(a) A professional bondsman who is arrested in this state for a felony, or is arrested in another state or by the federal government for the equivalent of a felony in this state, shall notify, in writing, within seventy-two (72) hours of the arrest, the court or courts in which the professional bondsman is qualified.

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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 40-11-319

  • Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
  • bondsman: extends to and includes the agents, representatives or employees of a professional bondsman, or those acting for the bondsman, whether with or without compensation or salary. See Tennessee Code 40-11-301
  • Professional bondsman: means any person, firm, partnership or corporation, engaged for profit in the business of furnishing bail, making bonds or entering into undertakings, as surety, in criminal proceedings, or for the appearance of persons charged with any criminal offense or violation of law or ordinance punishable by fine, imprisonment or death, before any of the courts of this state, including municipal courts or securing the payment of fines, judgments or damages imposed and of costs assessed by those courts upon preliminary or final disposition thereof. See Tennessee Code 40-11-301
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • written: includes printing, typewriting, engraving, lithography, and any other mode of representing words and letters. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(b) The written notice shall contain the following information:

(1) Date of the arrest;
(2) Location of the arrest;
(3) Offense for which the bondsman was arrested;
(4) The name and address of the law enforcement agency making the arrest;
(5) The court before which the professional bondsman is to appear;
(6) The date of the initial court appearance; and
(7) Any other information the professional bondsman may want to include.
(c) Upon receipt of the notice, if the court believes it is warranted, the court shall proceed under § 40-11-125.
(d) Failure to comply with this section shall result in an automatic suspension of the professional bondsman until the court conducts a hearing pursuant to § 40-11-125(b), or until the criminal charges against the professional bondsman are resolved.