Burnett County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Burnett County bail and bond: the Siren jail and the Wisconsin cash-bail rules
Adults arrested in Burnett County are held at the Burnett County Public Safety Facility in Siren, a 92-bed jail run by the Sheriff's Office. Check Burnett County Inmate Search to see if a person is in custody and what bail was set. Wisconsin has no bail bondsmen, so bail is paid in cash to the court system, and the Sheriff's Office at 715-349-2121 can tell you where. Below are the Wisconsin rules, explained for families.
How do I check whether someone is inside the Siren jail?
Use Burnett County Inmate Search and enter the last and first name. The record shows the booking and the bail, if a judge has set one. New arrests sometimes take a short while to post, so wait an hour and try again.
The Sheriff's Office handles questions the search cannot, at 715-349-2121. Have the person's date of birth ready.
Where does Burnett County keep the people it arrests?
Adults arrested here are taken to the Burnett County Public Safety Facility in Siren. The building opened in August 2024 with 92 beds, and it also houses the Sheriff's Office and the 911 dispatch center. The mailing address is 7410 County Road K, Siren, WI 54872.
This is the county's own jail, run by the Sheriff. Burnett County does not send arrestees to a state regional jail, because Wisconsin does not have one.
What is "bail" in Wisconsin, and what is not?
The word has a narrow meaning in the Wisconsin statutes. Bail is the money part of release, and only the money part. Rules like a no-contact order, a curfew, or reporting to a monitor are "conditions of release," and a judge may impose them with or without bail.
Before ordering money, the judge must find a reasonable basis to believe it is needed to make the person return to court. For a violent charge, the judge may look at the whole picture, including the need to protect other people.
Is there a bonding company I can pay?
No. Wisconsin ended commercial bail bonding decades ago. Wis. Stat. 969.12 requires a surety to be an actual person living in Wisconsin, and it says a surety may not be paid for doing it.
If someone online or on the phone says a fee will free your relative, walk away. The real choices are paying the court's cash bail, asking the judge to release the person on a signed promise to appear, or asking a lawyer to argue for lower conditions.
Where do I take the bail money?
Call the Sheriff's Office at 715-349-2121 before you travel, and ask where bail is taken that day. A deputy can accept bail that a judge has already ordered, and state law allows this only at a sheriff's office or police station. For bail set in court, the Clerk of Circuit Court at 715-349-2147 can say whether the clerk accepts it too.
Bring a government photo ID. Calling first keeps you from making a trip for nothing.
Can my relative be freed on a signed promise instead?
Yes, when the judge allows it. For a misdemeanor, Wisconsin law lets the judge release a person without bail, or on an unsecured appearance bond. With an unsecured bond the person pays nothing now and owes the stated amount only if he or she breaks the terms.
Felony courts have the same tools. A judge may also place the person in the care of a named adult or a supervising organization.
Is there a cap on bail for a misdemeanor?
Yes. For any misdemeanor, bail cannot be more than the largest fine the law allows for that offense (Wis. Stat. 969.02(8)). A judge may also weigh the person's ability to pay, the seriousness of the charge, the criminal record, and the strength of the evidence.
For a felony there is no statewide chart, so the judge sets the number case by case.
When does a judge first look at the case?
A person arrested must be brought before a judge in the county where the crime is said to have happened, within a reasonable time. For an arrest without a warrant, a judge must decide on probable cause within 48 hours. Appearances can be held by video.
The Clerk of Circuit Court at 715-349-2147 can tell you the date and time of the hearing once the case is filed.
Is a no-bail hold possible in Burnett County?
Rarely, and only in limited ways. Wis. Stat. 969.035 lets a judge deny release in specified serious cases, such as first-degree intentional homicide and certain child sex crimes, or when a person accused of a violent crime has an earlier violent conviction.
The prosecutor must ask. The court holds a hearing within 10 days, and the state must show by clear and convincing evidence that no conditions will protect the community. A denial can run up to 60 days after the hearing.
Does a domestic abuse charge change how Burnett County releases someone?
Wisconsin treats these cases with a mandatory arrest rule in many situations. After the arrest, deputies may not let the person go until bail is posted or a judge sees the case. Once released, the person has a 72-hour no-contact period, which bars going near the victim's home or contacting the victim.
The release paperwork must be signed. A person who refuses to sign is not released.
Where is a Burnett County youth taken after an arrest?
Youth cases go through the juvenile side of the circuit court, and the adult jail search may not show them. Call the Clerk of Circuit Court at 715-349-2147 to learn the hearing date and where the court has the youth placed. The Sheriff's Office at 715-349-2121 can also direct you.
Be ready with the youth's full name, birth date, and school.
Who defends people who cannot afford a lawyer?
The State Public Defender's Spooner office covers Burnett, Washburn, and Sawyer counties. It is at 514 Service Road, Suite A, Spooner, WI 54801, phone 715-390-4560.
Ask the judge at the first hearing for a public defender. If bail is set too high for your family, a lawyer can ask for a review. A person who is still held 72 hours after the first appearance may ask the judge to look at the conditions again.
What if he skips a hearing?
The court can take the bail money and issue a warrant. Failing to follow bond terms on purpose is also a crime of its own, bail jumping under Wis. Stat. 946.49: a Class A misdemeanor if the case was a misdemeanor, and a Class H felony if it was a felony.
The bond also requires a written notice to the clerk within 48 hours of any change of address.
How is bail money returned?
When a case is dismissed or ends in not guilty, the deposit goes back to the person who paid it. After a conviction, what is left after bond costs goes first to restitution and then toward the judgment. Ask the Clerk of Circuit Court at 715-349-2147 how a refund request works.
Money you put on an inmate's account for phone calls or commissary is a separate deposit. It does not count as bail and does not get anyone out.
Burnett County bail contacts
- Jail
- Burnett County Public Safety Facility, 7410 County Road K, Siren, WI 54872; Sheriff's Office 715-349-2121
- Custody lookup
- Burnett County Inmate Search
- Clerk of Circuit Court
- 7410 County Road K, Suite 115, Siren, WI 54872; 715-349-2147
- Public defender
- State Public Defender, 514 Service Road, Suite A, Spooner, WI 54801; 715-390-4560
- Juvenile court
- Clerk of Circuit Court, 715-349-2147
Hours, fees, and amounts can change, and a judge may order terms that differ from this overview. Call before you travel or pay. A lawyer, not this page, can advise on a particular case.
Burnett County Jail
Address:
7410 County Road K
Siren, WI 54872
Phone:
715-349-2128
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Burnett County
Does Burnett County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Burnett County?
Who can set bail in Burnett County?
When is bail set in Burnett County Wisconsin?
Does Burnett County have bail?
Yes, Burnett County imposes bail and conditions however 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. There are no licensed bond agencies in Wisconsin.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Burnett County?
The Burnett County courts recognize cash bail or10% cash percentage bonds. In some cases, a property bond will be considered.
Who can set bail in Burnett County?
Bail is set by a judge in Burnett County however if the crime is a misdemeanor and a judge not available for an immediate bail hearing, a law enforcement officer can set bail using a bail schedule.
When is bail set in Burnett County Wisconsin?
Bail is set at the first appearance, within 1-2 days following arrest; however, misdemeanor bail is generally processed and released immediately in most cases.
What is Bail?
Bail is what the arrested in Burnett County must pay or do to stay out of jail until the first court appearance.
The agreement to bail acts as a promise that the arrested will return to court for court dates and trial. Bail usually refers to a dollar amount, but bail can also mean something that has to be done, or a condition such as reporting to an officer of the court, a curfew, restraining orders or attending a treatment program.
Bail is usually a significant enough amount of money and/or condition that the person will be negatively impacted and has incentive to return to court and not flee. A flight risk usually means that the person would flee the area, and not necessary that they are going to take an airplane.
If a judge in Burnett County feels that the arrested will return to court for further proceedings, the arrested could be released under a conditional release without needing to pay bail money. This is called Released on Own Recognizance, or ROR.
Conditions for ROR might be to obey all court orders and laws, maintain contact with the lawyer, report changes in residence or have no contact with the victim. Family support will show the court that there are people who will make sure that the defendant makes it to court.
If the judge or bail schedule determines that the defendant would be a danger to the public if they were released, bail can be denied, and the person will be detained in the Burnett County Jail until the case is resolved or goes to trial.
Bail can be denied if the defendant did not comply with bail conditions from a previous arrest. Bail is usually denied in cases of violent offenses. In April of 2023, Wisconsin legislators voted on a bill that makes release on bail for certain offenses more difficult.
What is the difference between Bail and Bond?
Bail and bond are used interchangeably to mean the same thing but technically, they are different. The bail is the amount to be paid and a bond is a signed document promising payment of the bail amount with certain conditions. Think of a bond as a loan to pay for the bail.
The thought of being in jail can cause the arrested to panic and try to secure a bond immediately.
DO NOT panic and take the time to understand all the options.
Wisconsin courts are trying to work with defendants to make bail work and might provide non-monetary options or even reduce the bail.
On the other hand, as anyone who has ever been involved in their criminal defense understands, fighting your case while ‘out on the streets’ gives you a much better chance of either winning, or getting a more favorable sentence.
What are the different types of bonds in Burnett County?
Based on a review of information from the arrest, the judge will determine and notify the accused of which types of bonds are available to them.
To describe the types of bonds, let’s use an example of buying your neighbor’s car. Your neighbor decides the price of the car and how they would be paid.
Similarly, the court (meaning a police, clerk of court, bail judge) determines the bail amount and how it would be paid.
Here are different options that the seller of the car or the court might consider:
You could pay full asking price for the car in cash. This is similar to paying cash bail. The full amount of bail would be paid to the town or county clerk or at the jail. Cash, cashier’s checks and credit cards are usually accepted.
You could sign an agreement on your own or with another person to pay for the car at a future date knowing that your neighbor would know where to find you if you stopped payment. This would be similar to a cash bond or a personal recognizance (PR) bond which are bonds to where someone representing the defendant signs paperwork promising to pay the bail amount if the defendant does not show up to court. There is no money due up front.
If the defendant does not show up, the full amount of the bail will be due to the court and the people who signed the paperwork will be responsible for paying the court and the court could send the sheriff’s department to arrest you.
Cash bonds and PR bonds are types of unsecured bonds because you are not securing it with any money down. In bond terms, a surety is a person who will be responsible for making sure that you will show to court and will be responsible to pay the bond if the arrested person does not show up. Surety can be a family member or friend. Your attorney cannot act as a surety.
You can put a deposit down for your neighbor’s car and sign an agreement that the car will be paid off at a later date. Cash percentage in lieu of bonds is when the defendant pays a percentage of the bail amount, usually 10%, to the court which then holds the money until the case is over.
The amount is returned to the person who paid the 10% after the case is over. In most cases, the full amount is not returned if there are court fees or fines due. This is a type of surety bond if another person signs the bond paperwork.
You could sign an agreement that if the car were not paid off, that your neighbor would get your house or something of value. A property bond is a bond that the courts might consider in which the bond is pledged in land or home real estate (mobile homes are not accepted).
Usually, the property must be in the same state as the courts, and it must be worth at least 1 ½ - 2 times the amount of the bond.
(There have been phone scams where a bond company calls and informs a person that their family member has been arrested and they ask for financial information. A bondsperson will not call asking for money without involvement of the arrested.)
Does Burnett County have bail?
Yes, Burnett County imposes bail and conditions however 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. There are no licensed bond agencies in Wisconsin.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Burnett County?
The Burnett County courts recognize cash bail or10% cash percentage bonds. In some cases, a property bond will be considered.
Who can set bail in Burnett County?
Bail is set by a judge in Burnett County however if the crime is a misdemeanor and a judge not available for an immediate bail hearing, a law enforcement officer can set bail using a bail schedule.
When is bail set in Wisconsin?
Bail is set at the first appearance, within 1-2 days following arrest; however, misdemeanor bail is generally processed and released immediately in most cases.
Can I get the bail or bond reduced in Burnett County Wisconsin?
Yes, your attorney can request a bond reduction.
In Burnett County Wisconsin, who can pay bail for me?
The person posting bail could be the defendant, a relative or close friend, called a surety, because they are promising and taking responsibility that you will return to court to get their money back.
A surety is not responsible for court fees or paying off personal debts for the defendant. A professional bondsperson who is approved by the State of Wisconsin could be the surety and execute a bond to the court on your behalf.
Can bail be paid online in Burnett County Wisconsin?
Yes, Wisconsin does offer online bail payment. For misdemeanor cases, a law enforcement officer can accept bail and the clerk of court can process all bail/bonds. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail: Go to the Burnett County Jail for more information about the jails in Burnett County.
What options are there to pay bail in Burnett County Wisconsin?
Most all jail and courts accept cash, a cashier or bankers’ check. Wisconsin accepts credit card payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on what methods of payment are accepted. Go to the Burnett County Jail for more information about posting bail in Burnett County.
Will I get all my bond money back in Wisconsin?
Bail money is returned to the person who paid the bail; in whole or in part once the case is finished. There may be fees, restitution (money to pay for damage caused by the crime) or fines that come out of that amount.
Can I get bail or a bond with no money down in Burnett County?
The judge or officer who sets bail determines which kind of bail will be an option for you, but a cash bond and PR bonds usually do not require cash down, though you might have to pay court fees.
A cash bond or a personal recognizance (PR) bond are bonds where someone representing the defendant signs paperwork promising to pay the bail amount if the defendant does not show up to court. There is no money due up front.
If the defendant does not show up, the full amount of the bail will be due to the court and the people who signed the paperwork will be responsible for paying the court and the court will send the sheriff’s department to arrest you.
Cash bonds and PR bonds are types of unsecured bonds because you are not securing it with any money down. In bond terms, a surety is a person who will be responsible to make sure that you will show to court and will be responsible to pay the bond if the arrested person does not show up. A surety can be family, friend or a bondsperson. Your attorney cannot act as a surety.
What are the least expensive and affordable bail bonds in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin does not permit persons to secure a bond for profit so neither a bondsperson nor a court can charge a fee for executing a bond.