Oconto County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Oconto County bail and bond: clerk hours, after-hours jail payment, and refunds
People arrested in Oconto County are held in the Oconto County Jail at 301 Washington Street in Oconto, a 145-prisoner jail run by the Sheriff's Office. Look the person up with Oconto County Inmate Search to see if he or she is in custody and what the bail is. Wisconsin bans bail bondsmen, so bail is paid to the Clerk of Courts on weekdays or at the jail after hours. The jail answers at 920-834-6918.
Where in Oconto County is my relative being held?
People arrested by the Oconto County Sheriff's Office or by a city officer in the county go to the Oconto County Jail in the Law Enforcement Center, 301 Washington Street, Oconto, WI 54153. The jail opened on August 7, 2017. Its main pod holds 145 prisoners in 17 housing units.
Check Oconto County Inmate Search first. For anything it does not answer, the jail's number is 920-834-6918.
What are the two kinds of bond here?
Oconto County uses a cash bond and a signature bond. For a cash bond, money must be posted with the Clerk of Courts or the jail. For a signature bond, the defendant signs a promise to return to court, and no money is posted up front.
The state statutes call a bond with no money up front an unsecured appearance bond. The judge decides which kind a person gets.
Where do I post cash during the day?
Go to the Clerk of Courts Office in person, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The clerk accepts cash, a cashier's check or money order, and credit cards. The clerk's office is also at 301 Washington Street, and the phone is 920-834-6857.
Card payments at the clerk go through AllPaid, with a service fee. Their phone line is 888-604-7888, and the pay location code for Oconto County is 4704. Have the case number, your name, and the amount ready.
Where do I post cash at night or on a weekend?
Go to the jail in the Law Enforcement Center at 301 Washington Street. After hours, the jail takes cash and credit cards, and a service fee applies to the card. Call 920-834-6918 first.
A card payment made after hours is not processed until the next business day, so use cash if time matters.
What paper will I be asked to sign?
The person who posts bond signs a Bail/Bond Acknowledgment Form. Read it carefully. It explains that a cash bond can be applied to the defendant's restitution, fines, fees, or court costs without further notice.
That means money you post for a friend could be used on the friend's court debts after a conviction. Wisconsin law also directs the leftover deposit toward restitution first.
When will I get a refund, and how?
The refund is made after the case is disposed of. It goes to the person who posted the bond, not to the defendant, and it is mailed by U.S. Mail within two weeks.
If the defendant is convicted, the court can take restitution, fines, forfeitures, or costs from the money first. If the bail was forfeited for a missed date, the refund rules do not apply.
Is there a bail bondsman in Oconto County?
No. Wisconsin has no commercial bail bonding. Under Wis. Stat. 969.12 only an unpaid private person who lives in the state can serve as surety. Oconto County offers cash bonds and signature bonds.
If anyone contacts you offering to post bond for a fee, do not pay. Use the clerk or the jail.
Who sets bail and when does a judge see the person?
A judge, at the initial appearance. A person arrested must be taken before a judge within a reasonable time, and when no warrant was used a judge must find probable cause within 48 hours. Hearings by video are permitted.
To learn the date, call the Clerk of Circuit Court at 920-834-6857. To learn the amount, use Oconto County Inmate Search.
What does "bail" cover under Wisconsin law?
Only money. A no-contact rule, a travel limit, or a ban on alcohol is a non-money condition of release. The judge can order those alone.
For money bail, the judge must find a reasonable basis to think it is necessary to make the person return. In violent-crime cases the judge can consider the whole picture, including prior violent convictions.
Can bail on a misdemeanor be set very high?
No. A misdemeanor bail may not be greater than the maximum fine for the offense. A felony bail has no statewide chart.
Factors a judge can weigh include ability to pay, the nature of the offense, the person's record and community ties, and the strength of the evidence.
When does a judge refuse bail?
In limited cases under Wis. Stat. 969.035: certain serious charges, or a violent-crime defendant with a past violent conviction. The district attorney must file the request, and the hearing must start within 10 days.
The state needs clear and convincing evidence. Once the judge agrees, the hold can run as long as 60 days after the hearing, and the defendant can still petition for release at any time.
Is a domestic abuse arrest different in Oconto County?
Officers must arrest in many domestic abuse cases under Wis. Stat. 968.075, and they may not release the person until bail is paid or a judge sees the case. For 72 hours after the arrest, the person must stay away from the victim's home and not make contact.
Breaking that rule on purpose can lead to up to nine months in jail and a $10,000 fine.
What about a minor?
Youth cases go through Oconto County's juvenile court intake, handled by the county's human services department and the circuit court. Children may not show up in the adult search. Call the Clerk of Circuit Court at 920-834-6857 for the hearing date and the child's location. The Sheriff's Office at 920-834-6900 can also direct you.
A child who needs secure correctional care is placed by the court. Ask the clerk about the specific order.
Who gives a free lawyer to Oconto County defendants?
The State Public Defender's Peshtigo office handles Marinette and Oconto counties. It is at 101 North Ogden Road, Suite C, Peshtigo, WI 54157, phone 715-582-1194.
Tell the judge at the first appearance that you cannot hire a lawyer. A person held 72 hours after that can ask the judge to review the conditions.
What happens if a hearing is missed?
The judge can forfeit the bail and issue a warrant. Intentionally breaking the bond terms is also bail jumping under Wis. Stat. 946.49, a Class A misdemeanor for a misdemeanor case and a Class H felony for a felony case.
Send the clerk a written address change within 48 hours of moving.
Oconto County bail contacts
- Jail
- Oconto County Jail, Law Enforcement Center, 301 Washington Street, Oconto, WI 54153; 920-834-6918; jail administrator 920-834-6917
- Custody lookup
- Oconto County Inmate Search
- Bail, weekdays
- Clerk of Courts, 301 Washington Street, Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; 920-834-6857
- Bail, nights and weekends
- Oconto County Jail, 301 Washington Street (cash or credit card; fee on cards)
- Card payments
- AllPaid, 888-604-7888, pay location code 4704
- Sheriff's Office
- 220 Arbutus Avenue, Oconto, WI 54153; 920-834-6900
- Public defender
- State Public Defender, Peshtigo, 101 North Ogden Road, Suite C; 715-582-1194
Hours, fees, and refund times can change, and a judge may order terms that differ from the general rules above. Check with the clerk or jail before you pay. Use it as a guide only, and ask a lawyer about your own case.
Oconto County Jail
Address:
301 Washington Street
Oconto, WI 54153
Phone:
920-834-6919
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Oconto County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Oconto County?
Who can set bail in Oconto County?
When is bail set in Oconto County Wisconsin?
Does Oconto County have bail?
Yes, Oconto 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 Oconto County?
The Oconto County courts recognize cash bail or10% cash percentage bonds. In some cases, a property bond will be considered.
Who can set bail in Oconto County?
Bail is set by a judge in Oconto 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 Oconto 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 Oconto 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 Oconto 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 Oconto 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 Oconto 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 Oconto County have bail?
Yes, Oconto 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 Oconto County?
The Oconto County courts recognize cash bail or10% cash percentage bonds. In some cases, a property bond will be considered.
Who can set bail in Oconto County?
Bail is set by a judge in Oconto 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 Oconto County Wisconsin?
Yes, your attorney can request a bond reduction.
In Oconto 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 Oconto 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 Oconto County Jail for more information about the jails in Oconto County.
What options are there to pay bail in Oconto 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 Oconto County Jail for more information about posting bail in Oconto 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 Oconto 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.