Portage County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Portage County bail and bond: Stevens Point jail, first court dates, and paying bail
Adults arrested in Portage County are held at the Portage County Jail inside the Law Enforcement Center, 1500 Strongs Avenue, Stevens Point. The Sheriff's Office runs it around the clock, and the jail line is 715-346-1259. Start with Portage County Inmate Search to see whether your person is booked. Wisconsin has no bail bond companies, so there is nobody to hire. Release comes from a judge's order, and any money goes to the court or the Sheriff's Office as cash bail.
Is my relative in the Portage County Jail?
Run the name through Portage County Inmate Search first. A new booking can take a little while to appear, so try again later in the day. For anything the search cannot answer, the Corrections Division answers at 715-346-1259, and the Sheriff's Office main line is 715-346-1400.
The jail and dispatch never close. The front office is open 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on weekdays.
Can I hire a bail bondsman in Stevens Point?
No. Wisconsin banned paid bail bonding in 1979. State law says a surety has to be a living person who lives in Wisconsin, and that person cannot be paid for signing. A company that offers to bond someone out is not legal here, and a caller who wants quick cash for a bail-out is running a scam.
The real routes are a judge's release order with no money, a signed promise, or cash paid in. The rest of this page explains each one.
When does the person see a judge?
Someone held after an arrest on new charges goes before a judge at the Portage County Courthouse, 1516 Church Street. The first hearing, called the initial appearance, starts at 1:30 p.m. on Mondays and at 1:15 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. The person may appear by video from the jail.
Court decisions in Wisconsin require a judge to review an arrest made without a warrant within about 48 hours. If you want the exact time for your person, call the District Attorney's Office at 715-346-1300 or the Clerk of Courts at 715-346-1364 after 10:30 a.m. Earlier calls often hit an office that has not yet got the list.
What is a signature bond, and how is it different from bail?
In Wisconsin law the word bail means money and nothing else. Every other limit on a released person, such as no contact, no weapons, or reporting in, is a condition of release.
Portage County lets people out in two ways. One is posting bail. The other is a signature bond, where the person signs a promise to return and owes the stated amount only if the terms are broken. The statute calls this an unsecured appearance bond. People released this way get a summons and criminal complaint with a court date they must keep.
Who decides the amount, and is there a cap?
The judge decides, usually at the initial appearance. Before ordering any money, the judge has to find a reasonable basis to believe it is needed to bring the person back to court. For a violent crime the judge may look at the whole picture, including prior violent convictions and the need to protect others.
For a misdemeanor, bail cannot be higher than the largest fine the law allows for that offense. The judge may also weigh what the person can afford, the strength of the evidence, and any other open cases. There is no fixed felony price list.
How do I actually post bail in Portage County?
Once the judge sets an amount, the Sheriff's Office takes it at the Law Enforcement Center. Call 715-346-1400 before you drive in, give the full legal name, and ask for the amount and the accepted ways to pay. Get a written receipt, because the receipt is how you collect a refund later.
State law lets officers take bail only at a sheriff's office or police station, and lets a court clerk take a card payment. Money put on an inmate's phone or store account is a different thing and never releases anyone.
Can I sign for my cousin or offer my house?
A guarantor, called a surety, must be an individual who lives in Wisconsin. The judge can require a sworn statement that the signer can cover the full bond, and can ask for more proof. Companies cannot do this work, and no one may be paid for it. Ask the Clerk of Courts at 715-346-1364 whether the judge in your case will accept a signer, and what paperwork comes first. Do not hand a deed or title to a private person.
Does Portage County have a pretrial program?
Yes. Portage is one of the counties with a pretrial program run through the county. A judge can order supervision as a replacement for cash or on top of it. A judge may not send everyone charged with a crime into a program without looking at that person's own case. If a lawyer thinks supervision would work better than cash, the lawyer can ask for it at the first hearing.
What if the record says no bail?
Most people arrested are entitled to release on reasonable terms. A judge can refuse release only in narrow cases, such as certain homicide and sexual assault charges, or a violent charge against someone with a past violent conviction.
The District Attorney must ask for a hold, and a hearing must start within 10 days. The state has to prove it with clear and convincing evidence. A hold lasts up to 60 days after the hearing, and then normal release rules apply.
How does a domestic abuse charge change release in Stevens Point?
An officer must make an arrest when there is a crime of domestic abuse and certain conditions are met. The officer cannot release that person until bail is posted or a judge has seen the case.
For 72 hours after the arrest, the person must stay away from the alleged victim's home and cannot contact the victim directly or through others. The person signs a paper agreeing to this before release. Breaking it can bring a fine of up to $10,000 or up to nine months in jail.
Must I come to every hearing once the bond is posted?
Yes. Every scheduled hearing needs an appearance unless the court says otherwise. A miss brings an arrest warrant and a possible bail-jumping charge, which is a Class A misdemeanor on a misdemeanor case and a Class H felony on a felony case. If a hearing cannot be made, call the lawyer, or the District Attorney's Office at 715-346-1300 or the Clerk of Courts if there is no lawyer. A change of address goes to the clerk in writing within 48 hours.
How long does a Portage County refund take?
After the case closes, the Clerk of Courts takes about two to four weeks to return it to the person who posted. If the charges are dismissed or the person is found not guilty, the full deposit goes back to that poster. After a conviction the court first applies the money to fines, costs, and restitution, and any rest goes back. To ask early, the poster sends a written request to the assigned judge, who may set a hearing. Forfeited cash is not refunded.
Can a judge lower the bail later?
Yes. Either side can ask the court to raise or lower bail or change conditions. A person still held 72 hours after the first appearance because the terms cannot be met may ask the judge to review them. If the judge keeps the terms, the judge states the reasons on the record.
A lawyer is the best person to ask. Useful changes to point out are a job, a stable address, or a relative willing to supervise.
Who is the free lawyer, and how soon can they help?
The Wisconsin State Public Defender's Stevens Point office, 1265 Main Street, Suite 201, serves Portage County and can be reached at 715-345-5382. A person without a lawyer can ask the judge for one at the first appearance. The state office decides who qualifies.
The office will ask about job, income, and family, so have those details ready.
My 16-year-old was picked up. Who do I call in Portage County?
Teen cases follow a separate juvenile track with its own intake step rather than the adult bail process. Portage County keeps its Juvenile Detention Center at 1500 Strongs Avenue, in the same Stevens Point complex as the jail, and it answers at 715-346-1263. Records for minors are private, so Portage County Inmate Search will not show one. The Sheriff's Office at 715-346-1400 can tell a parent where the child is and who the intake worker is.
Portage County contacts for bail and court questions
- County jail
- Portage County Jail, 1500 Strongs Avenue, Stevens Point, WI 54481; Corrections Division 715-346-1259
- Bail and bond
- Pay bail through the Sheriff's Office, 715-346-1400
- Sheriff's Office
- Law Enforcement Center, 1500 Strongs Avenue, Stevens Point; 715-346-1400
- Clerk of Courts
- Portage County Courthouse, 1516 Church Street, Stevens Point, WI 54481; 715-346-1364
- District Attorney
- 715-346-1300
- Custody lookup
- Portage County Inmate Search
- Public defender
- State Public Defender, 1265 Main Street, Suite 201, Stevens Point; 715-345-5382
- Juvenile detention
- Portage County Juvenile Detention Center, 1500 Strongs Avenue, Stevens Point; 715-346-1263
Check amounts, hours, and payment rules by phone before sending money, since the court and Sheriff's Office set them. A lawyer can advise on your own case; this page cannot.
How do Bail Bonds work at Portage County Jail
To pay bail in Portage County, you must first find out the amount due, including fees and fines. Once you have the amount, you can pay at the jail at at the kiosk which accepts cash (does not give change) and credit card. If during normal business hours, you can also pay the Clerk of Court, located on the 2nd Floor of the Courthouse.
Portage County Jail
Address:
1500 Strongs Avenue
Stevens Point, WI 54481
Phone:
715-346-1259
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Portage County
Does Portage County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Portage County?
Who can set bail in Portage County?
When is bail set in Portage County Wisconsin?
Does Portage County have bail?
Yes, Portage 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 Portage County?
The Portage County courts recognize cash bail or10% cash percentage bonds. In some cases, a property bond will be considered.
Who can set bail in Portage County?
Bail is set by a judge in Portage 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 Portage 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 Portage 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 Portage 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 Portage 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 Portage 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 Portage County have bail?
Yes, Portage 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 Portage County?
The Portage County courts recognize cash bail or10% cash percentage bonds. In some cases, a property bond will be considered.
Who can set bail in Portage County?
Bail is set by a judge in Portage 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 Portage County Wisconsin?
Yes, your attorney can request a bond reduction.
In Portage 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 Portage 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 Portage County Jail for more information about the jails in Portage County.
What options are there to pay bail in Portage 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 Portage County Jail for more information about posting bail in Portage 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 Portage 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.