Dunn County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Dunn County bail and bond: the Menomonie jail and what happens at a bond hearing
Adults arrested in Dunn County are held in the Dunn County Jail, run by the Sheriff's Office at the Judicial Center in Menomonie. Look up your relative with Dunn County Inmate Search to see if they are in custody and what the bail is. Wisconsin bans bail bondsmen, so bail here is cash or a card payment to the court system. The Communications Center answers at 715-232-1348.
Where in Menomonie is my family member being held?
Adults arrested in Dunn County are held in the Dunn County Jail, which is part of the Sheriff's Office at the Judicial Center, 615 Stokke Parkway, Menomonie, WI 54751. Check Dunn County Inmate Search first. It shows whether the booking is in and what the bail is.
The Sheriff's Communications Center answers around the clock at 715-232-1348. The Business Office, at 715-232-1564, is better for paperwork questions.
Why might my relative be in a different county's jail?
County jails in this part of Wisconsin trade space. The Dunn County Jail takes in inmates from other counties and charges them a daily rate. So a person in the lookup may be there on another county's case.
If Dunn County Inmate Search does not show the person, call 715-232-1348 and ask which jail has the booking. The arresting agency can also tell you.
Does the Clerk of Courts take bail?
The Clerk of Circuit Court's office is in the same Judicial Center, at 615 Stokke Parkway, and answers at 715-232-2611. For bail or bond questions, the county directs you to that office. For money questions, press option 5.
The clerk's office takes cash, check, money order, cashier's check, and debit or credit cards for court payments, and card payments carry service fees. Ask whether a bail deposit can be handled the same way before you bring money. Wisconsin law also lets officers take bail at the Sheriff's Office.
What is a bond hearing in Dunn County?
It is the first court appearance where a judge decides how the person is released. The District Attorney's office notes that a bond hearing is often scheduled soon after an arrest, which leaves little time to file the complaint. The DA's office is at the same Judicial Center, Suite 1700, and answers at 715-232-1687.
At the hearing the judge can set cash bail, free the person on a promise to appear, or add conditions such as no contact with a named person. The judge picks from the choices in Wis. Stat. 969.02 and 969.03.
Can I hire a bondsman in Menomonie?
No. Wis. Stat. 969.12 bars paid sureties. A surety must be a person who lives in Wisconsin, and no surety may be paid for the role. A company cannot post a Dunn County bond for you.
If someone calls offering to post bail for a percentage, treat it as a scam. Pay through the Clerk or the Sheriff's Office, and keep your receipt.
Can a friend sign instead of paying cash?
Sometimes. The judge may accept a surety, an unpaid Wisconsin resident who can show the ability to cover the bond. The court may require a sworn statement of finances and can recheck the surety at any time.
A surety who pays after a default can ask to be discharged. A surety who fears the person will flee can bring the person to the sheriff and ask the court to release the surety.
What does the pretrial program do?
Dunn is one of the Wisconsin counties with a pretrial program. The Criminal Justice Collaborating Council, at 3001 US Highway 12 East, Suite 270, Menomonie, works on Pretrial Services and treatment programs. Its office line is 715-231-6686.
A judge may order supervision as a release condition. Under State v. Wilcenski, the judge must decide this for each person, not require it for everyone.
In Dunn County court, what counts as bail and what counts as a condition?
In Wisconsin law, "bail" means only the money part. Everything else, like checking in, staying away from a place, or no alcohol, is a condition of release.
A person can be released with conditions and no money. If a person cannot pay and stays in jail, the conditions do not start, because they apply once the person is released.
Is there a limit on misdemeanor bail?
Yes. Bail on a misdemeanor cannot be more than the top fine for the offense. State schedules for misdemeanors and traffic matters are updated each year by the Wisconsin courts.
For felonies, the judge sets the amount after a hearing. The factors include ability to pay, the nature of the charge, prior convictions, and the strength of the evidence.
What happens after a domestic abuse arrest in Menomonie?
Wisconsin officers must make an arrest in many domestic abuse cases. Under Wis. Stat. 968.075, they cannot release the person until bail is posted or a judge appears before the person.
The person must also avoid the victim for 72 hours after arrest, with no contact and no visits to the victim's home. The release officer explains this in writing, and the person signs. Refusing to sign means no release.
Can a judge deny bail in Dunn County?
Yes, in narrow cases. A judge can deny release for certain serious crimes, or for a violent crime when the person has a prior violent conviction, but only after the District Attorney asks and a hearing is held within 10 days.
The prosecutor must satisfy the clear and convincing test. A hold can run for 60 days after the hearing, and the defendant may petition for release at any time.
How do video visits work at the jail?
Public visits are by video. Visitors register at icsolutions.com and send a photo and government ID to jail_supervisors@co.dunn.wi.us for approval. Video visiting hours run 9 to 11:30 a.m., 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., and 5:30 to 10:30 p.m.
Lawyers, ministers, counselors, and other professionals may visit daily from 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., except at mealtimes. Inmates may also have three free 30-minute on-site visits each week.
What is Huber, and is it a way out?
Huber is a work-release privilege for people sentenced to county jail. Under Wis. Stat. 303.08, a person may leave to work, study, get treatment, or care for family during set hours, and wages go to a trust account that pays board and other costs.
Huber is not bail. It does not help someone waiting for trial who cannot post money.
Where do Dunn County teenagers go if held?
Dunn County sends some young people who need secure detention to the Northwest Regional Juvenile Detention Center in Eau Claire, 721 Oxford Avenue. Youth cases are handled through juvenile court, so ask the Clerk at 715-232-2611 for the hearing time.
The adult search above does not list children.
Who is the free lawyer for a person who cannot pay?
The State Public Defender's Hudson office, 2100 O'Neil Road, Suite 400, covers Dunn, Polk, St. Croix and Pierce counties. Call 715-650-9777. Raise it with the judge at the first hearing.
After 72 hours in jail, a person who still cannot meet release terms may ask the judge for a review, and the judge must state reasons for keeping them.
Where does Dunn County bail money go after the case ends?
If charges are dismissed or the person is acquitted, the deposit returns to whoever paid it. After a conviction, the court can apply it to restitution first, then to the judgment.
A skipped court date can lead to forfeiture. Bail jumping is a separate crime. The person must also tell the Clerk of Courts in writing about an address change within 48 hours.
Dunn County bail contacts
- Jail
- Dunn County Jail, Judicial Center, 615 Stokke Parkway, Suite G300, Menomonie, WI 54751; Communications Center 715-232-1348
- Business office
- Sheriff's Office, 715-232-1564
- Custody lookup
- Dunn County Inmate Search
- Clerk of Circuit Court
- 615 Stokke Parkway, Menomonie, WI 54751; 715-232-2611; option 5 for money questions
- District Attorney
- Suite 1700, Judicial Center; 715-232-1687
- Public defender
- Hudson office, 2100 O'Neil Road, Suite 400; 715-650-9777
- Juvenile
- Northwest Regional Juvenile Detention Center, 721 Oxford Avenue, Eau Claire
Dunn County can change its hours, fees and phone lines, and a judge may set a different bail. Check with the Sheriff's Office or the Clerk first. This is a general guide, not advice from a lawyer.
Dunn County Jail
Address:
615 Stokke Parkway
Menomonie, WI 54751
Phone:
715-232-2220
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Dunn County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Dunn County?
Who can set bail in Dunn County?
When is bail set in Dunn County Wisconsin?
Does Dunn County have bail?
Yes, Dunn 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 Dunn County?
The Dunn County courts recognize cash bail or10% cash percentage bonds. In some cases, a property bond will be considered.
Who can set bail in Dunn County?
Bail is set by a judge in Dunn 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 Dunn 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 Dunn 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 Dunn 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 Dunn 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 Dunn 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 Dunn County have bail?
Yes, Dunn 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 Dunn County?
The Dunn County courts recognize cash bail or10% cash percentage bonds. In some cases, a property bond will be considered.
Who can set bail in Dunn County?
Bail is set by a judge in Dunn 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 Dunn County Wisconsin?
Yes, your attorney can request a bond reduction.
In Dunn 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 Dunn 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 Dunn County Jail for more information about the jails in Dunn County.
What options are there to pay bail in Dunn 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 Dunn County Jail for more information about posting bail in Dunn 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 Dunn 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.