Marquette County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Marquette County bail and bond: the Montello jail and how to pay a bond
Adults arrested in Marquette County are held at the Marquette County Jail, run by the Sheriff's Office at 67 W. Park Street, Montello. Look up the person on Marquette County Inmate Search to see whether they are in custody and what bail was set. State law bans paid bail bondsmen, so you pay the county, not a company. The Sheriff's Office answers at 608-297-2115. Court records are with the Clerk of Circuit Court at 608-297-3005.
Is my family member in the Marquette County Jail?
Use Marquette County Inmate Search first. It shows whether the person is booked and what bail was set. If the entry is missing, the booking may be recent. Call the Sheriff's Office at 608-297-2115 and ask about any hold from another agency.
The county jail is part of the Sheriff's Office, and Sheriff Joseph Konrath's staff keep custody of the people held there.
Where do I go in Montello?
The Sheriff's Office is at 67 W. Park Street, Montello, WI 53949, and the mailing box is PO Box 630. The Clerk of Circuit Court, who handles the case file, is a short distance away at 77 W. Park Street. Custody questions belong with the Sheriff's Office. Hearing dates and bond records belong with the clerk at 608-297-3005.
The Sheriff's website has a link for bond payments. How does it work?
The Marquette County Sheriff's Office website gives family and friends a link for paying a bond or adding money to an inmate account. Before you use it, call 608-297-2115 and confirm the bond amount and the case number.
Pay exactly what the court ordered. Save the confirmation page along with the case number.
Is adding money to an inmate account the same as paying bond?
No. An account deposit pays for the person's phone time and store items. A bond payment is tied to a case number and to the judge's order. Tell the Sheriff's Office at 608-297-2115 which one you mean before you send anything, and keep the confirmation.
Does paying bail end the case?
No. Bail is security for coming back to court, not a fine and not a verdict. Every hearing still has to be attended. In a felony case, one bond form covers the case through conviction and sentencing or probation, and the same bail follows the case if it moves to another court (Wis. Stat. 969.02 and 969.03).
Is a bail bondsman allowed in Marquette County?
No. Wisconsin does not permit paid sureties. The only surety allowed is an unpaid individual who lives in the state and can cover the bond (Wis. Stat. 969.12). Companies cannot act, and no one can charge a fee for the signature.
The simplest route is to pay the cash amount to the county.
What proof do I get after I pay?
An officer taking bail must give a numbered receipt and deposit the money with the clerk within a reasonable time (Wis. Stat. 969.07). Keep the receipt with the case number. You will need it to ask for a refund when the case ends.
Can an officer refuse to release someone who paid?
In limited cases, yes. An officer need not release a person who is unfit to care for his or her own safety or who is dangerous to others because of a physical condition. In that situation the person goes to a judge. A person arrested on a mandatory domestic abuse charge is also held until bail is posted or a judge sees the case.
What is Huber, and does it apply to someone waiting for trial?
Huber is a sentence-based privilege that lets a jailed person leave for work, school, or family care during set hours. The county has a Huber and electronic monitoring rules packet on the Sheriff's website. A pretrial inmate who cannot pay bail is not on Huber. Call 608-297-2115 if the person was sentenced and wants to apply.
How soon will a judge hear his case?
A judge must see an arrested person in the county where the offense happened within a reasonable time. For an arrest without a warrant, court decisions require a judge to find probable cause within 48 hours. Release terms normally come up at that first appearance. The clerk at 608-297-3005 can tell you the date.
Can the judge raise the amount later?
Yes. If the person breaks a release condition, the court can set higher bail or change the terms. If the person is charged with a serious new crime while out, the prosecutor can ask for revocation, and a hearing must begin within 7 days of custody (Wis. Stat. 969.08).
What bond terms can a judge add?
A judge may order the person into the care of someone who agrees to supervise, limit travel or where the person lives, bar dangerous weapons, or require a return to custody after certain hours. Every released person must also avoid new crimes and give the clerk a new address within 48 hours (Wis. Stat. 969.02 and 969.10).
Can a lawyer ask for a lower amount?
Yes. Under Wis. Stat. 969.08, either side can ask the court to raise or lower bail. A person still in custody 72 hours after the first appearance can request a review, and the judge must explain on the record if the terms stay the same.
What happens to the bond if the case is dismissed?
It goes back to the person who paid it. If there is a conviction, the court first takes bond costs, then restitution, then the judgment. A bond forfeited for a violation is not returned.
Who handles free legal help?
The State Public Defender office at 619 Oak Street, Baraboo, WI 53913 serves Marquette County. Call 608-355-3180. The judge hears the request for an appointed lawyer at the first hearing.
What about a juvenile arrest?
Contact the juvenile clerk at 608-297-3009. The clerk can say when the hearing is and which facility has the youth, if any. A youth case is private, so Marquette County Inmate Search will not list the child.
What can the court do if a released person skips a hearing?
The judge may order the bond forfeited and a warrant issued, and bail jumping can be charged under Wis. Stat. 946.49. A forfeiture notice is mailed, and a judgment can follow if no response arrives within 30 days.
How can I recognize a scam?
Real bail never goes to a private person, and no one at the courthouse asks for gift cards. Check any request with 608-297-2115.
Marquette County bail contacts
- Jail
- Marquette County Jail, Sheriff's Office, 67 W. Park Street, Montello, WI 53949; 608-297-2115
- Custody lookup
- Marquette County Inmate Search
- Clerk of Circuit Court
- 77 W. Park Street, Montello, WI 53949; 608-297-3005
- Juvenile clerk
- 77 W. Park Street, Montello; 608-297-3009
- Public defender
- 619 Oak Street, Baraboo, WI 53913; 608-355-3180
Hours, payment links, and phone numbers can change. Confirm details by phone before you send money. This page is not legal advice; it explains general rules.
Depositing Money in an Inmate's Account so that they can Self Bail
Marquette County Bail Bond Deposit
Marquette County Jail uses a third-party, Inmate Canteen, to let you use a credit or debit card to deposit funds into an inmate's account so that they can pay their bail and get released after an arrest.
- To begin the process, first call the Marquette County Jail at 608-297-2115 to get the exact amount needed to pay the bail.
- Next, go to Inmate Canteen, register and select this facility by first choosing Wisconsin. Then you will select the inmate you want to deposit money for, then the amount.
- Inmate Canteen Customer Service can be reached at 715-690-2965, or by email at support@inmatecanteen.com.
There will be a delay between the time you deposit the money and when Inmate Canteen forwards it to the inmate's account, but the sooner you notify the inmate and the Marquette County Jail, the quicker they will be released.
Marquette County Jail
Address:
67 West Park Street
PO Box 630
Montello, WI 53949
Phone:
608-297-2115
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Marquette County
Does Marquette County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Marquette County?
Who can set bail in Marquette County?
When is bail set in Marquette County Wisconsin?
Does Marquette County have bail?
Yes, Marquette 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 Marquette County?
The Marquette County courts recognize cash bail or10% cash percentage bonds. In some cases, a property bond will be considered.
Who can set bail in Marquette County?
Bail is set by a judge in Marquette 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 Marquette 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 Marquette 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 Marquette 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 Marquette 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 Marquette 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 Marquette County have bail?
Yes, Marquette 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 Marquette County?
The Marquette County courts recognize cash bail or10% cash percentage bonds. In some cases, a property bond will be considered.
Who can set bail in Marquette County?
Bail is set by a judge in Marquette 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 Marquette County Wisconsin?
Yes, your attorney can request a bond reduction.
In Marquette 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 Marquette 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 Marquette County Jail for more information about the jails in Marquette County.
What options are there to pay bail in Marquette 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 Marquette County Jail for more information about posting bail in Marquette 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 Marquette 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.