Green County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Green County bail and bond: the Monroe jail kiosk and the Justice Center window
Adults arrested in Green County are booked into the Green County Jail at 2827 6th Street in Monroe. Search for your relative on Green County Inmate Search to see whether they are in custody and what the bail is. Wisconsin does not allow bail bondsmen, so you pay bail yourself at the jail kiosk, at the Justice Center on weekdays, or on the Jail ATM website. The jail's phone is 608-328-9598.
1. Is my relative at the jail on 6th Street in Monroe?
The Green County Jail, 2827 6th Street, Monroe, is where Green County books and holds its arrestees. It is also the central point for releases. Check Green County Inmate Search to see if the booking is in and what the bail is.
If the lookup comes up empty, call the jail at 608-328-9598 or the Communication Center at 608-328-9400.
2. Where can I pay a bond in Green County?
The county names three places. First, the kiosk at the jail, 2827 6th Street, which takes cash or a credit card. Second, the Green County Justice Center, 2841 6th Street, Monday to Friday during normal business hours. Third, the Jail ATM website, which accepts bond payments.
A fourth place applies when the Monroe Police Department made the arrest. See the question below. For the Justice Center window, the Clerk's line is 608-328-9433.
3. What do the kiosk and website charge extra?
The county posts its fees. At the jail kiosk, cash carries a $2 fee. A credit card payment costs 10 percent of the total, with a $2.50 minimum. The same fee table covers bond payments and money added to a person's account.
These fees are on top of the bail. Ask the Justice Center window about its own charges before you choose where to pay.
4. The Monroe police made the arrest. Where do I pay?
When the Monroe Police Department charged the person, the department also posts bail at its station, 1811 12th Street, Monroe. Call 608-329-2400 first. That applies to people held at the jail for bond on a Monroe PD charge.
Charges from other towns work differently. For a person held on another police department's charge, contact that city or village directly.
5. How soon does a judge see someone arrested here?
Initial appearances in Green County usually happen within one to four days. Jail staff do not set court times. A change of date goes through the Clerk of Circuit Court.
State law requires an appearance within a reasonable time, and court decisions put a judge's probable cause review at 48 hours for an arrest without a warrant.
6. Can a Monroe bail bondsman post it for me?
No. Wisconsin makes it illegal to profit as a bail surety. Wis. Stat. 969.12 allows only a natural person who lives in Wisconsin, and it says nobody may be paid for acting as a surety.
So skip any ad that promises fast bail for a fee. The money you pay at the kiosk or window is the court's cash bail, and it can be returned.
7. Who decides the amount, and what do they look at?
The judge decides at the initial appearance. Wisconsin requires a finding that bail is needed to assure the person returns, or, for a violent crime, a finding under all the circumstances. Then the amount is based on ability to pay, the charge, prior record, health, residence, and how strong the evidence is.
The judge may also look at whether the person is on probation or has other pending cases.
8. Can the person leave without paying?
In many cases, yes. Under Wis. Stat. 969.02, a judge can release a person charged with a misdemeanor without bail or on an unsecured bond, which is a promise to pay only if the rules are broken.
The judge may add rules about travel, contact with certain people, or weapons. Felony cases follow Wis. Stat. 969.03, which offers the same options.
9. Is there a ceiling on misdemeanor bail?
Yes. A misdemeanor bail may not be more than the top fine for that offense. The state's Uniform Misdemeanor Bail Schedule gives officers guidance, and the courts update it every year.
The schedule's release rule says a misdemeanor arrest goes home without cash bail unless an exception applies, such as no ID, signs of danger, weak ties to the area, or a missed court date before.
10. Do domestic abuse arrests in Green County work differently?
Officers in Wisconsin must arrest when the law's tests are met. Wis. Stat. 968.075 then bars release until the person posts bail or sees a judge.
After release, there is a 72-hour no-contact period. The person must stay away from the victim and from the places where the victim is staying. An intentional violation is punishable by a fine up to $10,000, up to nine months in jail, or both.
11. Could a judge refuse to set bail?
In serious cases, yes. A judge may deny release under Wis. Stat. 969.035 after a prosecutor asks and a hearing is held within 10 days. The state has to meet the clear and convincing standard.
The order can last up to 60 days past the hearing date. A defendant may ask for release at any time and is placed on an expedited trial calendar.
12. Can I leave a message for someone in the jail?
The jail does not take routine phone messages for inmates. Staff pass along verified emergencies such as a death in the family or a serious illness. Call 608-328-9598 and explain.
Calls placed from inside the jail are collect calls. Letters go to P.O. Box 473, Monroe, WI 53566, and the jail does not accept hand-delivered mail or packages.
13. Does Huber release apply to people waiting for trial?
No. The Green County Jail houses sentenced Huber prisoners along with medium and maximum security inmates. Wis. Stat. 303.08 limits Huber to people already sentenced to jail, and it allows time away for work, school, or family needs.
A person who cannot post bail does not qualify for Huber.
14. What happens to a minor arrested in Green County?
A child's case is handled in juvenile court. The Clerk of Circuit Court at 608-328-9433 can tell you where the young person is held and when the detention hearing is. Green County Inmate Search is built for adult bookings.
For other questions, the Sheriff's Office can be reached at 608-328-9400.
15. Where do we find a free lawyer?
The State Public Defender's Monroe office, 1720 10th Street, Unit 106, serves Green and Lafayette counties. The number is 608-447-5170. A person without a lawyer can ask for one at the first court date.
A lawyer can ask the judge to change the bail. After 72 hours in jail, a defendant who still cannot meet the release terms may ask for review.
16. What if a witness is held on bail?
Wis. Stat. 969.01 lets a court set bail for a material witness in a felony case. A witness who cannot post may be held up to 15 days so a deposition can be taken.
A witness who fails to show up as ordered commits a Class I felony.
17. How is Green County bail money returned?
If the case is dismissed or ends in acquittal, the deposit returns to the person who paid it. After a conviction, what remains after bond costs goes to restitution and then to the judgment.
A forfeited bond does not come back. Tell the Clerk in writing within 48 hours if you move, or the forfeiture notice may go to the wrong place.
Green County bail contacts
- Jail
- Green County Jail, 2827 6th Street, Monroe, WI 53566; 608-328-9598
- Communication Center
- 608-328-9400
- Custody lookup
- Green County Inmate Search
- Bond payment
- Jail kiosk at 2827 6th Street; Justice Center, 2841 6th Street, weekdays during business hours
- Clerk of Circuit Court
- Justice Center, 2841 6th Street, Monroe, WI 53566; 608-328-9433
- Monroe police
- 1811 12th Street, Monroe; 608-329-2400
- Public defender
- Monroe office, 1720 10th Street, Unit 106; 608-447-5170
Kiosk fees, hours and phone numbers change from time to time, and a judge may order another amount. Call the jail or the Clerk before you send money. The page is general help and does not replace a lawyer.
Green County Jail
Address:
2827 6th Street.
Monroe, WI 53566
Phone:
608-328-9400
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Green County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Green County?
Who can set bail in Green County?
When is bail set in Green County Wisconsin?
Does Green County have bail?
Yes, Green 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 Green County?
The Green County courts recognize cash bail or10% cash percentage bonds. In some cases, a property bond will be considered.
Who can set bail in Green County?
Bail is set by a judge in Green 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 Green 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 Green 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 Green 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 Green 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 Green 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 Green County have bail?
Yes, Green 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 Green County?
The Green County courts recognize cash bail or10% cash percentage bonds. In some cases, a property bond will be considered.
Who can set bail in Green County?
Bail is set by a judge in Green 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 Green County Wisconsin?
Yes, your attorney can request a bond reduction.
In Green 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 Green 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 Green County Jail for more information about the jails in Green County.
What options are there to pay bail in Green 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 Green County Jail for more information about posting bail in Green 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 Green 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.