The two days after an arrest move quickly. Booking comes first, then a bond decision, and a first court date may be set before you’ve had a full night’s sleep. Choices made during that window can follow a case for months. Turnbow Law, a Mt. Juliet criminal defense practice led by Chad Turnbow, Esq., represents people facing misdemeanor and felony charges across Middle Tennessee. Below is practical guidance on those first 48 hours, followed by five local attorneys who handle criminal cases.
What should you do in the first 48 hours after an arrest in Tennessee?
Five things to do
- Stay quiet and ask for a lawyer in plain words. The right to remain silent protects you, but only if you invoke it clearly. Saying “I want to speak with a lawyer” should stop questioning. Something vague like “maybe I need a lawyer” may not.
- Learn how your bond works. A magistrate or judicial commissioner usually sets bond within hours of booking. You may be released on your own recognizance, on a cash bond, or through a bonding company, which charges a nonrefundable fee that is often around 10 percent of the bond amount. Tennessee law allows people arrested for domestic abuse offenses to be held for up to 12 hours before release.
- Write down what happened while you remember it. Note the time of the stop, officer names or badge numbers, anyone who saw it, and whether you were read your rights. Details fade faster than most people expect.
- Preserve evidence. Many businesses record over their surveillance footage within days or weeks. Save texts, receipts, and dashcam video, and write down the locations of any cameras nearby.
- Confirm your court date and show up. First appearances are usually held in General Sessions Court in the county of arrest, such as the Wilson County courts in Lebanon. Missing a date can lead to a separate failure-to-appear charge and a revoked bond.
Five things to avoid
- Don’t discuss your case on jail phones. County jail calls are recorded, and prosecutors can listen to them.
- Don’t contact the alleged victim. No-contact conditions are common in assault and domestic cases. Even a text apologizing can count as a bond violation.
- Don’t post about the arrest online. Social media posts and deleted messages can end up as evidence.
- Don’t agree to searches, and don’t resist. You can calmly refuse consent to a search of your car or phone. Police may still search with a warrant or another legal basis, but your refusal keeps possible challenges open.
- Don’t plead guilty at your first appearance without advice. A quick plea can carry consequences for your job, your driver’s license, and your record. If you can’t afford an attorney, you can ask the court to appoint a public defender, and the judge decides eligibility from a sworn statement about your finances.
Which Middle Tennessee attorneys handle cases after an arrest?
- Turnbow Law
- Christopher Eads
- Donnavon K. Vasek, Vasek & Robbins
- Eric Phillips, Hagar & Phillips
- Thomas Anthony Maynard
1. Turnbow Law
Turnbow Law is led by attorney Chad Turnbow, Esq., and represents clients in criminal matters throughout Middle Tennessee, including Mt. Juliet, Lebanon, Gallatin, Hendersonville, Portland, and Nashville. Its criminal defense work covers DUI, drug charges, assault and violent crimes, domestic violence, theft and property crimes, probation violations, and juvenile cases.
Bringing in counsel during the first 48 hours can help with bond conditions, early review of how a stop or search was handled, and preparation for the first court date. The firm also handles probate and estate planning, which matters for families dealing with more than one legal problem at once. Every case depends on its own facts, and no attorney can promise a particular result.
2. Christopher Eads
Christopher Eads is an attorney with an office in Mt. Juliet. His practice includes criminal law along with other areas.
3. Donnavon K. Vasek, Vasek & Robbins
Vasek & Robbins is a law firm in Lebanon that handles criminal defense matters in Wilson County.
4. Eric Phillips, Hagar & Phillips
Hagar & Phillips is a Lebanon-based firm whose practice areas include criminal defense and DUI.
5. Thomas Anthony Maynard
Thomas Anthony Maynard is an attorney in Hermitage, between Nashville and Mt. Juliet, who lists criminal law as a practice area.
What matters most in the first two days?
The first 48 hours come down to protecting your rights, following bond conditions to the letter, and keeping a record while the facts are fresh. Silence, preparation, and early legal advice give you room to make careful decisions instead of rushed ones. If you or a family member was recently arrested in Middle Tennessee, contact Turnbow Law to talk through what comes next.
This article offers general information and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.
