Nashville Criminal Defense Lawyer | Inmate Search, Bond and Release Information
Nashville Criminal Defense Lawyer & Former Prosecutor Kevin Kennedy. 615-205-7311. Call or text for a free consultation.
How Do I Find Out If Someone Is in Jail in Nashville?
If a family member or friend was arrested in Nashville, the Davidson County Sheriff's Office is the primary source for current custody information. The Sheriff's Office provides an Active Inmate Search and operates an offender information center 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The offender information center can be reached at 615-862-8123. It provides information regarding current and released offenders at Davidson County Sheriff's Office facilities.
Why Might I Not Find the Person Immediately?
An arrest does not always appear in a public inmate search the moment police take someone into custody. The person may still be transported, booked, fingerprinted, photographed, screened, or entered into the jail system.
If the arrest happened very recently, try the official Sheriff's Office resources again rather than assuming the person was released or taken somewhere else.
Where Are New Davidson County Arrestees Taken?
The Davidson County Sheriff's Office states that the Downtown Detention Center is the first stop for every arrestee in Davidson County. The DDC is located at 200 James Robertson Parkway in Nashville.
After booking, a person's housing location can depend on custody status, classification, medical needs, sentence status, and other factors. The Sheriff's Office operates multiple correctional facilities, so a person may not remain at the DDC for the entire case.
What Information Should I Have When Searching?
It helps to have the person's full legal name and, if known, date of birth or other identifying information. Jail records can also use an OCA number associated with the offender.
If you are calling because someone was just arrested, be prepared to explain when and where the arrest occurred. Exact identifying information reduces the chance of confusing the person with someone who has a similar name.
How Can I Tell Whether the Person Has Been Released?
The Sheriff's Office offender information center provides information regarding both current and released offenders. Tennessee SAVIN also allows crime victims and other interested parties to register for custody-status notifications, including release.
For a family member trying to help the defendant, the immediate practical questions after release are often the bond conditions, court date, property return, transportation, and whether the defendant must report to Pretrial Services or comply with another condition.
How Do I Find Out the Bond?
Custody information and bond information can change as the case moves through booking and the initial release process. A judicial officer may set a financial bond or impose release conditions, and some defendants may be screened for Pretrial Services.
Davidson County Pretrial Services operates around the clock, and its screening office is located in the booking room of the Downtown Detention Center. Whether a particular defendant qualifies for non-financial release depends on the circumstances.
What If the Person Was Arrested on Broadway While Visiting Nashville?
This is common enough to create special logistical problems. A visitor may be arrested downtown, booked, released, and have a flight or drive home scheduled before the criminal case is resolved.
Before leaving Tennessee, the defendant should know the exact charge, court date, bond conditions, and whether a personal appearance will be required. Returning home does not make the Davidson County case disappear.
What If the Arrest Is for Domestic Assault?
Domestic-assault arrests can involve additional release restrictions and no-contact conditions. A family member should not tell the defendant to contact the alleged victim simply because everyone wants to resolve the situation privately.
Bond conditions are court orders. Violating them can create new problems even when the alleged victim initiates contact or says that contact is welcome. The actual written conditions should be reviewed.
Can I Visit, Call, or Put Money on the Person's Account?
The Sheriff's Office publishes facility-specific information for phone accounts, video visitation, commissary deposits, and inmate services. Rules differ by facility and housing unit and can change.
Use the Sheriff's Office's current facility page rather than an old third-party jail directory. The DDC page, for example, currently lists remote video-visitation schedules and methods for funding phone and commissary accounts.
What Should I Do After I Locate the Person?
Finding the person is only the first step. Next, determine the exact charge, bond status, release conditions, and upcoming court date. If the person is still in custody, determine whether a bond has been set and whether any hold or warrant is affecting release.
If the family is considering hiring counsel, an attorney can review the available court and jail information, explain the next stage of the case, and begin identifying evidence that should be preserved.
Talk With a Nashville Criminal Defense Lawyer
Kevin Kennedy is a former Davidson County prosecutor who now represents people charged with crimes in Nashville and throughout Middle Tennessee. If someone you care about has been arrested in Davidson County, Kevin Kennedy Law Firm can help you understand the charge, bond situation, court process, and next steps.
Call Kevin Kennedy Law Firm at (615) 205-7311 to discuss the case.