Tennessee Code 40-11-310 – Giving or procuring legal assistance unlawful
Terms Used In Tennessee Code 40-11-310
- Bail: Security given for the release of a criminal defendant or witness from legal custody (usually in the form of money) to secure his/her appearance on the day and time appointed.
- 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
- Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
- Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. Source:
- Person: includes a corporation, firm, company or association. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
- 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
It is unlawful for any professional bondsman to aid, counsel or advise any person accused of a criminal offense or violation of law, or those purporting to act for or represent the accused in respect of any matter relating or pertaining to the charge pending against the accused or to the disposition or dismissal thereof, except as to matters relating to the contract of suretyship on the bond, bail or similar undertaking, or to the contract relating to the securing and payment of any fine or costs, being negotiated for or posted in the pending case; nor shall any professional bondsman, directly or indirectly, retain, hire or employ, or pay for the services of an attorney at law to aid, counsel, advise or represent any person accused of criminal offense or violation of law, or those purporting to act for or represent the accused, in any case, suit or matter, in which the professional bondsman is surety for those persons, nor divide with or pay to any attorney any part of the compensation received by the bondsman for services as surety of an accused.