Decatur County Jail – Decaturville, TN

Decatur County Jail is located in Decatur County and is the correctional facility for this region. Know somebody locked up at Decatur County Jail? This site tells you all about everything a person needs to know about Decatur County Jail,like the following: How to do a jail inmate search. Find mugshots and inmate photos. The jail’s phone number and address. Bailing out of jail. Intake procedures and booking. Court information and records. And much, much more.

The prospect of going to jail is a daunting and scary prospect, not only for the person who gets locked up, but also that person’s family, friends, and loved ones. This guide is meant to offer information that you’ll need to make helping a friend or family member get out of jail easier. If you have a question, just ask it in the comment section below, and any comments or tips that could be beneficial to others would be appreciated.

Do you have a family member or friend that is locked up and want to contact them?

Do you know someone that’s been arrested and you need to find out where they are?

To find out who’s in jail at Decatur County Jail you need to click on their link and perform an inmate lookup.

The Decatur County Jail Inmate List has information on people who were arrested and are now in jail, including current status, how much their bail is, and visiting hours. Also, you are able to find info on anybody processed or released in the last 24 hours. Jail inmates are listed alphabetically by their last name. You will be able to locate their arrest information more quickly if you’ve got your friend or family member’s full name, date of birth, or arrest number.

If the inmate you are looking for is in another county jail you will want to look here, too: Other County Jails in Tennessee

A mugshot, also known as a jail processing picture, is a photo that the police take when you are processed at the jail intake. A mugshot is actually two photos one frontal photo and a side photo. Your name and intake number will be on the photos, and they are stored.

Mugshots can be searched online, or you can see them in person at the Decatur County Jail. When viewing online you have to input the legal name, and the arrest date.

Need to know how to have your mugshot taken down from the Decatur County Jail website? This may not be possible, since the mugshot is a public record. To get your mugshot taken down you need to file a Petition to Expunge in court. This means that the record of your arrest will be sealed, and unavailable to the public. Depending on your situation, this may be a longshot.

For more information about getting your mugshot removed, the many different mugshot sites, and the mugshot removal websites: How To Get Your Mugshot Removed

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If you’re locked up, your only thought is about how to get out. After you’ve gone through the booking process, a bail amount is determined using the bail schedule or the magistrate will decide it. In cases where no bail is set this might mean that you will either be free to go until your court date, or you are kept in jail until your court date.

If you do bail out of jail you are required to promise to show up for court, and until that date you can’t leave the area.

Typically, prisoners will be given time off in exchange for good behavior if they respect the rules and don’t cause any problems while they’re in jail.

If you follow the rules, you may be granted work release. You will have to go back to the jail every day after work, or you could get to sleep in a halfway house when you are not working.

Your bail is how much money that you will be required to pay to be released from jail until your trial. The amount you will have to pay is dictated by the seriousness of your crime. Someone you know will need to put up 10% of the amount that was determined so you can bail out of jail. If you fail to show up for court, the person that paid your bail will lose all of the bail money.

In order to find out how much someone’s bail is, you must call the Decatur County Jail. If you have all the person’s info, such as name, address and date of birth, they will let you know how much their bail is. Also, you can see the bail amount online.

Bailing out of jail is never fun, but usually, it is easy. To start with, you have to find out if it is a “Cash Bond Only” situation. If it is, you will not be able to get a bondsman. Take cash only to the jail – they can’t take checks. Once you have paid the bond, the inmate will be released to your care. If the conditions of bail are not violated, you’ll get your money back.

If bail is set too high, or you can’t afford it yourself, you should use a bail bondsman. Bail bondsmen will generally charge a fee of 10-15% of the total bail amount, and usually with a minimum of $100. The amount you pay to the bondsman will not be returned to you and the bondsman only accepts cash. If the bail is exceptionally high, the bondsman will usually require that they use assets as collateral for the bond in addition to whatever their charges are.

To contact a local bail bondsman click here: Find a Bail Bondsman in Decatur County

Have you ever used the services of bail bondsman either for yourself, a family member or friend? If so, please leave a comment below and tell about your experience and let us know how it worked out for you.

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• Time Off For Good Behavior
• Get Out on Work Release
• Time Served
• Pre-Trial Release Programs
• Get Out on House Arrest
• Own Recognizance

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The jail intake process includes these steps:

• You will be placed in a waiting area or cell. If the jail is busy, you may not be processed immediately.
• The first step is that you must answer some questions, such as your full legal name, street address, birthdate and an emergency contact person.
• You will also be asked about your mental and medical history.
• You will be issued an inmate number.
• You will get fingerprinted.
• You will have your mugshot taken.
• All personal property will be taken away from you and will be stored until you are released.
• You will get to make a phone call in order to get in touch with a family member, friend, or bail bondsman.
• If they expect that you will make bail and be released quickly, you might get to keep wearing street clothes, if not you will have to wear a jumpsuit.

Have you ever been booked into jail? If you have, you should tell us what happened. How long did it take to get through intake? How did the guards treat you? Can you tell us things that will help others get through jail intake?

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When you post bail, you will be allowed to go home after you get discharged. Getting discharged from jail takes anywhere between 30 minutes to all day. Or, simply, the quicker bail is posted, the faster you will be released. How quickly you get discharged depends on if you’ve got a cash bond or if the magistrate has to figure out how much to set your bail at. For a minor offense, you will get booked and then released on your recognizance without having to pay bail. When you have served your sentence and have a release date, plan to be discharged at any time that day – but usually in the morning.

for your arrest, or if you need to report to start a sentence, it is highly advisable that you follow the law and turn yourself in willingly. If it is for a warrant, report to the jail intake area, and tell an officer that you think they might have an outstanding arrest warrant out for you. They will check their system to see if there are any outstanding local, state or federal arrest warrants out for you, and if there is one, they will ask that you surrender yourself and you will be taken into custody. If it is for a jail sentence, report at the exact time and date that the sentence order requires you to. Make sure that you are not late. Make sure that you only bring things that are allowed with you, such as a driver’s license or photo ID, prescription medication, and a sentencing order.

In order to have visitors, inmates need to give each visitor’s name to the jail in advance of the visit. Your visitor’s information will be put into a log of approved visitors as an authorized visitor. Each visitor is required to provide proof of identification. Visitors that gets to visitation or that is not an approved visitor will not be allowed to attend visitation.
Visitation procedures at Decatur County Jail frequently change, so it would be wise to check the jail site before you go to the jail to visit.

Phone calls that inmates are allowed to make from jail are with a pre-paid phone card or account, or are collect calls . Phone calls made in jail are a lot more expensive than regular phone calls. There are certain restrictions about how often you can use the phone, but inmates must keep in mind lots of people want to use the phone – so you have to share. If you break the rules, an inmate’s ability to use the phone could be reduced or eliminated completely, as part of the punishment.

Phone Number: 731-852-3703

All mall sent to inmates has to be sent via the actual US Postal Service, and not courier or delivery, or hand delivered. You can’t use any other method of delivery. You have to clearly write or type the prisoner’s name, inmate ID number, and jail address on the letter. Don’t mail anything in a box, envelope with padding, plastic or paper bag, or an envelope with metal in it. All mail received by the jail is opened and examined and read by the jail administration, and will get returned if they decide it is inappropriate.

Use this address when sending a letter to an inmate at Decatur County Jail:

Decatur County Jail
38 North East Street
Decaturville, TN 38329

Here is how you should address the letter:

[INMATE’S FULL NAME]
[INMATE ID]
Decatur County Jail
38 North East Street
Decaturville, TN 38329

The mail policy at Decatur County Jail is always changing, so we suggest that you check the site before you send a letter.

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If you get arrested, you should know you still have rights, one of these being your right to request a lawyer. Remember that you may be limited to the amount of phone calls you can make, so make sure to have a friend or family member locate an attorney when you call. You might be asking yourself ‘I don’t have to get a lawyer – I can just represent myself’ You can represent yourself if you really want to, but, a criminal attorney will advise you about your rights, look after your best interests and help you navigate through the complicated court system in Decatur County. The faster you get an attorney working on your criminal case, the better.

To read more about the benefits of hiring a lawyer, read our guide: Find an Attorney

If you are in trouble, but can’t afford a lawyer, you will be given a public defender for a lawyer. Also, the Public Defender’s Office is staffed by investigators, experts in forensics and social case workers. All Public Defenders are full-fledged attorneys that are members of the Tennessee State Bar and are completely licensed to practice law.

Have you ever had to use a court appointed attorney? How did they do?

All court records are a matter of public record. They contain a case file containing a docket sheet and every motions, documents, and evidence that have been filed in the case. You can access your court case records using the website, or at the Decatur County Clerk of Court.

A Clerk of Court is an officer of the court that manages court records. They also administer the oath for any court participant who must be under oath, and also read the verdict when decided by the jury. All records and documents related to your case are maintained at the Decatur County Clerk of Court.

Court fees and costs are the charges and fees from your case, such as for example filing charges, motion and claim fees, and court appearance fees. If you cannot afford these fees and have a Public Defender, you can get a waiver for these fees.

The Decatur County magistrate acts as the judge that presides on your case in court. Magistrates are judges that do a number of things, which include determining how much your bail will be, writing arrest warrants, and acting as the presiding judge over initial court appearances and detention proceedings.

A pre-sentencing report is completed to include your background information and as much detail about the defendant’s life and public history, which the magistrate judge will take into account when determining a sentence. Information, details, and character witnesses will be collected from the defendant, his or her family, and if necessary the victim. Keep in mind that you can request to see your own copy of the report before your sentencing, so you have the opportunity to correct any inaccurate information.

After you are convicted of a crime, you will be given a sentence for your crime. There are several different options for sentencing, including community service and probation, to even incarceration in either jail (short term) or prison (long term). Depending on sentencing guidelines and the severity of your crime, you will either be immediately taken into custody, or you could get a date that you must go to jail to serve your jail time according to your sentence.

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Do you need to find out if somebody you know is currently in jail, or has been an inmate in the past?

To do this, you will have to visit the jail website and do an inmate search, and do a search using:

• Name.
• Date of birth.
• Approximate booking date.
• and their jail inmate ID.

If you’re not sure if this person is in jail or not, you can also call the jail to find out.

If you believe you have an outstanding warrant, you can check court records on the Decatur County court website or call the court. You have to have the person’s first and last name. Or, you can just go the jail in person and ask one of the officers. You should be clear that if there is a warrant for your arrest, you will be taken into custody immediately.

If you know the person’s first and last name, as well as their arrest date, contact the Decatur County jail, on the phone, in person, or you can check online. Arrest records are in the public record and these records are freely available.

A Civil Process is when someone has been served with papers, like , subpoenas, and arrest warrants. You can access civil process orders by contacting the Decatur County Sheriff’s office, either by phone or through their website.

All registered sex offenders are registered and listed on the sex offender databases required by the area they live in. The people on these databases have been tried by jury and convicted in a court of law of a sex crime. You can access this information on the website, but bear in mind that you will not find the street address, rather the block of the address that they registered.

Court Records are public, and are accessible by anyone. These records include a court case file that includes a docket sheet and all documents and filings filed in your case. You are able to access court records on the internet, or at Clerk of Court office in the jurisdiction where the case was filed.

Each state keeps a record of someone’s criminal background. These online databases are all linked so you are able to track criminal backgrounds from any other state. You are able to go to courthouse and make an inquiry, or check online. It is helpful to know the county the crime was committed in, and if the crime was in a different state entirely, you might have to pay a fee for a more intensive search.

A criminal records search you will find out if a person has ever been arrested, charged or convicted for the following crimes:

• DUI.
• Drug offenses.
• Kidnapping.
• Sexual offenses including rape, assault.
• Violent crimes including assault, battery and murder.
• Theft.

If you do a criminal records check, you generally will not be able to find out if someone had:

• Speeding.
• Drivers license suspended or revoked.
• Accidents.
• Minor infractions or moving violations.
• Parking Tickets.

To search for this kind of information, you have to do a driving records search.

Have you ever had to look for criminal records online? How easy was it? Was your search online or did you call the Decatur County courthouse? Was it correct? There are plenty of reasons that people search for criminal backgrounds and records, and your feedback might help other people.

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Most Wanted

For Federal crimes, the FBI keeps a list of the Ten Most Wanted Criminals. In Decatur County, the Sheriff keeps their own list of most wanted criminals and fugitives.

FBI Ten Most Wanted List: Link


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Life In Jail / What Its Like

Daily Life

Just the thought of being incarcerated in the Decatur County jail is something you wish you could avoid, soon you will become accustomed to the routine that is set for you in jail. Inmates get an alarm for wake-up at 6:00 AM, and next they’ll do roll call. You will then eat breakfast. When you finish eating breakfast you will have to work in the work program or other activity that you are assigned. This could be working in the kitchen, laundry, or some sort of manufacturing job. While this may seem tedious, it may help you when you leave jail, as you are gaining experience in a certain field of work. Other inmates go to school, while some take part in mandated treatment programs. After lunch, there will be another roll call, then back to work. Your evening will be spent either in your cell or a common room. During this time dinner is served and you will be expected to take a shower. After another roll call, it’s lights out. Even though you will be confined to your cell, there may be enough light to read or write letters. Then again, most inmates welcome lights out, and try to get as much sleep as they can.

Most people are frightened at the idea of jail because they don’t know what to expect. If you have spent any time in Decatur County Jail, your experiences would be welcomed, if it can help another person to deal with it.

Dress Code

When incarcerated, all inmates are expected to wear the Decatur County Jail uniform. This is normally a jumpsuit or scrubs. Of note to anyone visiting an inmate – you must be properly dressed. Any clothing considered inappropriate will not be permitted.

How To Send Money to an Inmate

You will have your own ‘bank account’ while in jail. This money is used to purchase items from the Commissary. Family and friends can deposit money into this account for you, and any money you earn while in prison will also be deposited into your account. Outside money can be paid in to your account via a money order, cash or check. If someone sends a check or money order, make sure that they write your inmate ID on it. The maximum amount you are allowed in your account is $290 per month.

The process for sending funds to inmates at Decatur County Jail is always changing, so we suggest that you check the the Decatur County Jail website when you send any money.


Commissary

The commissary is the jail store. You can purchase a number of things here, such as toiletries, snacks and writing supplies. Bear in mind that you will probably want to use the commissary daily, and any infractions will get that privilege taken away from you.

Inmate Medications

If you are on any type of prescription medication, you will be allowed to continue taking it while in jail. When you are first processed, you will be asked what medication you take. You will then be referred to the jail nurse or doctor who will be in charge of monitoring your health and prescribing your medication.

Meals

You will get three meals a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner. As expected, they are very basic, but healthy. A typical breakfast might be cereal, toast, coffee and fruit. Lunch might be spaghetti, salad, bread and milk. Dinner could be chicken casserole, rice, vegetables, dessert and milk. Contrary to popular belief, prison food has greatly improved over the years, and you might find that it’s not much different from what you would eat at home.

Pods / The Yard

The jail is designed in a ‘pod’ layout, with self-contained housing arranged around an outdoor yard. Each pod has a central control station and a common room, and the inmates take turns in using the yard. The jail is designed this way to keep certain inmates together, and others away from the general population.

Gangs

As with life in general, gangs are a part of prison life. Obviously it is best to avoid becoming a part of this environment as it will only lead to trouble. When you first enter prison, you might find yourself being ‘primed’ to join a gang, or worse, you might get their attention in a negative way. The best thing to do is keep your head down and don’t get involved.


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News and Media

News

Photos / Pictures

Videos


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Jobs

Types of Jobs at Decatur County Jail

The Deputy Sheriff is the second in command at the Decatur County Jail, overseeing the day to day operations and administration of the jail. An inmate is unlikely to have much interaction with the Deputy Sheriff, unless they have committed an infraction. Detention Officers are responsible for the custody and care of the inmates. They maintain order in the jail, and handle security. A Detention Officer is assigned to a certain pod, and therefore is responsible for the same inmates each day. They get to know the inmates on a certain level and are well equipped to handle any problems that may occur.

Apply for a Job at Decatur County Jail

Requirements:

• You have to be over the age of 21.
• You have to possess a High School Diploma or GED
• You have to be a US Citizen.
• You have to pass a Criminal, Credit and Driving History background check.
• You have to pass a drug test.
• You have to have a good level of fitness.
• You have to be in good health.
• You have to have a valid Driver’s License
• An applicant for Deputy Sheriff must possess a Law Enforcement Certification.


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Family Resources

There are resources for families of both the perpetrator of the crime and the victim. The social and emotional impact of crime is far reaching, affecting many. Families can receive professional counseling, court related assistance, social services assistance and help in navigating the criminal justice system.

If you are a family member, which resources did you find to be particularly helpful? Please let us know, as this will be helpful to other families in the same situation.

Click here to tell your story


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Victim Resources

Important Note: If you, or someone you know, are in immediate danger, call 911.

Victim’s Rights

The Victim Rights Act grants victims the following rights:

• Victims have the right to protection from the accused.
• Victims have the right to notification.
• Victims have the right to attend proceedings.
• Victims have the right to speak at criminal justice proceedings.
• Victims have the right to consult with the prosecuting attorney.
• Victims have the right to restitution.
• Victims have the right to a speedy trial.
• Victims have the right to be treated with fairness, dignity and respect.

The definition of victim includes:

• Spouses and children of all victims.
• Parents and guardians of minor victims.
• Parents, guardians and siblings of mentally or physically incapacitated victims or victims of homicide.
• Foster parents or other caregivers, under certain circumstances.

There are a number of services and programs designed to help victims and their families. You can find out about these services by contacting the courthouse, or local law enforcement agency.

Victim Notification

The Department of Justice Victim Notification System (VNS) is a system that provides victims with information pertaining to their case and/or any defendants in the case. You will receive a Victim Identification Number (VIN) and a Personal Identification Number (PIN) that will allow you to access VNS via the internet or by phone. Here, you will find information about future court hearings, historical court events, and detailed information about the defendant. This will include criminal charges filed, the outcome of charges, sentence imposed, custody location, projected release date and any other release information. The VNS website is updated daily. You will also receive any ongoing information by mail or email.

Have you, a family member or friend ever used the Victim Notification System? If so, was it effective? Did you get the information in a timely manner? Was the system difficult to use? We would like to hear from you, so please post any comments here.

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Sex Offender Information and Search

All people registered as sex offenders are registered on either a national or state sex offender database. The people on these databases have been convicted of a sex or kidnapping crime. You can access this information online, but bear in mind that you will not get the exact address, rather the block that they live on.

Domestic Violence

If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, there are services to help you. Your county will have a Domestic Violence Services office. They provide free and confidential services, such as emergency shelter information, legal advocacy, support groups and domestic violence education. They will work to help you create a safe and violence-free life, and heal from the trauma of abuse.

Important Note: If you, or someone you know, are in immediate danger, call 911.


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Reviews

Reviews of this Jail

Have you ever been a prisoner at Decatur County Jail? Do you know someone that is a prisoner there? Have you ever been to visit a prisoner there?

If you have, then we would like you to write a review about it. Write about what you experienced so others can learn what to expect.

Things you can write in your comment:

• Conditions in Decatur County Jail.
• Jail and pod layout and facility
• Staff and guards
• Food and commissary
• Visitors
• The other inmates.
• Inmate safety
• Gang activity
• Prisoner programs and activities


Let Everyone Know

Tell Your Story

Anyone who’s been in jail has some stories to tell about the whole experience. Why were you locked up? Were you mistreated? What was your daily routine in jail? What were the other inmates like? How has this experience impacted your life?

Speak Your Mind

Send a Message to Your Cell Mate

Make some good friends in jail? Do you need to send a message to someone from jail? Leave a message for them here.

Post a message to people still locked up at Decatur County Jail


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