Clark County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Clark County bail and bond: the Neillsville jail and how cash bail works
Everyone arrested as an adult in Clark County goes to the Clark County Jail in Neillsville, a 126-bed facility run by the Sheriff's Office from 517 Court Street. Use Clark County Inmate Search first to confirm the person is booked and to see the bail amount. Then call the jail at 715-743-5380 for anything the search leaves out. Paid bail bondsmen are illegal in Wisconsin, so bail is plain money paid to the court system.
Where do I look to see if someone is in custody in Clark County?
Begin with Clark County Inmate Search. A finished booking shows up with the charge and the bail. A new booking can take some time to appear.
Call the jail at 715-743-5380 for the rest. Give the full name and birth date, and write down the booking number the staff gives you.
Which building holds Clark County prisoners?
The Clark County Jail holds them. It has 126 beds and takes men and women at every security level, from minimum to maximum. The Sheriff's Office address is 517 Court Street, Room 308, Neillsville, WI 54456.
The historic Clark County Jail in Neillsville is a museum. It does not take prisoners or payments, so do not go there to post bail.
What is bail, and what is a bond, in Wisconsin?
State law uses "bail" only for money. Everything else a judge orders, such as a curfew, a ban on weapons, or a no-contact rule, is a condition of release. A person can walk out on conditions alone.
Money bail needs a judge's finding that it is needed to bring the person back to court. When the charge is a violent crime, the judge can also look at the danger to others.
Are there bail bondsmen I can call in Neillsville?
None. Under Wis. Stat. 969.12, Wisconsin forbids anyone from being paid to act as a surety, and a surety must be a person living in the state. Commercial bonding ended here decades ago.
That also means no ten percent premium and no collateral deal with a company. Your payment goes to the court system as bail, and a stranger who asks for a fee is not offering real help.
How do I post bail at the Clark County Jail?
The corrections officers at the jail handle fines, bail, and releases, so the jail desk is the place to start. Call 715-743-5380 to learn how to pay for that booking and what forms of payment the desk takes today.
Wisconsin law lets officers take bail only at a sheriff's office or police station, and lets a clerk accept a card. Carry photo ID and the booking number, and ask for a receipt.
Does the judge always require money?
No. The judge may release a person without bail, or on an unsecured appearance bond, a written promise to pay if the terms are broken. Some people leave on conditions only.
For a misdemeanor, bail can never be more than the largest fine for that offense. Police also release most misdemeanor arrests without cash unless the person has no proper ID, poses a danger, lacks local ties, skipped court before, or the case needs more investigation.
When does the first court hearing happen?
A judge must see the person in the county of the alleged offense within a reasonable time, and a probable cause review is required within 48 hours of an arrest made without a warrant. Wisconsin lets the court run that appearance over live video.
The Clerk of Circuit Court at 715-743-5181 can tell you the date. Weekends and holidays can push the hearing to the next court day.
Can a relative sign or put up property?
Wisconsin allows an unpaid person who lives in the state to act as surety. The court can ask for a sworn statement showing that the person can cover the bond, and can check that promise again later.
The statute does not lay out a lien or deed procedure. Ask the Clerk at 715-743-5181 how the assigned judge wants a signer or property handled before anyone puts anything up.
Is anyone in Clark County held with no bail option?
Yes, in limited cases. A prosecutor can ask the court to deny release for listed serious offenses or for a violent-crime charge against a person with an earlier violent conviction. A hearing must start within 10 days.
The state must prove its case by clear and convincing evidence, and any denial of bail lasts up to 60 days after the hearing. A probation hold or a warrant from another place also stops release.
A domestic abuse arrest in Neillsville: what changes?
Officers are required to arrest in many domestic abuse cases, and they cannot release the person until bail is posted or a judge has seen the case. The arrested person also signs paperwork about the rules.
For the next 72 hours, no contact and no going near the victim's home. Breaking that rule on purpose can mean a $10,000 fine, nine months in jail, or both.
What does Huber or electronic monitoring have to do with bail?
Nothing directly. Huber is work release for people who are sentenced, and it is not a way to avoid paying bail. The county jail page offers Huber and electronic monitoring paperwork to people serving time.
Someone who is held before trial and wants release should ask a lawyer or the judge about bail changes. Call 715-743-5380 to ask what the jail needs for a sentenced person.
Who gets the bail money back?
If charges are dismissed or the person is acquitted, the cash goes back to the one who paid it. If there is a conviction, the court takes restitution first, then the judgment, and returns any remainder.
A broken bond term can lead to forfeiture. The court mails notice, and if the person does not show within 30 days, judgment may be entered.
What if my relative misses a hearing?
Ignoring bond terms on purpose is bail jumping. After a misdemeanor release it is a Class A misdemeanor, and after a felony release it is a Class H felony.
Reach a lawyer right away and tell the clerk about any new address in writing within 48 hours.
Is there a free lawyer for Clark County cases?
The first hearing is the time to request a public defender from the judge. The State Public Defender office in Black River Falls serves Clark County at 715-400-5350, 438 North Water Street.
A lawyer can seek a bail change. A person still detained 72 hours after the first appearance may ask the judge to review the terms.
Where would a teenager be held?
Young people go to juvenile court, so they will not appear in the adult search. Call the Sheriff's Office toll-free at 800-743-2420 or the Clerk at 715-743-5181 to learn where a child is and when the hearing is.
Wisconsin has twelve county-run secure juvenile detention centers, so a young person may be held outside Clark County.
Does money on the inmate account count as bail?
No. Deposits for phone time and store items are separate from bail and never open the door. Only court bail does.
Treat calls asking for gift cards or app payments as scams, and verify through 715-743-5380.
Key contacts for Clark County bail questions
- County jail
- Clark County Jail, Sheriff's Office, 517 Court Street, Room 308, Neillsville, WI 54456; jail 715-743-5380
- Bond help
- Clark County bail and bond guide
- Custody lookup
- Clark County Inmate Search
- Sheriff's Office
- Non-emergency 715-743-3157; toll-free 800-743-2420
- Clerk of Circuit Court
- Neillsville, WI; 715-743-5181
- Public defender
- Black River Falls office, 438 North Water Street, Black River Falls, WI 54615; 715-400-5350
- Statewide schedule
- Uniform Misdemeanor Bail Schedule
Fees, hours, and phone numbers move over time, and a judge can set a bail the schedule did not predict. Confirm with the jail or clerk before paying anyone. Use this as a guide, not as legal counsel.
Clark County Jail
Address:
517 Court Street
Neillsville, WI 54456
Phone:
715-743-5380
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Clark County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Clark County?
Who can set bail in Clark County?
When is bail set in Clark County Wisconsin?
Does Clark County have bail?
Yes, Clark 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 Clark County?
The Clark County courts recognize cash bail or10% cash percentage bonds. In some cases, a property bond will be considered.
Who can set bail in Clark County?
Bail is set by a judge in Clark 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 Clark 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 Clark 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 Clark 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 Clark 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 Clark 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 Clark County have bail?
Yes, Clark 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 Clark County?
The Clark County courts recognize cash bail or10% cash percentage bonds. In some cases, a property bond will be considered.
Who can set bail in Clark County?
Bail is set by a judge in Clark 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 Clark County Wisconsin?
Yes, your attorney can request a bond reduction.
In Clark 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 Clark 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 Clark County Jail for more information about the jails in Clark County.
What options are there to pay bail in Clark 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 Clark County Jail for more information about posting bail in Clark 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 Clark 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.