Patriot Bail Bonds: Fighting for Fairness When the System Falls Short

When Curtis Burkett came home from the Marine Corps, he saw something that did not sit right with him. People who had not even had their trial yet were sitting in jail for months. Some of them were innocent.

“I had seen people who were actually innocent sit in jail for a long time,” Curtis said. “I wanted to be part of the solution instead of part of the problem. That is why I got into bail bonds.”

That moment stuck with him. It was not just about freedom. It was about dignity, families, and the chance to fight for yourself outside a cell. In 2005, Curtis entered the bail bonds business, determined to do it the right way.

Today, he owns Patriot Bail Bonds in Knoxville, serving 14 counties across East Tennessee. His approach is simple: treat every client with the respect and support they deserve.

 

More Than Just Bail

Curtis explains the process in plain terms. “If you are not eligible for pretrial release, you either sit in jail until your trial or you make bond. With the courts so backed up, that could mean a year or more. Making bond gives you time to work, be with your family, and build your defense. Maybe you are guilty, maybe you are not, but at least you do not waste away behind bars waiting to find out.”

But Patriot Bail Bonds is about more than signing paperwork.

“We do not just bond you out and forget you. We will be in court with you. We will walk you through what is coming next, good or bad. Too many people cannot even tell you the name of their bondsman. That is not us.”

Clients often talk about the difference. They describe Curtis or his team sitting in court beside them, calling their families to check in, and explaining the legal maze in plain language. For people facing one of the hardest moments of their lives, that steady presence means everything.

 

A Name That Means Something

The name Patriot Bail Bonds carries weight. Curtis is a Marine Corps veteran. His son is a Marine now too, and his daughter, a criminal justice graduate, works alongside him in the business.

“My family has a long history of military service,” he said. “When my son joined the Marines last year, it just felt right to call it Patriot.”

That sense of duty shows in the way they serve. All veterans and service members receive 10 percent off and flexible financing to ease the burden.

“If we can serve the community and give back at the same time, we are going to win no matter what.”

 

East Tennessee Coverage, Family-Level Care

From Knoxville to Greenville, Sevierville, Jefferson City, and Morristown, Patriot Bail Bonds covers a wide stretch of East Tennessee. Their Knoxville office anchors the work, but Curtis and his team are constantly on the move, meeting people where they need them most.

The team may be small, but it is built on experience and trust. Alongside his daughter, Curtis works with the former president of the Tennessee Association of Professional Bail Agents.

That combination of family loyalty and professional expertise has earned them a five-star reputation. Clients leave reviews that highlight more than just quick service. They talk about how Patriot helped them feel less alone in the process.

“They are paying for more than freedom,” Curtis explained. “They are paying for guidance. It is wrong to take someone’s money and leave them in the dark. We make sure nobody is left wondering what comes next.”

 

Looking Ahead

Curtis’s vision for Patriot Bail Bonds goes beyond helping individual clients. He wants the business to be a force for good in the community.

The company already supports the Wounded Warrior Project, but Curtis has bigger plans. He hopes to get involved in new initiatives like Knoxville’s tiny homes for homeless veterans. With the mayor’s office behind the project and local schools pitching in, Curtis sees an opportunity to give back in a lasting way.

“This is part of our mission. As we grow, we want to give back even more. We are here to stand by people, whether they are facing charges or facing life after service.”

For Curtis, this work is not just a paycheck. It is a calling. It is a way to use his Marine discipline, his family’s legacy, and his deep sense of fairness to help people who might otherwise be forgotten by the system.

In an industry that can feel cold and transactional, Patriot Bail Bonds stands out as tough, loyal, and deeply human. For Curtis, it will always be about more than getting people out of jail. It is about giving them a fighting chance.

Based in Knoxville, serving Hawkins, Hancock, Hamblen, Greene, Jefferson, Cocke, Sevier, Grainger, Union, Claiborne, Campbell, Scott, Fentress, Morgan, Loudon, Roane, and Meigs counties across East Tennessee.

Website: patriotbail.com
Tiktok: @Patriot.Bail.Bond
Facebook: Patriot Bail Bonds
Instagram: @PatriotBailTN
Email: PatriotBailTN@gmail.com
Phone: 865-635-6750
Services: Bail Bonds, Notary Public