Monroe County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Monroe County bail and bond: the Sparta jail and the daily 1:00 p.m. bond calendar
Adults arrested in Monroe County are held in the Monroe County Jail, run by the Sheriff's Office at the Justice Center, 112 South Court Street in Sparta. Search Monroe County Inmate Search for custody status and bail. A judge sets bail at the bond calendar, held every business day at 1:00 p.m. Wisconsin bans bondsmen, so you pay the court's own cash bail. Call 608-269-2117 before you pay.
Is my brother in the Monroe County Jail in Sparta?
Look him up on Monroe County Inmate Search. The search shows whether he is in custody and what bail a judge has set. The Monroe County Jail is operated by the Sheriff's Office from the Justice Center, 112 South Court Street, Sparta, WI 54656.
The Sheriff's Office answers at 608-269-2117. Use that number for questions the search leaves out, and 911 for emergencies.
Why do Monroe County bond hearings happen at 1:00 in the afternoon?
The circuit court holds a bond calendar every business day at 1:00 p.m. That is the hearing where a judge looks at a new arrest, sets bail and imposes conditions.
Many hearings are conducted remotely. Phone the clerk at 608-269-8745 to find out whether your relative's appearance is in person or on Zoom.
How do I find out the courtroom and the time for a bond hearing?
Call the Clerk of Circuit Court at 608-269-8745. The Circuit Court office is in Room 2300 of the Justice Center, 112 South Court Street, and is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Have the person's full name and date of birth ready. The clerks give procedure and calendar information but cannot give legal advice.
Which office in Sparta accepts bail money?
Wisconsin law lets an officer take bail already set by a judge, and it permits this only at a sheriff's office or a police station. The officer must hand you a receipt and turn the money in to the clerk.
Phone the Sheriff's Office at 608-269-2117 before you leave to confirm the amount, the form of payment and the ID you must show. A clerk may take a credit or debit card in place of cash.
Does Monroe County have bondsmen in Sparta or Tomah?
No. Bail bonding for a fee is illegal across Wisconsin. Wis. Stat. 969.12 requires a surety to be an individual living in Wisconsin and prohibits paying that person.
Only the court's cash bail, or a no-cash release on conditions, can free your relative. Treat any phone offer of a bondsman as a scam.
What is a bond calendar, and how is it different from a trial date?
A bond calendar deals only with release: whether the person leaves jail, on what conditions and with what bail. It is not a trial and not a plea hearing.
Felony pleas wait until after a preliminary hearing, and misdemeanor pleas can come at the first appearance. Trial dates are set later.
Can a Monroe County judge refuse bail?
Only in narrow situations under Wis. Stat. 969.035. The charge must be on the statute's list or be a violent crime by a person with an earlier violent conviction, and the prosecutor must ask.
The prosecutor gets a hearing within 10 days. The state must prove its case by clear and convincing evidence, and any denial ends no later than 60 days after the hearing.
How high can a Monroe County misdemeanor bail go?
Yes, the largest fine the law allows for the offense. Felonies carry no cap and no statewide schedule.
A felony judge considers what the person can afford, the seriousness of the charge, the person's record, the evidence and any probation. Ask a lawyer to request a change if the amount is out of reach.
What does Justice Programs do in Monroe County?
The county's Justice Programs office is at 112 South Court Street, Room 1008, and its phone is 608-269-8835. It is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and it runs diversion and a property exchange program for defendants and victims.
Monroe County also runs a pretrial program, which a judge can order as a release condition in place of cash bail.
Do I have to follow release conditions if I cannot pay bail?
Release conditions apply to a person who is released. Under a Wisconsin court ruling, they do not bind someone who stays in jail because the bail went unpaid.
Once out, a person who breaks a condition can face a higher bail, new conditions, or a bail jumping charge under Wis. Stat. 946.49, a Class A misdemeanor or a Class H felony depending on the original case.
What changes after a domestic abuse arrest?
Deputies must arrest in many domestic cases, and no one can be released until bail is posted under Wis. Stat. 969.07 or the person appears before a judge.
A 72-hour no-contact period applies after release. The alleged victim and the home are off limits, and a refusal to sign the acknowledgment keeps the person in jail. A knowing violation carries a fine up to $10,000 and up to nine months.
How do I get the bail refunded?
If the complaint is dismissed or the person is acquitted, the deposit goes back to the person who paid. After a conviction, what is left after bond costs goes to restitution and then to the judgment.
Ask the Clerk of Circuit Court, 608-269-8745, about the timing for your case. A forfeiture takes the money instead. Written notice of any change of address must reach the clerk within 48 hours.
Who can represent my son for free?
The State Public Defender's Sparta office, 1400 River Road, Suite 3, Sparta, WI 54656, phone 608-389-5460, serves Monroe County. Make the request to the judge when your son first appears.
A person held 72 hours after that appearance may ask the judge to review the conditions. For private lawyers, the Lawyer Referral Service takes calls at 800-362-9082.
What do I do about a juvenile arrested in Monroe County?
Juvenile cases are heard on the juvenile side of circuit court, so an adult search may not show a child. Call the Clerk of Circuit Court at 608-269-8745 for the hearing date and the court's placement.
The Sheriff's Office at 608-269-2117 can tell you which agency made the arrest.
Monroe County bail contacts
- Jail
- Monroe County Jail, Justice Center, 112 South Court Street, Sparta, WI 54656; Sheriff's Office 608-269-2117
- Custody lookup
- Monroe County Inmate Search
- Bond calendar
- Every business day, 1:00 p.m., Monroe County Circuit Court
- Clerk of Circuit Court
- 112 South Court Street, Room 2300; 608-269-8745; Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Justice Programs
- 112 South Court Street, Room 1008; 608-269-8835
- Public defender
- State Public Defender, Sparta, 1400 River Road, Suite 3; 608-389-5460
- Juvenile cases
- Clerk of Circuit Court, 608-269-8745
Monroe County may change its calendar, hours and phone lines, and a judge may set terms specific to a case. Speak with the Sheriff's Office or the clerk before paying bail. Use this page for general information; it does not give legal advice.
Pay an Inmate's Bond Online
Monroe 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 608-269-8759 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
Monroe County Jail
Address:
112 S. Court St Rm 500
Sparta, WI 54656
Phone:
608-269-8759
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Monroe County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Monroe County?
Who can set bail in Monroe County?
When is bail set in Monroe County Wisconsin?
Does Monroe County have bail?
Yes, Monroe 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 Monroe County?
The Monroe County courts recognize cash bail or10% cash percentage bonds. In some cases, a property bond will be considered.
Who can set bail in Monroe County?
Bail is set by a judge in Monroe 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 Monroe 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 Monroe 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 Monroe 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 Monroe 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 Monroe 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 Monroe County have bail?
Yes, Monroe 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 Monroe County?
The Monroe County courts recognize cash bail or10% cash percentage bonds. In some cases, a property bond will be considered.
Who can set bail in Monroe County?
Bail is set by a judge in Monroe 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 Monroe County Wisconsin?
Yes, your attorney can request a bond reduction.
In Monroe 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 Monroe 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 Monroe County Jail for more information about the jails in Monroe County.
What options are there to pay bail in Monroe 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 Monroe County Jail for more information about posting bail in Monroe 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 Monroe 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 Monroe County Jail inmate's bond online?
Yes, you can pay a Monroe County Jail inmate's bond online using a third-party service called 'allpaid'. The instructions are easy... From their website, look up Monroe County Jail or Monroe 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 Monroe 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 Monroe County Jail, call allpaid directly at 877-392-2455, or call the jail at 608-269-8759.