Calumet County Correctional Facility Inmate Bail & Bonds
Calumet County bail and bond: the Chilton jail and getting someone released
Adults arrested in Calumet County are booked at the Calumet County Jail in Chilton, run by the Sheriff's Office at 206 Court Street. The Sheriff's Office answers at 920-849-2335. Search Calumet County Inmate Search first. Jail staff handle booking, Huber inmates, and the collection of bail and fine payments. Wisconsin does not allow bail bondsmen, so a bail payment is money you hand to the county, not to a company.
1. Is my husband held in the Chilton jail?
Type his name into Calumet County Inmate Search. New bookings can take a short while to post. If the search turns up nothing, call the Sheriff's Office at 920-849-2335. Ask whether he is held in Calumet County or moved to another facility, because transfers between jails happen.
The jail and Sheriff's Office share the Chilton address at 206 Court Street, which is also the county seat.
2. Are there bondsmen in Brillion or New Holstein who can post this?
No. Wisconsin outlawed paid bail bonding in 1979. A surety under state law must be an individual living in Wisconsin, and no one may take payment for acting as one. A business that says otherwise is not lawful here.
What you may do is pay the judge's cash amount, sign a promise if the judge allows it, or wait for release on conditions with no money.
3. Who takes bail payments?
Jail staff in Chilton collect bail and fine payments. Call 920-849-2335 to confirm the amount for your person, the forms of payment taken, and when a deputy can receive you. State law lets officers take bail only at a sheriff's office or police station and requires a receipt. Cards are an option at the court clerk.
Keep the receipt. It names the case, and you will need it for a refund.
4. How soon does a judge look at the case?
A person held after an arrest must be taken before a judge within a reasonable time. Courts use about 48 hours as the limit when the arrest had no warrant. The hearing may be by video. Court is at the courthouse in Chilton.
Reach the Clerk of Circuit Court at 920-849-1414 to learn the date, time, and room once a case number has been assigned.
5. What's the difference between bail and a signature bond?
Bail is money. A signature bond is an unsecured appearance bond in the statute: no money moves at first, and the person owes the amount only if the terms are broken. A judge can also release someone with no bail and only conditions, like staying away from a person.
A judge may order bail only after deciding that money is needed to bring the person back.
6. How does the judge set the amount?
The judge considers the charge and how serious it is, the person's means, past court history, probation status, health, ties to the area, and the strength of the evidence. For violent charges, prior violent convictions count too. On a misdemeanor, bail cannot be more than the maximum fine. No statewide table covers felonies.
7. What if the arrest was a minor misdemeanor?
The statewide misdemeanor rule tells officers to release a person without cash unless a reason applies, such as no valid ID, a danger to someone, no community ties, a past missed court date or citation, or an investigation that needs the person held. If none applies, release can come quickly without paying anything.
8. My son has work-release privileges. Does that replace bail?
No. Huber release applies to people sentenced to jail and some probation holds. It lets them leave at set hours for work, school, treatment, or family duties. Calumet County jail staff monitor Huber inmates for job and home compliance. It does not replace bail for someone waiting for trial.
9. A booking record shows no bail. What does that tell me?
It can mean the judge has not set an amount yet, or that release is refused. Refusal is allowed only in narrow cases, such as some homicide or sexual assault charges and violent charges against a person with a violent record. The prosecutor must ask, a hearing starts within 10 days, and the proof standard is clear and convincing. A refusal lasts up to 60 days after the hearing.
10. Does a domestic abuse arrest change the release steps in Chilton?
The arrest is mandatory under the statute when its conditions are met, and the person is not freed until bail is posted or a judge hears the case. At release, a 72-hour rule begins: no contact with the alleged victim and no going near the victim's home. A signed acknowledgment is part of release. A knowing violation can bring a $10,000 fine, nine months in jail, or both. The alleged victim may sign a written waiver.
11. Does the court take a house or truck as a pledge?
State law gives no steps for pledging property. A signer must be a Wisconsin resident, an individual and not a business, and the judge decides how to prove the ability to cover the bond. Ask the Clerk at 920-849-1414 before signing anything.
12. What is the path for a refund in Calumet County?
Dismissal or acquittal returns the deposit to the person who made it. A conviction directs the balance, after bond costs, to restitution, then the judgment. Forfeited bail is not refunded. The receipt from the jail staff names the case, so keep it.
13. What if my daughter does not appear in Chilton?
The court can forfeit the bond and issue a warrant, and a bail-jumping charge can follow. That charge is a Class A misdemeanor on a misdemeanor case and a Class H felony on a felony case. A lawyer should phone the Clerk the same day.
14. What if the arrest happened in another county on a Calumet warrant?
A person arrested elsewhere in Wisconsin must be brought before a judge in that county to have release terms set, or be returned to the county where the case is pending. If the warrant lists a cash amount, ask the Sheriff's Office at 920-849-2335 how that amount can be paid, and keep the receipt that shows the warrant number.
15. How do I get appointed counsel in Calumet County?
The State Public Defender's Appleton office, 100 West Lawrence Street, Suite 250, handles Calumet County at 920-832-2774. Ask the judge at the first appearance. Eligibility is decided by the office.
16. What about a person under 18?
Juvenile cases go to juvenile court, and Calumet County Inmate Search does not list minors. The Clerk at 920-849-1414 can explain the next date, and the Sheriff's Office at 920-849-2335 can tell a parent where the young person is.
17. Does depositing money on an inmate account free someone?
No. Such money covers phone time and the commissary. A caller who demands a gift card, an app transfer, or a wire to free a relative is a scammer, since bail goes only to the court or Sheriff's Office.
Calumet County bail contacts
- County jail
- Calumet County Jail, 206 Court Street, Chilton, WI 53014; Sheriff's Office 920-849-2335
- Bail and bond
- Pay bail through the jail staff, 920-849-2335
- Clerk of Circuit Court
- Calumet County Courthouse, Chilton; 920-849-1414
- Custody lookup
- Calumet County Inmate Search
- Public defender
- 100 West Lawrence Street, Suite 250, Appleton; 920-832-2774
Amounts, hours, and payment steps change from time to time, so call the jail before you travel. Legal advice about a specific case must come from a lawyer.
Depositing Money in an Inmate's Account so that they can Self Bail
Calumet County Bail Bond Deposit
Calumet County Correctional Facility uses a third-party, Inmate Canteen, to let you use a credit or debit card to deposit funds into an inmate's account so that they can pay their bail and get released after an arrest.
- To begin the process, first call the Calumet County Correctional Facility at 920-849-1447 to get the exact amount needed to pay the bail.
- Next, go to Inmate Canteen, register and select this facility by first choosing Wisconsin. Then you will select the inmate you want to deposit money for, then the amount.
- Inmate Canteen Customer Service can be reached at 715-690-2965, or by email at support@inmatecanteen.com.
There will be a delay between the time you deposit the money and when Inmate Canteen forwards it to the inmate's account, but the sooner you notify the inmate and the Calumet County Correctional Facility, the quicker they will be released.
Calumet County Correctional Facility
Address:
206 Court Street
Chilton, WI 53014
Phone:
920-849-1447
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Calumet County
Does Calumet County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Calumet County?
Who can set bail in Calumet County?
When is bail set in Calumet County Wisconsin?
Does Calumet County have bail?
Yes, Calumet 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 Calumet County?
The Calumet County courts recognize cash bail or10% cash percentage bonds. In some cases, a property bond will be considered.
Who can set bail in Calumet County?
Bail is set by a judge in Calumet 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 Calumet 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 Calumet 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 Calumet 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 Calumet County Correctional Facility 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 Calumet 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 Calumet County have bail?
Yes, Calumet 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 Calumet County?
The Calumet County courts recognize cash bail or10% cash percentage bonds. In some cases, a property bond will be considered.
Who can set bail in Calumet County?
Bail is set by a judge in Calumet 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 Calumet County Wisconsin?
Yes, your attorney can request a bond reduction.
In Calumet 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 Calumet 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 Calumet County Correctional Facility for more information about the jails in Calumet County.
What options are there to pay bail in Calumet 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 Calumet County Correctional Facility for more information about posting bail in Calumet 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 Calumet 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.