Adams County Jail Criminal Court Process

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Adams County

Criminal Court Process for Adams County Wisconsin

Adams County, a sandy, wooded county wrapped around the Petenwell and Castle Rock flowages, does its court business in the small village of Friendship, which serves as county seat. Its Adams County Circuit Court now has two judges, and the Town of Rome keeps a municipal court of its own for ordinance tickets. The Adams County District Attorney, an elected official, files criminal charges. Arrestees from every corner of the county who stay in custody end up at the Adams County Jail, a Sheriff's facility on Adams Street in Friendship.

  • Adams County Circuit Court (Branches 1 and 2), courthouse, Suite 6, 401 Adams St., Friendship 53934; Clerk of Circuit Court (608) 339-4208
  • Adams County DA's office, Room C150, 402 Main St., Friendship 53934, (608) 339-4217
  • Sheriff of Adams County, 401 Adams St., Friendship 53934, (608) 339-3304
  • Adams County Jail, 401 Adams St., Friendship 53934, (608) 339-3304
  • Public Defender for Adams County: the State Public Defender's Wisconsin Rapids office (shared with Wood County), Suite 8, 2811 8th St. S., Wisconsin Rapids, (715) 303-5010
  • Adams County Health & Human Services (intake for youth), 108 E. North St., Friendship, (608) 339-4505

Which court hears your case. Rome police tickets for ordinance violations, including a first-offense OWI (a forfeiture, not a crime, in Wisconsin, provided no child younger than 16 rode along), are answered in the Town of Rome Municipal Court. A ticket written in the Adams County piece of the City of Wisconsin Dells is answered in that city's municipal court. Comparable citations from Adams, Friendship, the remaining towns and Highways 13, 21 and 82 come to the Adams County Circuit Court, unless the ticket says otherwise. Misdemeanor charges, and criminal traffic charges like OWI-second, land in Friendship as well. So are felonies, which never leave the circuit court: first appearance, preliminary exam, arraignment and trial take place under one roof, before one of its two judges.

Where pretrial inmates are held. A person kept after booking stays at the Adams County Jail, 401 Adams Street, Friendship, beside the courthouse. Sheriff's staff at (608) 339-3304 can say whether a person is there and how the jail accepts bail money. Wisconsin has no bonding companies, so families pay the court's cash figure in full.

Local courts in Adams County (circuit court and municipal courts)

For criminal matters, Adams County has a single destination, the courthouse campus in Friendship, and only two municipal courts touch the county at all.

Circuit court

  • Adams County Circuit Court, Suite 6, 401 Adams St., Friendship 53934; the courthouse block also faces Main Street. Clerk of Circuit Court, (608) 339-4208, for case status, citation payments, hearing dates and which of the two branches has a file.

Municipal courts serving Adams County communities

  • Town of Rome Municipal Court (Town of Rome), in Rome Town Hall, 1156 Alpine Dr., Nekoosa 54457 (the town uses a Nekoosa mailing address); court line (715) 325-8039, town office (715) 325-8023. Sessions are held on the third Tuesday of the month at 10:00 a.m., and Rome tickets may be paid at the town's police department on weekday mornings.
  • Wisconsin Dells Municipal Court, for the City of Wisconsin Dells, which spills into Adams, Columbia, Juneau and Sauk counties: La Crosse Street (No. 300), 608-254-2442

Each of these courts hears ordinance cases only and sets forfeitures; a jail commitment or license suspension is possible only for someone who does not pay. An Adams County defendant may in limited situations be able to get a Rome or Dells ordinance case transferred to the circuit court, and timing matters, so ask the clerk or an attorney before the first hearing date. Ordinance tickets from towns and villages that have no municipal court are heard in Friendship.

Prosecution, defense, police and youth services

  • District Attorney, Room C150, 402 Main St., Friendship, (608) 339-4217
  • State Public Defender (Adams County cases are staffed from Wisconsin Rapids), 2811 8th St. S., Suite 8, (715) 303-5010
  • Adams County Sheriff's Office, 401 Adams St., (608) 339-3304; deputies serve as the police for Friendship and every town lacking a department
  • Adams Police Department (City of Adams), P.O. Box 1125, 105 Main St., Adams 53910, (608) 339-6839
  • Rome Police Department, at the Rome Town Hall, 1156 Alpine Dr.; reach it through the town office, (715) 325-8023
  • Wisconsin Dells Police Department, for the city's Adams County section
  • Health & Human Services, 108 E. North St., Friendship, (608) 339-4505

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Misdemeanor (for example, theft, battery, disorderly conduct, a second OWI)

The county's population swells each summer at the lakes and campgrounds, bringing boating, driving, disorderly conduct and theft arrests; domestic cases and repeat drunk driving come mostly from year-round residents.

Booking and release

Arrests made by deputies, Adams officers or Rome officers end with booking at the Adams County Jail in Friendship. For minor charges the usual result is release on a signature bond, where the person signs a promise to return and owes money only by missing court. Someone the jail keeps is scheduled for an initial appearance, normally inside 48 hours, and the judge or court commissioner frequently conducts it by video. That hearing sets conditions: possibly a cash amount, possibly no drinking, possibly an order to stay away from a named person or place. Domestic abuse arrests in Adams County come with a separate 72-hour rule barring contact with the alleged victim after release; the victim alone can waive it, in writing.

Penalties in Adams County misdemeanor cases

  • Class A, the top grade (nine months, $10,000): battery, trespass into a dwelling, and thefts no greater than $2,500.
  • Class B (ninety days, $1,000): disorderly conduct, sometimes carrying a domestic abuse label.
  • Class C (thirty days, $500).
  • OWI: an Adams County first offense is handled as a civil matter, carrying a forfeiture between $150 and $300 (court costs come on top), a revocation lasting six to nine months, an assessment and, after a refusal or a result of 0.15 or more, an interlock; having a child under 16 aboard changes it into a crime. Repeat it within ten years and it becomes a criminal misdemeanor carrying no less than five days behind bars, with half a year as the cap. By the fourth, Adams County prosecutors can generally file a felony.

Lawyer, outcome and timing

Requests for appointed counsel are processed by the public defender agency's Wisconsin Rapids staff (State Public Defender), (715) 303-5010, or can be started at the jail. The screening for eligibility is strict. When someone fails that screen but plainly cannot pay, an Adams County judge may be asked for a county-paid attorney, and granting it is discretionary. Outcomes include a dismissal or deferred prosecution agreement, fines, probation, or jail with Huber privileges for work. A six-person jury tries a misdemeanor. Adams County misdemeanors usually finish within two to six months.

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Felony (for example, burglary, felony theft, drug possession with intent to deliver, substantial battery)

Burglaries of cabins and lake homes that sit empty for the winter, methamphetamine cases and repeat OWIs are staples of the Adams County felony calendar.

Path of a felony case

  1. Complaint and first appearance. Once the DA files a criminal complaint, a judge or commissioner checks it for probable cause, reads the charge to the defendant and sets bail. Voters amended the Wisconsin Constitution in 2023 so that, in violent-crime cases, cash and conditions can reflect how likely the defendant is to cause serious harm. Defendants who cannot pay remain at the Adams County Jail.
  2. Preliminary hearing. Ten days is the limit for a jailed defendant held on cash beyond his or her means, twenty for others. Its one question is probable cause, and many defendants waive it.
  3. Information and arraignment. The DA's information lists the final charges, and the defendant pleads to them.
  4. Plea or trial. Most Adams County felonies end in a plea agreement. Trials go to a twelve-member jury, which must be unanimous; a defendant who invokes the speedy-trial statute is generally tried inside ninety days, subject to exceptions.
  5. Sentencing, often after a presentence investigation.

How Adams County felonies are graded

  • Burglary is Class F: as long as twelve and a half years, with a fine up to $25,000.
  • Felony theft follows the dollar amount: $2,500.01 through $5,000 is Class I; up to $10,000 is Class H; beyond that is Class G, ten years.
  • Substantial battery is Class I (three and a half years); aggravated battery is H or E.
  • Intent to deliver ranges from Class I to Class C according to the substance and amount.
  • For reference: life for Class A, then sixty, forty, twenty-five and fifteen years for B through E, and six for H.

Sentences

Every Wisconsin prison sentence combines a confinement term with an extended supervision term, and parole is off the table for offenses after 1999. The sentencing judge can open the door to boot-camp style Challenge Incarceration or to the Substance Abuse Program, each a possible route to earlier release. Up to a year is jail time in Friendship; a longer term is served in a state institution. A first felony often draws probation, sometimes with conditional jail. In Friendship, anyone who qualifies is defended through the State Public Defender, either from its Wisconsin Rapids staff or a private attorney under contract. Most felonies here take six months to a year.

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Violent felony (for example, homicide, sexual assault, armed robbery)

Violent felonies are rare in Adams County; on a homicide or major assault, state DOJ investigators are usually brought in to help the Sheriff. High cash bail is the norm in these cases, and the accused remains at the Adams County Jail if the money cannot be raised.

Penalties

  • First-degree intentional homicide, Class A: life is mandatory, and the Adams County judge rules on whether, and after how long, release to extended supervision may ever be sought. Wisconsin ended executions in 1853.
  • Class B, sixty years: first-degree reckless homicide, and also second-degree intentional homicide.
  • First-degree sexual assault: Class B, sixty years; a mandatory minimum attaches to certain offenses against young children.
  • Armed robbery: Class C, forty years. Robbery with no weapon: Class E, fifteen.

Timeline and victims

The usual felony stages apply, but forensic testing, experts and motions add months; twelve to twenty-four months from charge to verdict is common in Friendship. Marsy's Law, a 2020 addition to the state constitution, protects a victim's rights to information, to attendance and to a voice at sentencing, and the DA's office, (608) 339-4217, helps victims exercise them. The State Public Defender also takes these cases for eligible defendants, frequently assigning senior trial lawyers.

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Juveniles (under 17) arrested in Adams County

Wisconsin treats seventeen-year-olds as adults when they are charged with crimes. Children 10 through 16 accused of crimes in Adams County appear in Friendship before the circuit court in its role as juvenile court, in sessions closed to outsiders.

Intake and detention

Officers who take a youth into custody notify juvenile intake at Adams County Health & Human Services, (608) 339-4505. Intake picks among release to a parent, a nonsecure placement and secure detention; it may also close the referral, resolve it with deferred prosecution, or hand it to the DA, whose office makes the call on a delinquency petition. Adams County operates no juvenile detention center. Deputies transport a youth needing locked custody to another county's center that accepts Adams County placements, for example the Portage County Juvenile Detention Center on Strongs Avenue in Stevens Point (phone 715-346-1263). For a detained child, a custody hearing generally must follow within 24 hours of intake's decision, not counting a weekend or legal holiday.

Outcomes

  • Deferred prosecution or a consent decree; with compliance, no delinquency finding is ever entered.
  • After an adjudication: supervision, restitution, community service, counseling, or a stay in foster care, group care or a treatment facility.
  • Type 2 placement; Type 1 commitment to the secure state schools in Irma (Lincoln Hills School, Copper Lake School); or, at the far end, the Serious Juvenile Offender program.

Adult court

The DA can petition to waive a youth aged 14 or more into adult court, and, in limited circumstances, an even younger child facing an especially grave accusation. Adult court also holds original jurisdiction, so no waiver is needed, over Adams County children 10 or older charged with committing or attempting first-degree intentional homicide, with first-degree reckless homicide, or with felony murder; the same applies to some youths with a prior delinquency record who are charged with particular new crimes. Parents should go through these rules with defense counsel; every child facing a delinquency petition may have a lawyer, whom the State Public Defender in Wisconsin Rapids usually supplies. Juvenile records are, in general, confidential.

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Federal cases (U.S. District Court) from Adams County

Adams County cases under federal law fall within the Western District of Wisconsin, and they are filed and tried in Madison, about 75 miles south of Friendship.

  • Western District clerk, Room 320, 120 N. Henry St., Madison 53703, (608) 264-5156
  • U.S. Attorney, Suite 700, 222 W. Washington Ave., Madison 53703, (608) 264-5158
  • Federal Defender Services of Wisconsin, Suite 1000, 22 E. Mifflin St., Madison 53703, (608) 260-9900; CJA panel lawyers in private practice cover conflicts
  • Pretrial Services, Suite 340, 222 W. Washington Ave., Madison 53703, (608) 264-5165

When an Adams County case is federal

Federal prosecution is the exception here. When it happens, it usually involves meth or fentanyl distribution rings, firearms held by people whose records (a felony, a domestic-violence conviction) bar possession, a bank robbery, child pornography or online enticement, or fraud on a federal program. Adams County contains no reservation. The Ho-Chunk Nation owns trust parcels across central Wisconsin, but crimes on those lands generally stay in state court because of Public Law 280, and the Ho-Chunk Nation's judiciary operates alongside the state courts.

Federal court step by step

First comes an appearance in Madison before a magistrate judge, who arranges for the Federal Defender or a CJA lawyer if the Adams County defendant has no means to hire one. Wisconsin's cash bail practice does not carry over; the Bail Reform Act has the magistrate choose release on Pretrial Services conditions or continued custody, generally at a hearing three court days or less after the first appearance. A complaint must be followed within thirty days by an indictment. Trial is supposed to start within seventy days, a Speedy Trial Act target that judges regularly push back. Federal verdicts require all twelve jurors, though few cases reach a jury because most defendants plead. A probation officer's presentence report informs the judge's use of the advisory Guidelines, as well as any minimum sentence Congress requires. Federal prisoners are never paroled; a sentence handed to an Adams County defendant is about 85 percent prison time, with supervised release afterward. Appeals lie with the Seventh Circuit in Chicago.

Locating a federal inmate

Adams County families can check where a federal inmate is housed; following a name or register-number search, Adams County relatives can learn the facility from the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator. Pretrial federal detainees whom the U.S. Marshals board at a county jail under contract are frequently listed on that jail's own roster. Adams County juveniles are seldom charged federally. On state charges, the State Public Defender's Wisconsin Rapids staff remain the contact.

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Use this Adams County overview for orientation only; nothing here is legal advice, and procedures and phone numbers may shift. For advice about an actual charge, consult a Wisconsin criminal defense lawyer. Ask at the jail, or phone the State Public Defender's Wisconsin Rapids office at (715) 303-5010, to apply for a public defender. For custody information, call the Adams County Sheriff's Office at (608) 339-3304.

Criminal Court Process for Adams County Wisconsin

Adams County Wisconsin Criminal Court System – Definitions

It might be helpful to define some words that will be used on this site, when explaining the Wisconsin Court System and how it works. The definitions on this site are for general information and not legal advice. It is always preferred to follow information given by your attorney or local authorities.

If you scroll down below this content, and the listing of the courts in Adams County, you will find a simple flowchart diagram and a video that will help you visualize the stages of the Criminal Court Process.

Arrest is when Wisconsin, Adams County or local police take a person into custody and start the legal process. The arrested person may or may not be immediately jailed. 

In less serious crimes, the person may only be given a citation ordering that they appear in municipal or Adams County court on a certain date. In cases involving more serious crimes, the person is usually placed in the county jail until an arraignment, or a judge decides the next step.

Booking is when the Adams County sheriff or local police gather information such as the detainee’s name, address and why the person is being arrested. Booking also includes fingerprinting, criminal history, investigation, and verification of identity. Bail for lower-level crimes may be set right after booking so the arrested can “bail or bond out” before being detained.

The prosecution, sometimes called “the government” or “the people” or “the state” is the side that presses the charges and seeks punishment for the offense. These are attorneys that work for the state of Wisconsin, Adams County or a city or town.  The prosecuting attorney for Adams County or the district is called the District Attorney or Assistant District Attorney. A U.S. Attorney prosecutes federal cases.  

Jurisdiction is an important term in the court system that means whether a court has the obligation or duty or right to handle a case.  For example, if you run a red light in your town or city, a municipal court would likely have jurisdiction over your case, but the next town or city over would not have jurisdiction over your case.  If you attempted to flee from police when they attempted to stop you after you ran the red light, it becomes a more serious crime, and the municipal court might not have jurisdiction so you might be assigned to a higher-level court that has jurisdiction over the more serious crime.  Jurisdiction varies from state to state and sometimes county to county.

Arraignment is when a judge determines whether the charges are supported by the prosecution’s initial evidence and tells the arrested what they are charged with, and the person says whether they are guilty or not guilty. At this time, the person is called the defendant, and the opposing side is called the prosecution. If there is reason to believe that the arrested is guilty, the judge will set bail conditions or send the defendant to jail or release them ROR (release on recognizances). An arraignment is not a trial, and the defendant is entitled to a trial within a reasonable amount of time after the arraignment.

Bail is money paid that is held by the Adams County or municipal court to make sure that the arrested does not flee the area before their trial. Bail amounts and other conditions are determined at the arraignment. Once the case is over, the bail money is returned to the defendant. If a person does not pay bail, they remain in the Adams County Jail until their trial.  

Bail can be denied if the court feels that the arrested would be a danger to others if released. Sometimes the court decides that there is a good chance that the arrested will show up for trial and not flee so they are released on their own promise, or recognizance without having to pay bail.

A bond proceeding is the determination of how much bail is to be paid and usually happens at the same time as an arraignment. During bond proceedings, the defendant can have an attorney present but does not have the right to an attorney. A judge or court officer in the {county extended} or municipal court sets bail. Judges in Wisconsin rely on a statewide bail schedule, which sets out a recommended range of bail amounts for different offenses. Judges can still exercise discretion in setting bail above or below the recommended range.

Wisconsin is one of a few states that does not allow posting bail for profit, meaning that a court or bondsman cannot charge a percentage of the bond as in other states.  If the defendant fails to appear in court when required to, the police or sheriff’s office will be given a warrant to arrest the defendant.

If the defendant is not released on their own recognizance, the Adams County court will allow the defendant, family or friend to pay up to 10% of the bail/bond amount.  If the defendant does not appear in court, the court keeps the 10% and the court could demand the full bail amount and place an arrest warrant through the sheriff’s department.

If possible, it is important to have family involvement after being arrested.  Not only can they make calls and communicate on your behalf, but family support will show the court that there are people who will make sure that the defendant makes it to court. 

A criminal defense attorney (also called lawyer or counsel) is hired or retained to represent the arrested as early as possible after the arrest. If there is a chance that the case might go to trial and the defendant cannot afford an attorney, the 6th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution requires that the court provide an attorney. This is called indigent representation and a public defender or assigned attorney would represent the defendant in all proceedings. Indigent representation is only available misdemeanor and felony cases that could result in jail time, juvenile cases, and certain appeal cases. 

If the arrested cannot afford a lawyer, the Wisconsin court would assign indigent representation, usually called a public defender in Wisconsin or a contracted attorney in special cases to represent the person for free or a small fee or a reduced rate. A right to an attorney is in the 6th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution; that all people that are going to be heard in trial are entitled to be represented by a lawyer and if they cannot afford one, the court will provide one. 

Indigent representation is available for juvenile cases, certain appeals, misdemeanor and felony cases that could result in jail time. In Wisconsin, a violation does not result in jail time, so the State of Wisconsin is not obligated to provide an attorney.  In Wisconsin, all indigent defense is funded by the state and not the county.   The following link will take you to the Wisconsin State Public Defender site.

For less serious cases or civil cases, there are pro bono volunteers who volunteer legal services for free or for a small fee. They often will hold clinics to teach people how to represent themselves in court or expunge their record which means to legally erase or eliminate a criminal or arrest record from public view. The State Bar of Wisconsin offers a webpage regarding pro bono and reduced rate attorney services at the following link.

Many courts will provide forms and help for people who want to represent themselves, called pro se.  Here is a link for legal self-help in Wisconsin.

The following link provides self-help information for juvenile matters.

A district court can refer to the first level of the legal system, or a minor court. District courts are in the community.  A district court can also refer to a U.S. Federal District Court that hears federal cases. There are two U.S. federal district courts in Wisconsin, with offices throughout the state. It is important that you check the address of the court you are to appear in rather than to ask someone because that person might give you directions to the wrong “district” court. Being late to court can land you in custody as well.

Pretrial proceeding is the process where both sides (prosecution and defense) gather information, interview witnesses, request records, videos etc. Pretrial proceedings also include communications with the judge assigned to the case and these appearances are either in person or by on-line conferencing. Some pretrial proceedings may not require a defendant’s appearance, allowing an attorney to appear in their place. The information that is gathered is called discovery and both sides must share the information that they have gathered.  This information does not include conversations between the arrested and their attorney.

Most cases do not go to trial because both sides reach a plea deal, where both sides try to reach a reasonable punishment based on what was learned in the pretrial proceedings.  A plea deal can only happen if the accused person admits they are guilty in exchange for a lighter punishment.  The reason they must admit guilt is because it would not be fair to punish someone who claims they are not guilty.  There are times in plea bargaining when the prosecution agrees to give a lighter sentence in exchange for information leading to the arrest of a more serious criminal related to the crime.  

Trial is where both sides share their information in front of a judge or a judge and jury. After listening to all the evidence, the judge or jury decides the verdict which is whether the person is guilty or not guilty. If a court has only a judge hearing both sides, it is called a bench trial.  If a jury is selected, it is called a jury trial.  If the defendant is found not guilty, they are released.  If they are found to be guilty, the next step is sentencing.

Sentencing is the punishment that the judge decides the person should get. This could be jail or prison time, fines, community service, probation, or a combination.

Appeal is asking for a higher court to hear the case again at an appellate court.  If the accused person thinks something went wrong at trial or has new information that was not available during the trial or that the sentence is too harsh, the defense attorney can ask for an appeal. It is not unusual for an appeal when there is a long jail sentence, but an appeal can be denied if the appellate court feels that the original trial or sentencing was fair.

Wisconsin Misdemeanor vs Felony

In Wisconsin, a misdemeanor is divided into Class A or B or C.  Examples of misdemeanors are trespassing, simple assault, petty theft and shoplifting.  

  • Class A misdemeanors have punishments of jail for up to 9 months and/or pay a fine up to $10,000.   
  • Class B misdemeanors have punishments of jail for up to 90 days and/or pay a fine up to $1000.
  • Class C misdemeanors have punishments up to 30 days and fines up to $500.

A felony crime is a more serious crime than a misdemeanor and are divided into different classes which are general guidelines and are based on the crime, prior criminal history and other factors.  Examples of felony crimes are murder, rape, theft, aggravated assault, drug trafficking, kidnapping and identity theft.  

In Wisconsin, felonies are divided into 9 classes. 

  • Class A being the most serious that results in life imprisonment.  
  • Class B has a maximum sentence of 60 years in state prison. 
  • Class C has a maximum sentence of 40 years in state prison and/or $100,000 fine. 
  • Class D has a maximum sentence of 25 years in state prison and/or $100,000 fine. 
  • Class E has a maximum sentence of 15 years in state prison and/or $50,000 fine. 
  • Class F has a maximum sentence of 12 years in state prison and/or $25.000. 
  • Class G has a maximum sentence of 10 years in state prison and/or $25,000 fine. 
  • Class H has a maximum sentence of 6 years in state prison and /or $10,000 fine and 
  • Class I has a maximum sentence of 3 ½ years in state prison and/or a fine of $10,000.

The Adams County Clerk of Court is an elected official whose responsibilities for Criminal Court’s administrative issues include receiving criminal warrants, receiving bail, creating the trial schedule, receiving fees, fines and maintaining court records.

A warrant is used to get someone to appear in court or to law enforcement.  There must be good reason to believe that the person is involved in a crime. The warrant gives authority to arrest the person and search for evidence for the investigation of the crime. 

A criminal summons is issued to request that a person appear in court at a particular time and date.  It does not involve an arrest.  A traffic ticket, summary citation or lesser misdemeanor could be considered a summons if you are given a court date.

A summary citation, commonly referred to as a ticket, is a criminal summons by a law enforcement officer either in person or via mail accusing the defendant of a minor offense, stating potential fine, listing the court having jurisdiction and instructions for addressing the issue. Defendants may or may not be required to appear in court or handle the matter by entering a plea via mail.

Fines are usually paid to the District Court or clerk of court and payment methods can be found on the District Court or Adams County Clerk of Court website. If you do not pay your fine on time, you can lose your driver’s license, must pay additional fees or even have a warrant for your arrest.  It is important to read the instructions on the ticket issued by the police officer or court at the time of your arrest. For a parking ticket or summary citation, the fine amount and how to send payment should be on the ticket. 

Wisconsin Criminal Court System - How it Works

Municipal courts are the same as a city or town court and handle violations of city ordinances (city laws), traffic violations, parking violations and criminal misdemeanor offenses such as disorderly conduct, underage drinking and trespassing that occur within the city or towns police jurisdiction. There are 229 municipal courts in Wisconsin and some towns use a court jointly.

Circuit courts handle misdemeanors and felonies from beginning (preliminary hearings) to end (settlement or trial).  Circuit courts also handle some traffic matters and juvenile cases.  

Specialty Courts serve people who would benefit from alcohol, drug and other rehabilitative services.  Wisconsin offers a problem-solving court that oversees specialty courts as drug treatment, OWI, mental health, juvenile, domestic violence and veterans courts. 

The Wisconsin Courts of Appeal will hear cases and correct errors or allow information from the lower courts that lead to the appeal.  They do not hear the case as if it were new.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court is like our United States’ Supreme Court because it has a panel of judges that rule on matters that have to do with someone’s constitutional rights or policies and laws. The Wisconsin State Supreme Court deals with the state constitution or laws or policies. Sometimes the Supreme Court will hear criminal cases on appeal when there is a question on the state laws or procedures that lead to the appeal.  

The criminal cases are usually referred from the district courts of appeal.

FEDERAL COURT

Federal Court deals with crimes involving violations of United States laws.  Federal crimes include federal drug trafficking, federal tax evasion and fraud that crossed state lines and include crimes that occur on federal property as post offices or federal buildings.  

Cases involving crimes that involve the FBI or DEA or Immigration agencies are federal crimes. Terrorism is a federal crime. 

There are some differences in the Federal court system as compared to the Wisconsin state court system. For example, the attorneys who work for the courts are called United States Attorneys and Federal judges are called District Court Judges (not to be confused by local state district courts).  

Federal Magistrate Judges hear the case early on, but they do not decide on the cases at a trial like the Federal District Court Judges. In a federal case, a grand jury is used for indictments.

There are two U.S. Federal Judicial Districts in Wisconsin.

Courts

ROME MUNICIPAL COURT
1156 ALPINE DR
NEKOOSA WI, 54457
715-325-8039

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Adams County

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Every detail on this page is checked by hand, not scraped. This unofficial directory helps friends and family of incarcerated individuals find critical information — inmate lists, locations, bail resources, visitation hours, rules, and text, phone, email, and mail services — for jails, detention centers, and prisons across the United States.