First 24 Hours

First 24 Hours Icon

Your loved one just got ARRESTED in Davidson County, TN. What do you do within the first 24 hours?

BE PREPARED

Info You Should HAVE READY

  • Your loved one’s  first and last name
  • Their date of birth
  • If possible, the arresting agency

Info You need to GET

  • Where are they housed
  • Charges
  • Bail amount
  • First court date

Info You need to GIVE

  • Proof of family support
  • Proof of community ties
  • Proof your loved one is not a flight risk

TAKE ACTION

  1. Find them on Davidson County’s Inmate Search: http://dcso.nashville.gov. Type in their first and last name and date of birth (DOB) to find out where they’re housed, what their bail is, and when their next court date is.
  2. If they’re not in the system yet, call the Jail directly at: 615-862-8123. Ask them what the charges are, whether they are felonies or misdemeanors, what their bail is, when their first court date is, and where they are housed.
  3. Once you have identified the charge, call the Pre-trial Services at: 615-862-7673. Tell them your loved one has family and community ties and is not a flight risk – share any information regarding employment, school, residency in the county, and family.
  4. If your loved one has an urgent medical issue, call the Medical Clinic at 615-862-8123 and ask for the medical staff.  They can’t give you information about your loved one without the proper release, but you can give the jail information that can be useful for their medical and/or mental health care.
  5. If they are not released, show up to their first court date and ask to speak with the public defender before court. Show them documentation that the person has family and community ties and is not a flight risk.
  6. Document what you know about the arrest. Take notes. List what you know about the incident – who, what, where, when, and how.” Share this information only with the defense attorney and do so as soon as possible.

QUESTIONS? Call the Nashville Defenders: 615-862-5730

Or Contact Free Hearts ABOUT PARTICIPATORY DEFENSE: info@freeheartsorg.com  615-745-1117

Report Police Misconduct to the Nashville Community Review Board 615-880-1801

TIPS

List how you help: names of who you spoke with, times you called, what was discussed. Only talk about this with an attorney.

Don’t discuss the case with a loved one on the phone. Phone calls into jail are recorded and can be used against them.

Keep going until you get answers and keep working with the defense team through the court process.

Thank you to SV De-Bug//ACJP and Free Hearts for compiling this resource.