ARRAIGNMENTS:

Arraignment serves as the defendant's first encounter with the judge, during which the judge informs the defendant of their rights and reads the warrant.

Arraignment proceedings occur in Jackson City Court every weekday at 8:00 a.m. Bail determinations are made on Saturdays at 8:30 a.m.; however, individuals securing bail during the weekend undergo formal arraignment on the subsequent Monday. For those who have posted bail over the weekend, the arraignment is scheduled for 8:00 a.m. on the following Friday at City Court, located at 391 S. Royal Street.

BAIL:

Bail should be set at an amount that ensures the defendant's presence in court. In certain situations, the judge may consider the defendant's past record and assess whether the defendant poses a risk to the community. Once the bond amount is determined, the defendant has the following options:

CASH BOND:

You can provide cash for your bond, e.g., if the bond is $500, someone can bring $500 to the Police Department and use it as bond. This amount can be used towards fines and court costs when you appear in court, and depending on the court's decision, you may receive a portion of it back.

BONDING COMPANY SERVICES:

You can opt to use an approved bonding company. These companies can post a bond on your behalf to secure your release from jail. They all charge the same fee: 10% of the bond plus $25. For instance, a $500 bond would cost $50 + $25 = $75 to the bonding company. Keep in mind that you won't receive any money back from the bonding company, and fines and costs are separate from their fees.

You are free to choose a bonding company based on your preference.

DEFENDANT:
If your case has been bound over (After a preliminary hearing) or waived (waiving a preliminary hearing) to the Grand Jury, the District Attorney General's office will present the charges to the Grand Jury without your attendance. Upon indictment, you will be notified of an Appearance Day in Circuit Court, held at the Criminal Justice Complex.

VICTIM:
If you are an alleged victim, and the case has been waived or bound over to the Grand Jury, the District Attorney General's office, led by Jody Pickens, will contact you at a later date if the Grand Jury decides to indict the defendant.

The victim witness coordinator in that office is:
Tia Vaughan
Lowell Thomas State Office Building
225 Martin Luther King Drive
P. O. Box 2825
Jackson, Tennessee 38301

• The defendant has the right to an attorney. If the defendant cannot afford an attorney, and if the court declares the defendant to be indigent, the court will appoint an attorney for that person.
  
• The defendant has the right to remain silent. If a statement is made, any statement that is made can be used against him/her.
•  The defendant has the right to plead not guilty.
• The defendant has the right against self-incrimination.
• The defendant has the right to be tried on presentment or indictment.
• The defendant has the right to a preliminary hearing. At the preliminary hearing, if the judge finds that there is probable cause that a crime was committed and probable cause that the defendant committed the crime, the case would be bound to the Grand Jury.
• If the Grand Jury indicts the individual, the individual has the right to a speedy trial by jury where the state would have to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt.
• The defendant would have the right to present any evidence in his/her own behalf.
• The defendant would have the right to confront and cross-examine any witnesses against them.
• If there is a plea of guilty at any stage, that cannot be appealed except as to the sentence.

If the judge orders supervised probation, a representative from Tennessee Correctional Services (TCS) will meet with the individual in court. The defendant is required to pay $60.00 per month ($720.00 annually) to the private probation service, as outlined in T.C.A. 40-35-303(i).

Should the defendant comply with work and treatment directives, supervised probation concludes within three months. It is important to note that if the defendant serves jail time, a fee of $35.00 per day, up to a maximum of ten days or $350.00, is applicable. Any duration exceeding 10 days incurs expenses covered by the State and County.

The judge often mandates public service work for the defendant, scheduled for the following Wednesday or Saturday from the sentencing date. The judge believes that immediate punishment best serves the interests of justice.

Failure to adhere to probation terms results in the issuance of an arrest warrant, followed by a hearing to determine probation violation. If a violation is established, the judge may order the person to serve all or part of the sentence.

Probation is frequently effective because it not only provides immediate consequences but also facilitates access to treatment. The judge may order interventions such as anger management, substance abuse counseling, mental health counseling, etc.

When a judge decides on a person's sentence, various factors come into play. These include preventing the individual from committing more crimes (incapacitation), discouraging others from similar actions (deterrence), aiding in the person's rehabilitation, ensuring the victim is compensated, considering whether the person deserves punishment, and reviewing their criminal history or lack thereof.

If the judge decides on a jail sentence, it's at their discretion whether the person serves time immediately. If allowed, the individual can schedule an appointment to serve the jail time. This can be done by visiting the Criminal Justice Complex (refer to the City Court Map) and arranging it with a Sheriff deputy or by calling the jailer at 731.988.3054. Whether the person serves time at the Criminal Justice Complex or the Penal Farm is determined by the Sheriff.

The judge might also opt for a combination of jail time and supervised probation or solely supervised probation. In some instances, unsupervised probation may be ordered by the judge.

To preserve and protect the rights of victims of crime to justice and due process, victims shall be entitled to the following basic rights:

• The right to confer with the prosecution.
• The right to be free from intimidation, harassment and abuse throughout the criminal justice system.
• The right to be present at all proceedings where the defendant has the right to be present.
• The right to be heard, when relevant, at all critical stages of the criminal justice process as defined by the General Assembly.
• The right to be informed of all proceedings, and of the release, transfer or escape of the accused or convicted person.
• The right to a speedy trial or disposition and a prompt and final conclusion of the case after the conviction or sentence.
• The right to restitution from the offender.
• The right to be informed of each of the rights established for victims.

The District Attorney General of the 26th Judicial District is Jerry Woodall. The assistant District Attorney who is presently assigned to handle City Court matters is Matthew Floyd. If a case is bound to the Grand Jury, and if the Grand Jury indicts that individual, the case will be heard by one of the circuit judges in the Criminal Justice Complex. The victim would be contacted by the District Attorney General's Office prior to a hearing in Circuit Court. For further information, you can call 731.423.5800.

Generally, the City Judge hears cases involving crimes committed within the city limits of Jackson.

TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS:

The City Judge hears traffic citations cases when the offense occurs in Jackson city limits and the responding officer is with Jackson Police Department.

Traffic violations for Highway Patrol or the State Trooper are reported to the Criminal Justice Complex located at 515 S. Liberty Street #300, Jackson TN 38301