Shelby County’s New Bail System Goes Into Effect

Shelby County‘s new bail process system goes into effect, February 15. The new system includes the creation of a new bail hearing courtroom, bail hearings with counsel no later than 72 hours after a person’s arrest, and examination of a person’s financial circumstances prior to a bond decision using the Vera Institute’s ‘Ability to Pay’ calculator.

Under the new system, judges will continue to make decisions in all cases but are encouraged to use secured money bail only as a last resort—as required by Tennessee Law.

Under Shelby County’s prior pretrial system, an arrested person could be held for weeks, months, or even years waiting for their day in court. Additionally, their ability to pay the bail amount was not taken into consideration.

The new bail system comes after a group of local and national organizations—including American Civil Liberties Union and Just City— called for Shelby County judicial and government officials to discontinue bail practices that violate the constitutional rights of people arrested in Shelby County.

In August 2022, Shelby County Commissioners passed a resolution for the new bail process to make the system one of the fairest in the nation.