Ozaukee County bail in Port Washington: where to pay and who gets the check
Adults arrested in Ozaukee County are held at the Ozaukee County Jail, inside the Sheriff's Office building at 1201 South Spring Street in Port Washington. Use Ozaukee County Inmate Search to see whether the person is booked and what bail is set. Cashier's checks and money orders are accepted in the Business Office on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and the payee changes depending on which court set the bail. The main number is 262-284-7172. Wisconsin has no bail bondsmen.
How do I find out whether someone is in the Ozaukee County Jail?
Search by full name in Ozaukee County Inmate Search. A booking that is complete shows the charge and the bail amount. If the person was arrested within the last hour or two, the record may not be up yet.
The Sheriff's Office main line, 262-284-7172, handles what the search leaves out. Cedarburg, Grafton, Mequon, and Port Washington officers can also tell you where they took someone.
What is the jail's street address?
The jail is part of the Sheriff's Office at 1201 South Spring Street, Port Washington, WI 53074, with a mailing box at PO Box 245. The lobby is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Ozaukee County holds its own arrestees. Wisconsin has no state jail that takes county prisoners.
Who do I make a check or money order out to?
The payee depends on the bail. Bail issued by the Ozaukee County Circuit Court is made payable to "Ozaukee County Clerk of Courts." Out-of-county or municipal bail is made payable to "Ozaukee County Sheriff's Office."
Staff check every cashier's check or money order by phoning the issuing bank, and a document they cannot verify is refused. Bring it during Business Office hours, Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Can I use a bail bondsman in Ozaukee County?
No. Wis. Stat. 969.12 says that a surety must be a person living in Wisconsin, not a company, and that no surety may be paid. Commercial bondsmen are not allowed anywhere in the state.
Pages that advertise a "licensed agent" for Ozaukee County are wrong. Pay the court's bail, and give money to nobody else.
What does bail mean here, and what does it not mean?
Bail means money. A no-contact order, a curfew, drug testing, or limits on travel are conditions of release, and a judge can order them with no bail at all.
Money bail follows only if the judge finds a reasonable basis to think the person will not return. In a violent-crime case the judge may weigh the overall circumstances and the need to protect the community.
Can the person go home without paying?
Sometimes. The judge may release on a signed promise to appear or an unsecured appearance bond, with money owed only if the terms are broken.
For a misdemeanor, officers release the person without cash unless the person has no proper ID, is dangerous, has no community ties, failed to appear before, or the investigation requires holding. Misdemeanor bail cannot exceed the top fine.
Is there a statewide bail schedule for Ozaukee County cases?
For misdemeanors, yes. The Wisconsin Judicial Conference publishes a Uniform Misdemeanor Bail Schedule each year, and it sits inside the statewide deposit schedule used by every county.
No statewide schedule covers felonies. A judge or court commissioner sets it case by case, weighing ability to pay, the record, the strength of the evidence, and whether the person is on probation.
How quickly does an Ozaukee County judge see an arrested person?
At the initial appearance. The law requires that appearance within a reasonable time, and a judge must make a probable cause finding within 48 hours of a warrantless arrest. A hearing can happen by video.
The Clerk of Circuit Court at 262-284-8409 has the date. Friday arrests may not be heard until Monday.
Who can sign as surety instead of paying cash?
An adult who lives in Wisconsin and is not paid for it. The judge may demand a sworn statement that the signer can cover the bond and decides what further proof counts.
The statute sets out no lien or deed process, so ask the Clerk before you offer property.
Can a judge deny release entirely?
Only in limited cases. A district attorney can ask to detain a person charged with listed serious crimes, or with a violent crime after a past violent conviction. Within 10 days the court must start the detention hearing.
The state must prove its position by clear and convincing evidence. A denial of bail lasts no more than 60 days after the hearing.
How is a domestic abuse arrest handled?
The law directs arrest in many cases, and the officer cannot let the person go until bail is posted or a judge has seen the case. The person signs the release terms before leaving.
The first 72 hours bring a ban on the victim's home and on any contact. Violating this on purpose can cost up to $10,000, nine months in jail, or both.
What if I serve my sentence on Huber?
Huber is work release for sentenced inmates, and the county has a Jail Huber Reporting page for people who report to the jail. It is not bail and does not apply to a person waiting for trial.
Ask the Sheriff's Office at 262-284-7172 how reporting works for a sentenced person.
When is the bail money refunded?
The payer gets the cash back if the case is dismissed or ends in acquittal. After a conviction the court applies it to restitution first, then the judgment, and returns the rest.
If a bond term is broken, the court can forfeit the money. Notice goes by mail, and judgment may follow after 30 days.
What happens if the person misses court?
A missed date can lead to a warrant, forfeiture, and a bail jumping charge. That charge is a Class A misdemeanor after a misdemeanor release and a Class H felony after a felony release.
Give the clerk a new address in writing within 48 hours and call a lawyer right away.
Who is the public defender in Ozaukee County?
The judge can appoint a public defender if you ask at the first appearance. The State Public Defender office in Port Washington is at 1032 South Spring Street, 262-273-4722.
A lawyer can ask for a bail change, and a person still held 72 hours after the first hearing can request a review.
Which youth center would hold a teenager from Ozaukee County?
Young people go through juvenile court and do not show in the adult search. Call the Clerk at 262-284-8409 about the court date.
Wisconsin approves twelve county-run secure juvenile detention centers. Washington County Juvenile Detention, 500 Rolfs Avenue, West Bend, runs around the clock at 262-306-2247 and serves counties beyond its own. Ask the Sheriff's Office which facility holds a particular child.
Ozaukee County bail contacts
- County jail
- Ozaukee County Jail, 1201 South Spring Street, Port Washington, WI 53074; Sheriff's Office 262-284-7172
- Bond help
- Ozaukee County bail and bond guide
- Custody lookup
- Ozaukee County Inmate Search
- Business Office
- Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; cashier's checks and money orders
- Clerk of Circuit Court
- 1201 South Spring Street, PO Box 994, Port Washington, WI 53074; 262-284-8409
- Public defender
- 1032 South Spring Street, Port Washington, WI 53074; 262-273-4722
- Juvenile detention
- Washington County Juvenile Detention, 500 Rolfs Avenue, West Bend, WI 53090; 262-306-2247
Hours, payees, and phone numbers get revised, and a judge may pick a bail you did not expect. Call the Sheriff's Office or the Clerk before paying. This is a plain-language guide and not a legal opinion.