Dane County Public Safety Building Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Dane County bail and bond: the Madison jails and how Wisconsin bail works
People arrested in Dane County are booked at the Public Safety Building in Madison, then held there or at the City-County Building, the two jails run by the Sheriff. Look up a person with Dane County Inmate Search to see if he or she is in custody and what the bail is. Wisconsin bans bail bondsmen, so bail is paid directly, in person at the first-floor Bail/Release window or online. This page covers the Dane County jails and the Wisconsin rules in plain language.
1. Which Madison jail is my relative in?
Dane County runs two jails downtown, both under the Sheriff. The Public Safety Building Jail, 115 West Doty Street, is medium security, holds pretrial residents, and contains Central Booking. The City-County Building Jail, 210 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, is maximum security.
Dane County Inmate Search shows which person is in custody and the bail amount. The Sheriff's Office answers at 608-284-6166 when the search leaves a question open.
2. Where do I hand over bail money?
Go to the Bail/Release window on the first floor of the Public Safety Building, 115 West Doty Street, Madison, WI 53703. Bring photo ID and the person's name or booking number.
The Sheriff's Office page does not post window hours, so call 608-284-6166 before you drive in. Wisconsin law allows an officer to take bail only at a sheriff's office or a police station, and to give you a receipt.
3. What forms of payment does the window take?
Cash, money orders, and cashier's checks are accepted for all bail. Out-of-county money orders and cashier's checks are verified for authenticity.
Credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, Diners Club, American Express) are accepted for people going through the Dane County court system, if the card is approved. The charge is processed as a cash advance, and a fee is added automatically. Personal checks are not among the accepted types.
4. Can bail be paid online?
Yes. Dane County uses an online payment site, govpaynow.com. You enter the booking number and the pay location code 1157.
A 5 percent fee is added to the bail amount, it goes to the payment company, and it is not refunded. Paying at the window with cash or a money order avoids that extra cost.
5. What does "bail" mean under Wisconsin law?
Wisconsin uses the word for money only. Everything else a judge orders, such as GPS, no contact with a named person, or alcohol testing, is a condition of release. A person can be released on conditions with no bail at all.
Money bail is allowed only after the judge finds a reasonable basis to believe it is needed to make the person return, or, for a violent-crime charge, after weighing the whole situation, including danger to others and any earlier violent conviction.
6. Can I hire a bail bondsman in Madison?
No. Wisconsin banned paid bail bondsmen. Wis. Stat. 969.12 limits sureties to individual Wisconsin residents and says no surety may be paid. A company cannot post Dane County bail for a fee.
If a caller or website offers to bail someone out of the Dane County Jail for a percentage, it is not legal bonding. Pay the court's bail yourself, or ask the judge for release on conditions.
7. When does a judge first see my relative?
Initial Appearance court meets every weekday at 1:30 p.m. For an arrest without a warrant, court rulings require a judge to find probable cause within 48 hours.
The bail may be set, changed, or removed at that hearing. The Clerk of Circuit Court at 608-266-4311 confirms the courtroom and time for a particular case.
8. What is Dane County Pretrial Services?
It is a county program under the judiciary. Social workers watch bond conditions, check on needs, and connect people with community help. Monitoring can include check-ins, random drug tests, GPS, or alcohol monitoring when the court orders it.
A judge or court commissioner may send someone there as a substitute for cash bail or as a condition of bail. The office is at the Dane County Courthouse, 215 South Hamilton Street, Room 5052, and answers at 608-283-2951, Monday to Friday from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It closes from noon to 1 p.m. and on county holidays.
9. Is bail capped for a misdemeanor?
Yes. Bail for any misdemeanor may not exceed the highest fine the law sets for that offense. A felony has no statewide chart, so the judge or court commissioner sets it after hearing both sides.
Judges may weigh the charge, the person's record, ties to the community, the strength of the evidence, and the ability to pay. Court rulings also say cash bail is a poor fit for a misdemeanor when there is no real risk the person will skip court.
10. Why does my relative have no bail at all?
Three things can do this. A probation, parole, or other hold keeps a person in custody until that hold is resolved. A judge can also refuse release under Wis. Stat. 969.035 in specified serious cases, but only after the district attorney asks and a hearing is held within 10 days. Finally, a domestic abuse arrest cannot end until bail is posted or a judge sees the case.
A denial under 969.035 can last up to 60 days after the hearing, and the state must prove its position by clear and convincing evidence.
11. What changes when the charge is domestic abuse in Madison?
Officers must arrest when they have reasonable grounds to believe domestic abuse crime occurred and one of the required conditions applies, such as visible injury or the person being the main aggressor. For 72 hours the arrested person must stay away from the victim's home and may not make contact directly or through others.
Knowingly breaking that order can mean a fine up to $10,000, nine months in jail, or both. Before release, the person must sign an acknowledgment of these rules.
12. Can the jail release someone to work?
Dane County no longer runs a Huber or work release facility. The only way to use Huber privileges is through the Jail Diversion Program. A Huber Transfer Request form is sent to Jail Records.
Huber is for people serving a sentence. It is not a way to leave while waiting for trial.
13. Where do Dane County juveniles go?
Dane County has its own Juvenile Detention Center, at 210 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Room 200, Madison, WI 53703. A separate Shelter Home is at 2402 Atwood Avenue. The Juvenile Reception Center answers at 608-266-4983. Juvenile cases are handled by the Juvenile Court Program, not the adult booking system.
Call the reception center for hearing times, since the adult search may not show a child.
14. How do I request a Dane County public defender?
The State Public Defender's Madison Trial office is at 17 South Fairchild Street, 2nd Floor, Madison, WI 53703, phone 608-266-9150. Ask the judge for an appointed lawyer at the first appearance if you cannot afford one.
A defense lawyer can ask the court to change bail. A person still held 72 hours after the first appearance may ask the judge to review the conditions.
15. What if the court ordered me to report to the jail?
Report to the Bail Window on the first floor of the Public Safety Building at the exact date and time the court set. The Sheriff's Office warns against being late, and a failure to report can be sent to the district attorney under Wis. Stat. 946.425.
Leave duffle bags, luggage, and electronic devices at home, because they are not allowed inside the jail.
16. What if my relative misses a Dane County hearing?
The cash deposit is forfeited and a warrant may be issued. The person may also be charged with bail jumping, which is a misdemeanor on a misdemeanor case and a felony on a felony case.
A bonded person must report a new address in writing to the Clerk of Courts within 48 hours: Dane County Courthouse, 215 South Hamilton Street, Room 1000, Madison, WI 53703. The clerk's number is 608-266-4311.
17. How do Dane County bail refunds work?
The court decides on the refund. Returns are usually processed about 21 days after the last mandatory hearing, but appearing at every date does not guarantee one. A breach of conditions means forfeiture.
After a conviction the money goes first to restitution, then to the judgment, and an unresolved restitution order can delay the payout up to 120 days. If someone else paid, that person and the defendant must settle any share taken for the judgment between themselves.
18. How do I avoid bail scams?
Gift cards, crypto, and app transfers are not ways to pay bail in Dane County. Use the Public Safety Building window or the county's online payment page only.
If a caller says a person will be released only if you pay in minutes, hang up and call 608-284-6166.
Dane County bail contacts
- Jails
- Dane County jails: Public Safety Building (booking and bail window), 115 West Doty Street, Madison, WI 53703; City-County Building, 210 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Madison, WI 53703; Sheriff's Office 608-284-6166
- Custody lookup
- Dane County Inmate Search
- Clerk of Circuit Court
- Dane County Courthouse, 215 South Hamilton Street, Room 1000, Madison, WI 53703; 608-266-4311
- Pretrial Services
- Room 5052, Dane County Courthouse; 608-283-2951; Monday to Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed noon to 1 p.m.
- Public defender
- State Public Defender, Madison Trial office, 17 South Fairchild Street, 2nd Floor; 608-266-9150
- Juvenile
- Juvenile Detention Center, 210 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Room 200; Juvenile Reception Center 608-266-4983
Hours, fees, and rules at the jail and courts can change, and a judge can set different terms. Confirm before you pay or travel. Treat this as a map of the process; a lawyer can speak to your own facts.
How do Bail Bonds work at Dane County Public Safety Building Jail
How to Bail a Person out of Jail in Dane County
You can bail a prisoner out of jail at Bail/Release window, located on the first floor of the Public Safety Building, 115 W. Doty St., Madison.
- You will need the inmate's full name they were booked under, and their Inmate Name Number.
- The Dane County Jail System accepts cash, money orders or cashier’s checks. They also accpt GovPayNow if you want to use a credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover Card, Diner's Club or American Express) online. You will need the Pay Location code of 1157 to complete that transaction. GovPayNow also requites the Inmate Booking Number, which is different than the Inmate Name Number.
- It is up to the courts whether or not they return any of the bail money.
- Bail returns are processed by the Courts within approximately 21 days of the last mandatory court hearing.
Dane County Public Safety Building Jail
Address:
115 West Doty Street
Madison, WI 53703
Phone:
608-284-6100
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Dane County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Dane County?
Who can set bail in Dane County?
When is bail set in Dane County Wisconsin?
Does Dane County have bail?
Yes, Dane 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 Dane County?
The Dane County courts recognize cash bail or10% cash percentage bonds. In some cases, a property bond will be considered.
Who can set bail in Dane County?
Bail is set by a judge in Dane 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 Dane 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 Dane 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 Dane 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 Dane County Public Safety Building 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 Dane 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 Dane County have bail?
Yes, Dane 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 Dane County?
The Dane County courts recognize cash bail or10% cash percentage bonds. In some cases, a property bond will be considered.
Who can set bail in Dane County?
Bail is set by a judge in Dane 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 Dane County Wisconsin?
Yes, your attorney can request a bond reduction.
In Dane 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 Dane 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 Dane County Public Safety Building Jail for more information about the jails in Dane County.
What options are there to pay bail in Dane 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 Dane County Public Safety Building Jail for more information about posting bail in Dane 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 Dane 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.