Sawyer County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Sawyer County bail and bond: the Hayward jail and the screening judges rely on
Adults arrested in Sawyer County are held at the Sawyer County Jail, run by the Sheriff's Office at 15880 E 5th Street, Hayward. Use Sawyer County Inmate Search to see whether a person is in custody and what bail was set. Before the bail hearing, a pretrial team screens people booked into the jail and reports to the judge. Bail bondsmen are not allowed in Wisconsin. The Sheriff's Office answers at 715-634-4858.
How do I check whether someone is in the Sawyer County Jail?
Search the name on Sawyer County Inmate Search. If it shows the person, you can see the charge and any bail. If it does not, call the Sheriff's Office at 715-634-4858 and ask whether the booking is still being processed or the person is being held for another agency.
Keep the full legal name and birth date at hand.
Where are the Sheriff's Office and the courthouse in Hayward?
The Sheriff's Office, which runs the jail, is at 15880 E 5th Street, Hayward, WI 54843 (mail goes to PO Box 567). The Clerk of Circuit Court is at 10610 Main Street, Suite 244, and the pretrial office is in the same building, Suite 116. Custody is a Sheriff's matter. Court dates and bond papers are the clerk's.
How do I pay cash bail in Sawyer County?
Wisconsin law lets an officer accept bail only at a sheriff's office or police station, and allows the clerk to accept payment too. Phone the clerk at 715-634-4887 for daytime payment and the Sheriff's Office at 715-634-4858 for other hours, and ask which payment types are taken.
Have photo ID, the case number, and the exact dollars ready. Collect a receipt.
What happens at the jail before the first hearing?
A nonprofit called JusticePoint screens people booked into the Sawyer County Jail who are waiting for a bail hearing. Staff assess the person and give the results to the judge, who uses them to decide on release terms. Those results help the judge decide the bond.
What is pretrial supervision?
When a judge orders supervision as a condition of bail, JusticePoint monitors the court-ordered conditions and reports on compliance to the court. The office is at 10610 Main Street, Suite 116, Hayward, and the phone is 715-638-3227. Call it if you have questions about check-ins after release.
Is there a bondsman in Hayward, or can an aunt sign instead?
No bondsman may work here, because Wisconsin bans paid sureties. An aunt or neighbor can sign without pay if the judge accepts the person. A surety must be a real person who lives in Wisconsin, and the judge decides what proof of finances is needed, often a sworn statement that the surety can cover the bond. Nobody may pay the surety for signing (Wis. Stat. 969.12).
Does Sawyer County offer diversion for drug or alcohol charges?
The county's Criminal Justice Program, at 10610 Main Street, Suite 101, Hayward, runs a post-charge diversion and deferred prosecution program for defendants charged with drug offenses or offenses tied to substance use. Call the diversion coordinator at 715-804-0109 to ask whether a charge fits. Ask about it in addition to the bail hearing.
My brother cannot afford the amount. What can we do?
Ask a lawyer to petition the judge to change it (Wis. Stat. 969.08). Judges may consider ability to pay, the seriousness of the charge, past record, and the policy against needless pretrial detention (969.01(4)). If he is still held 72 hours after the first appearance, he can ask for a review. Pretrial supervision can be offered in place of a cash amount.
What if tribal police made the arrest?
The Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Police Department is at 13394W Trepania Road, Hayward, 715-634-8350. If its officers made the arrest, ask them which agency took the person and which court has the case. Then run the name through Sawyer County Inmate Search to see whether the county jail booked him.
Can he be released with no cash?
Yes. A judge may release a person on a signed bond that creates a debt only if the terms are broken, or on non-money conditions such as no contact, travel limits, or a return to custody at set hours (Wis. Stat. 969.02 and 969.03).
Does a misdemeanor have a bail ceiling?
Yes. Misdemeanor bail may not exceed the maximum fine for the offense (Wis. Stat. 969.02(8)). The state's uniform misdemeanor schedule also tells officers to release most misdemeanor arrests without cash unless a listed concern applies.
What changes if the arrest was for domestic abuse?
An officer who makes a required domestic abuse arrest cannot release the person until bail is posted or a judge sees the case. For 72 hours after the arrest, the person must stay away from the alleged victim's home and avoid contact (Wis. Stat. 968.075).
When is a person held with no bail?
Only for charges on the narrow list in Wis. Stat. 969.035, or a violent charge with a prior violent conviction, after a hearing the prosecutor requests. The state must prove the case by clear and convincing evidence, and any denial ends after 60 days from the hearing.
What happens to my money afterward?
The deposit comes back to the payer when the charge is dismissed or the defendant is found not guilty. If there is a conviction, the court pays bond costs, then restitution, then the judgment. If the court orders forfeiture, the payer gets mailed notice.
Where do I find a free lawyer?
The State Public Defender office at 514 Service Road, Suite A, Spooner, WI 54801 covers Sawyer County. The phone is 715-390-4560. A family without money can ask for an appointed lawyer when the case first comes before a judge.
Where does a youth go after an arrest?
Contact the juvenile clerk at 715-634-7519. The clerk can give the hearing date and tell you which facility, if any, has the youth. Because juvenile cases are private, a child will not show in the adult search.
What if he misses court?
The court can forfeit the bond, issue a warrant, and the prosecutor can charge bail jumping under Wis. Stat. 946.49. Tell the clerk at 715-634-4887 in writing within 48 hours if the address changes.
How do I spot a scam?
Real payment goes to the clerk or the Sheriff's Office. If someone asks for gift cards or an app transfer, hang up and call 715-634-4858.
Sawyer County bail contacts
- Jail
- Sawyer County Jail, Sheriff's Office, 15880 E 5th Street, Hayward, WI 54843; 715-634-4858
- Custody lookup
- Sawyer County Inmate Search
- Clerk of Circuit Court
- 10610 Main Street, Suite 244, Hayward, WI 54843; 715-634-4887
- Pretrial office
- 10610 Main Street, Suite 116, Hayward; 715-638-3227
- Tribal police
- Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Police, 13394W Trepania Road, Hayward; 715-634-8350
- Juvenile clerk
- 10610 Main Street, Suite 244; 715-634-7519
- Public defender
- 514 Service Road, Suite A, Spooner, WI 54801; 715-390-4560
Addresses, hours, and phone numbers can change. Verify details with the office before you pay. This page gives general guidance, not legal advice.
Sawyer County Jail
Address:
15880 East Fifth Street
Hayward, WI 54843
Phone:
715-634-9120
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Sawyer County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Sawyer County?
Who can set bail in Sawyer County?
When is bail set in Sawyer County Wisconsin?
Does Sawyer County have bail?
Yes, Sawyer 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 Sawyer County?
The Sawyer County courts recognize cash bail or10% cash percentage bonds. In some cases, a property bond will be considered.
Who can set bail in Sawyer County?
Bail is set by a judge in Sawyer 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 Sawyer 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 Sawyer 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 Sawyer 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 Sawyer 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 Sawyer 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 Sawyer County have bail?
Yes, Sawyer 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 Sawyer County?
The Sawyer County courts recognize cash bail or10% cash percentage bonds. In some cases, a property bond will be considered.
Who can set bail in Sawyer County?
Bail is set by a judge in Sawyer 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 Sawyer County Wisconsin?
Yes, your attorney can request a bond reduction.
In Sawyer 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 Sawyer 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 Sawyer County Jail for more information about the jails in Sawyer County.
What options are there to pay bail in Sawyer 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 Sawyer County Jail for more information about posting bail in Sawyer 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 Sawyer 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.