Douglas County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Douglas County bail and bond: the Superior jail and where bail is paid
People arrested in Douglas County are booked into the Douglas County Jail, 1310 North 14th Street in Superior. Look the person up with Douglas County Inmate Search to see whether they are in custody and what bail was set. During business hours, bail is paid at the Clerk of Courts on the third floor of the courthouse, and it can also be paid online. The jail desk is 715-395-1375. Wisconsin has no bail bondsmen, so every dollar goes to the court system.
1. Is the person I am looking for inside the Superior jail?
Search the name in Douglas County Inmate Search. If the booking is finished, the record shows the charge and the bail. If nothing comes up, wait an hour and try again, since a booking in progress is not yet posted.
Then call the jail at 715-395-1375. After hours, the Sheriff's Office keeps a 24-hour non-emergency line at 715-394-4432.
2. Where exactly is the Douglas County Jail?
The jail is at 1310 North 14th Street, Superior, WI 54880, and mail for inmates goes to that address. The Sheriff's Office is at 1316 North 14th Street, Suite 100, and is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Superior is across the bridge from Duluth, Minnesota. Someone arrested in Duluth is held in a Minnesota jail under Minnesota rules, so confirm which side of the line the arrest happened on.
3. Where do I take bail money during the day?
In person, bail is paid at the Douglas County Clerk of Courts, 1313 Belknap Street, third floor, Superior, during business hours. Bring the person's full name and the case or booking number. Call the Clerk at 715-395-1203 to confirm the hours that day.
Wisconsin lets an officer take bail only at a sheriff's office or police station, and lets a clerk accept a card. For a payment outside clerk hours, call the jail.
4. Can I pay Douglas County bail online or by phone?
Yes. The Sheriff's Office posts a payment page at www.govpaynet.com, and the same service takes payment by phone at 1-800-989-7780. Use pay location 1173 for Douglas County.
Card and online services charge a fee, and the fee is not part of the bail. Have the defendant's name, birth date, and booking number in front of you before you start.
5. Is there a Superior bail bondsman?
No. Paid sureties are against the law in Wisconsin. Under Wis. Stat. 969.12 a surety has to be a person who lives in the state and cannot be compensated. Any site that says a bondsman can help in Douglas County is wrong.
The same goes for a promised "ten percent" deal. Wisconsin law has no fixed percentage; the judge sets the cash amount, and you pay it to the court system.
6. How is bail decided for a Douglas County arrest?
A judge sets it at the first appearance, after a finding that money is needed to assure the person returns, or, for a violent-crime charge, after weighing the full picture, including past violent convictions and the need to protect others. The amount can be only what is needed.
Judges also weigh ability to pay, the strength of the evidence, the criminal record, and whether the person is on probation. A misdemeanor bail cannot be higher than the top fine for that offense.
7. Can someone sign instead of paying cash?
Yes, in some cases. The statute lets a judge release a person without bail or on an unsecured appearance bond, which means no money up front and a debt only if the bond is broken.
Police also let most misdemeanor arrests go without cash unless the person lacks ID, is a danger, has no local ties, skipped court before, or the case calls for more investigation.
8. When does the person go before a judge?
Wisconsin sets no fixed hour, but a judge must see an arrested person within a reasonable time, and a probable cause finding is required within 48 hours of a warrantless arrest. The appearance may be by live video.
Court dates come from the Clerk of Circuit Court at 715-395-1203. A Friday-night arrest often waits until the next court day.
9. What can a family do if the bail is more than they can pay?
A lawyer can ask the judge to change the amount or the conditions. A person who is still held 72 hours after the first hearing can ask for a review, and the judge must state reasons for keeping the terms.
Tell the lawyer about job, family, health, and local address. Those facts matter to the judge.
10. Can the Douglas County court keep someone with no bail?
A prosecutor can ask the court to deny release for listed serious offenses and for violent-crime charges against someone with a past violent-crime conviction. The hearing must begin within 10 days of the detention or appearance.
The state must prove both the charge basis and the lack of safe conditions by clear and convincing evidence. A denial lasts up to 60 days after the hearing.
11. Does a domestic abuse arrest in Superior change the bail process?
State law requires officers to arrest in many domestic abuse cases. The person stays in custody until bail is posted or a judge sees the case, and must sign release rules before leaving.
For 72 hours after the arrest the person cannot go near the victim's home or make contact. Knowing violations carry up to a $10,000 fine, nine months in jail, or both.
12. Will I get the bail money back?
A deposit comes back to the payer if charges are dropped or the person is found not guilty. After a conviction, the court first applies it to restitution, then to the judgment, and returns anything left after bond costs.
If bail is forfeited for a broken term, the court mails a notice and may enter judgment after 30 days with no appearance. Save the receipt.
13. What follows a missed Superior court date?
The court can order a forfeiture, issue a warrant, and bring a bail jumping charge. That is a Class A misdemeanor after a misdemeanor release and a Class H felony after a felony release.
Tell the clerk about any change of address within 48 hours, in writing.
14. Who is the public defender in Douglas County?
Ask the judge to appoint one at the first hearing if you cannot afford a lawyer. The State Public Defender's Superior office, 1316 North 14th Street, Suite 401, answers at 715-721-2045.
A defender can speak to the judge about bail at that stage.
15. What about someone under 18?
Juvenile cases are handled in juvenile court, and the adult search will not show a child. The Clerk of Circuit Court at 715-395-1203 can give the court date, and the Sheriff's Office at 715-395-1371 can say where the young person is.
Wisconsin counts twelve county-run secure juvenile detention centers, so a young person from Douglas County may be held elsewhere.
16. Does putting money on a jail account free someone?
No. The jail has separate pages for inmate money accounts, voicemail, and visitation, and none of them post bail. Release depends on the court's bail, nothing else.
If a caller wants a gift card to release an inmate, hang up and call 715-395-1375.
Douglas County bail contacts
- County jail
- Douglas County Jail, 1310 North 14th Street, Superior, WI 54880; 715-395-1375
- Bond help
- Douglas County bail and bond guide
- Custody lookup
- Douglas County Inmate Search
- Sheriff's Office
- 1316 North 14th Street, Suite 100, Superior; non-emergency 715-395-1371; 24-hour line 715-394-4432
- Clerk of Courts
- 1313 Belknap Street, third floor, Superior, WI 54880; 715-395-1203
- Pay by phone
- 1-800-989-7780, pay location 1173
- Public defender
- 1316 North 14th Street, Suite 401, Superior, WI 54880; 715-721-2045
Hours, fees, and amounts get updated, and a judge may order a bail you did not expect. Confirm with the jail or the Clerk before you pay. We offer plain-language guidance here, not legal representation.
Pay an Inmate's Bond Online
Douglas County Jail uses a service called allpaid (also known as GovPayNet) for paying an inmate's Bail Bond online for an inmate.
Register with them online or call them at 877-392-2455 for assistance.
To make a payment, you will need the following:
- Court of Jurisdiction
- Payment Amount
- The Pay Location Code (PLC #) if you can get it. Call 715-394-4432 to ask for this.
- Name of Arrestee/Defendant for whom payment is being made
- Arrestee/Defendant's Date of Birth
- Arrestee/Defendant's Booking Number
Douglas County Jail
Address:
1310 N.14th Street
Superior, WI 54880
Phone:
715-394-4432
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Douglas County
Does Douglas County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Douglas County?
Who can set bail in Douglas County?
When is bail set in Douglas County Wisconsin?
Does Douglas County have bail?
Yes, Douglas 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 Douglas County?
The Douglas County courts recognize cash bail or10% cash percentage bonds. In some cases, a property bond will be considered.
Who can set bail in Douglas County?
Bail is set by a judge in Douglas 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 Douglas 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 Douglas 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 Douglas 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 Douglas 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 Douglas 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 Douglas County have bail?
Yes, Douglas 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 Douglas County?
The Douglas County courts recognize cash bail or10% cash percentage bonds. In some cases, a property bond will be considered.
Who can set bail in Douglas County?
Bail is set by a judge in Douglas 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 Douglas County Wisconsin?
Yes, your attorney can request a bond reduction.
In Douglas 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 Douglas 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 Douglas County Jail for more information about the jails in Douglas County.
What options are there to pay bail in Douglas 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 Douglas County Jail for more information about posting bail in Douglas 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 Douglas 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay a Douglas County Jail inmate's bond online?
Yes, you can pay a Douglas County Jail inmate's bond online using a third-party service called 'allpaid'. The instructions are easy... From their website, look up Douglas County Jail or Douglas County, input the inmate's name, and then use your credit or debit card to deposit the bond amount. As soon as the payment is processed and the information is sent to the Douglas County Jail, the jail will begin the release process. You do not have to be present for all of this to take place. Learn more about how to bail or bond out an inmate in the Douglas County Jail, call allpaid directly at 877-392-2455, or call the jail at 715-394-4432.