAILABLE THROUGH THE SITE MAY INCLUDE INACCURACIES OR TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS. No guarantees are made and the use of the website, content, and any information provided is at your own risk.

What Happens if the Person I Bailed Out Doesn’t Show Up for Court in TN?

Most of us understand, either from our own experience or otherwise, that it can be a risky idea to cosign on a loan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3WdH5HcXHs. If the borrower defaults, for whatever reason, the cosigner is financially responsible for the entire unpaid balance of the loan.

For the most part, the same thing applies if you cosign a bond for someone else and that person misses a court date or otherwise tries to skip bail.   The same situation applies to a failure to pay any remaining bail bond premium as well.

Dealing with Failure to Appear Situations

if the person that you cosign a bond for skips their court date in Shelby County, a bench warrant will be issued and the original bail bond goes into conditional forfeiture status.  Once the bail bond goes into conditional forfeiture status, the court will notify the bail bond agent and the defendant. The bail bond company has 180 days from the date that the defendant misses court to accomplish one of the following:

  1. Make contact with the defendant and have he or she come to court with an attorney in an attempt to get the warrant recalled.  More often than not, the judge will recall the warrant and give the defendant a new court date. If this occurs, the defendant can remain out of jail on the original bail bond.
  2. The defendant may get arrested through a traffic stop, turning him or herself in, or due to a new criminal charge.  After this happens, whether or not to allow the defendant to remain out on the original bail bond is at the bail bond company’s discretion.
  3. The bail bond company may (and most likely will if too much time passes without #1 or #2 occuring) issue the file to a fugitive recovery agent.  The fugitive recovery agent is tasked with arresting the defendant and putting him or her back in jail.

If neither #1, #2 or #3 are accomplished within 180 days after the date that the defendant misses court, the bonding company will be required to pay the full amount of the bail bond.  At this point, the cosigner on the bail bond is legally liable for reimbursing the bail bond company for the money that is paid to the court for the defendant’s bond.

Failure to Pay a Remaining Premium Balance

It is also important to understand that, if the bail bond company finances any part of the premium on a bail bond that you cosign, you are legally responsible for paying the remaining balance of the premium to the bail bond company if the defendant does not do so.

United Bonding is here to help.

At United Bonding Company, our experienced agents understand the judicial system and can help make sense of it for you.  We provide quick and efficient bonding services for when you want to get yourself or your loved ones out of jail. Call United Bonding Company at (901) 577-1138 because they are available 24/7 every day of the year, are licensed to write bonds in the Shelby County Juvenile Court, and give a fast and confidential release from jail. United Bonding Company has served the greater Memphis area and Western Tennessee over 19 years and a Member of the TAPBA Tennessee Association of Professional Bail Agents https://www.tapba.org/.

*DISCLAIMER**

Please be advised that www.bailbondmemphis.com and United Bonding Company is not an attorney or law firm and does not provide legal advice. If you are seeking legal advice, you are strongly encouraged to consider consulting with a competent attorney in your jurisdiction who can provide you with legal advice on your particular matter given that individual state, county or city laws may vary. www.bailbondmemphis.com provides INFORMATION ONLY and the information provided is for informational purposes only AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR SUBSTITUTED FOR LEGAL ADVICE. THE INFORMATION INCLUDED IN OR AVAILABLE THROUGH THE SITE MAY INCLUDE INACCURACIES OR TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS. No guarantees are made and the use of the website, content, and any information provided is at your own risk.


Can I Leave the Jurisdiction While I’m Out on Bond?

When you have been arrested in the the greater Memphis, Tennessee area and released on bond with the bondsman at United Bonding Company, in many ways, bond is a lot like misdemeanor probation. They are both court-supervised release from jail. They may both involve a number of conditions, including remaining within the state and/or county for the duration of the supervision.  

However, this condition is not listed in Section 40-11-118 https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/title-40/chapter-11/part-1/section-40-11-118/  which is one of the primary bail sections of the Tennessee Code of Criminal Procedure. This omission gives a discretionary opening to your bonding agency to bypass certain travel restrictions.  So, in some cases, it may be possible for you to leave the state  while you’re out on bail. If you have plans to leave your local area be sure to initially communicate this to your bondsman at United Bonding Company.

Why is Location a Condition of Bail?

Before delving into the possible exceptions, it’s important to look at the rule. Remaining in the jurisdiction is not a punishment. By law, bail cannot punish people. They have not yet been convicted of anything.

Rather, the location provision relates to bail and flight risk. If people are allowed to leave the jurisdiction, there is a better than even chance that they might decide to remain outside the jurisdiction. At this early stage, that’s all a prosecutor may need to show to keep you from leaving. Therefore, there may be extra focus on how and why you have plans to leave your local area and your reason along with timing for your return.

That being said, remaining in the jurisdiction is just as important as any of the other state of Tennessee bail conditions, such as:

  • Not committing any other crimes,
  • Staying away from alleged victims or possible witnesses,
  • Reporting to a bail bond office near you, or
  • Complying with physical requirements, like wearing a GPS monitor or installing an Ignition Interlock Device.

Making Bond as a Non Resident

In the event that you are arrested in Memphis (Shelby County), Tennessee and are not a resident of the area, you may still be able to make a bond and live in your home jurisdiction while you await trial.  The agent at United Bonding Company will weigh a number of factors when making the decision as to whether or not to make your bond in this situation. During this evaluation, it is very important that you are completely honest with our bail bondsman when he or she asks you questions.  If you are caught in a lie, the bonding company is likely to decide not to write your bond.

Bypassing the Travel Restriction

By its nature, a bail bond implies ties to the location where the bond is granted. Your bondsman wants to know that you are going to keep your agreement to show up at court on your court date and not be a flight risk. By working with the bondsman that wrote your bond, it might be possible to bypass a travel restriction but if at any time during your case, the prosecutor feels that they have a compelling reason to prohibit your travel, you may face an uphill battle getting a travel restriction lifted.

First off, give your bonding agent at United Bonding Company plenty of notice. Do not make firm travel arrangements until you talk with United Bonding Company. Second, explain why you need to leave the jurisdiction. The most common requests likely to be approved are work-related trips or previously-planned trips, like an out-of-state wedding. Such trips are also limited purpose trips.

United Bonding Company (bail bonds near me) offers professional bonding services 24/7 every day of the year throughout Shelby County and the western portion of Tennessee by calling (901) 577-1138. United Bonding Company is also licensed to write bonds in the Shelby County Juvenile Court. They have served the greater Memphis area and western Tennessee for over 19 years and are proud members of TAPBA Tennessee Association of Professional Bail Agents https://www.tapba.org/.

*DISCLAIMER**

Please be advised that www.bailbondmemphis.com and United Bonding Company is not an attorney or law firm and does not provide legal advice. If you are seeking legal advice, you are strongly encouraged to consider consulting with a competent attorney in your jurisdiction who can provide you with legal advice on your particular matter given that individual state, county or city laws may vary. www.bailbondmemphis.com provides INFORMATION ONLY and the information provided is for informational purposes only AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR SUBSTITUTED FOR LEGAL ADVICE. THE INFORMATION INCLUDED IN OR AVAILABLE THROUGH THE SITE MAY INCLUDE INACCURACIES OR TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS. No guarantees are made and the use of the website, content, and any information provided is at your own risk.

Dealing with Domestic Assault Arrests in Tennessee

According to one advocacy group, there are about ten million https://ncadv.org/statistics assault victims in the United States every year. Some of these cases involve emotional or verbal abuse. But the vast majority involve physical abuse, and that usually means domestic violence assault charges.

Contrary to popular myth, the defendant can still be convicted of domestic violence even if the victim does not sustain a physical injury.

If you are convicted, domestic violence charges in Tennessee cannot be expunged from your record. Additionally, domestic violence is about the only misdemeanor that can end your right to own a gun. And, domestic violence has significant consequences outside criminal court. The state may take action against your custody rights, and these convictions create significant complications in divorce and other family law cases.

What is Domestic Assault?

In Tennessee, assault is basically a harmful or offensive touch. As mentioned, any harmful or offensive touch suffices. If the alleged victim went to the hospital, the act is a little easier to prove in court. Intent is easier to prove as well. Just be aware that, prosecutors do not need to prove intent to injure. They just need to prove the assault was not accidental.

Typically, the alleged victim is the defendant’s spouse. However, Tennessee law also classifies a number of other incidents as domestic assault. The victim could a former spouse, anyone related to the defendant by blood or marriage, current or former dating partner, or a roommate.

Arrest Issues

Most law enforcement agencies in the Memphis, Tennessee area have mandatory arrest policies. When officers respond to a domestic violence call, someone usually must go to jail that night. It’s not always easy to determine who the aggressor was.  This is especially true when the alleged abuser and alleged victim often tell much different stories. When this happens to you or a friend or loved one, it can be very upsetting and cause additional emotional hardship and stress on the family.

Furthermore, release on bond usually has some additional stipulations or time constraints for domestic violence.  There is a court-ordered requirement that a defendant be held a minimum of 12 hours before he is released on bond in the event of a domestic assault arrest.  It is best to call United Bonding Company in Memphis and bail bonds near me to simplify your release as much as possible.  We will work as quickly and efficiently as possible to get your friend or loved one released from jail.

Once released, the pretrial release order may contain a number of restrictions. For example, the defendant may not be able to contact the alleged victim or even reside in the same place.

Domestic Violence Case in Shelby County

Typically, a domestic violence case in Shelby County, Tennessee is procedurally different from standard assault cases. Most cases go to designated family violence courts.  As the case nears resolution, probation may be an option in many cases. That probation often includes an anger management or counseling program. Often, the plea bargain might also involve a reduction to simple assault.

If the case goes to trial, prosecutors can subpoena the alleged victim and force him/her to testify. In this case, the old “spousal privilege” defense usually does not apply. However, there may be other defenses, such as lack of evidence or self-defense.

At United Bonding Company, our professional bondsman provide fast and confidential bonding services throughout western Tennessee and are licensed to write bonds in the Shelby County Juvenile Court.

United Bonding Company is a Member of the TAPBA Tennessee Association of Professional Bail Agents https://www.tapba.org/. Our bond agents are available 24/7 at (901) 577-1138 for a fast jail release 365 days of the year. United Bonding Company wishes you and your Happy Holidays. 

**DISCLAIMER**

Please be advised that www.bailbondmemphis.com and United Bonding Company is not an attorney or law firm and does not provide legal advice. If you are seeking legal advice, you are strongly encouraged to consider consulting with a competent attorney in your jurisdiction who can provide you with legal advice on your particular matter given that individual state, county or city laws may vary. www.bailbondmemphis.com provides INFORMATION ONLY and the information provided is for awareness purposes only. 

Yes, Looks Matter When You Appear in Court

 It is human nature to assume that, if a person has been to jail, they did something wrong.  You do not want to look the part of a criminal, because a bad first impression has the potential to make your case much more difficult to defend. Judges in the state of Tennesseecarefully explain to jurors that they must not take the defendant’s physical appearance, arrest, and incarceration into account. However, those instructions may come after the jury has already seen the defendant.  By that time, it’s too late to alter that first impression. Unfortunately, this could make the difference between acquittal and conviction. This is why looks matter when appearing for court. It is always best to wear your most conservative and presentable clean attire when appearing in court. It shows respect to the court and the legal process.

How Bail Release Helps You!

Bail is the primary mechanism for pretrial release in Memphis, Tennessee. Ever since America became a nation, financial security has been the main guarantee of appearance at a future trial date. So, Tennessee bail bond laws are designed to liberally grant pretrial release and protect the public at the same time.

Typically, a judicial commissioner sets a bail amount a few hours after the defendant arrives at the jail. That amount can range from $100 for a minor misdemeanor to several thousand dollars or more for a serious felony.

In some jurisdictions, where pretrial release is available, defendants are released on their own recognizance pending trial. If available, pretrial release usually involves limited eligibility depending on the seriousness of the charge, the assessed flight risk of the defendant, his or her past appearance history in court, etc.

Showing back up in court after being released on bail shows the court that you are honoring your bail terms by being there when you are supposed to.  Wearing your best suit or dress shows that you respect the court and the seriousness of the situation.

To get out of jail fast in the greater Memphis, Tennessee area and surrounding counties, contact bail bond near me United Bonding Company at (901) 577-1138. Our bonding agents are available 24/7 every day of the year to help you secure a fast jail release when you or your loved one has been detained or arrested. We are also licensed to write bonds in the Shelby County Juvenile Court. United Bonding Company is a Member of the TAPBA Tennessee Association of Professional Bail Agents https://www.tapba.org/.

**DISCLAIMER**

Please be advised that www.bailbondmemphis.com and United Bonding Company is not an attorney or law firm and does not provide legal advice. If you are seeking legal advice, you are strongly encouraged to consider consulting with a competent attorney in your jurisdiction who can provide you with legal advice on your particular matter given that individual state, county or city laws may vary. www.bailbondmemphis.com provides INFORMATION ONLY and the information provided is for informational purposes only AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR SUBSTITUTED FOR LEGAL ADVICE. THE INFORMATION INCLUDED IN OR AVAILABLE THROUGH THE SITE MAY INCLUDE INACCURACIES OR TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS. No guarantees are made and the use of the website, content, and any information provided is at your own risk.