Taylor County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Taylor County bail and bond: the Medford jail and how Wisconsin bail works
People arrested in Taylor County are held in the Taylor County Jail, run by the Sheriff's Office in the courthouse at 224 South 2nd Street in Medford. Check Taylor County Inmate Search to see if a person is in custody and what the bail is. Wisconsin does not allow paid bail bondsmen, so bail here means cash paid to the court system, and the Sheriff's Office at 715-748-2200 can tell you how. The answers below explain Wisconsin's rules.
How do I find out if someone is in the Taylor County Jail in Medford?
Type the name into Taylor County Inmate Search. A booking record shows the person's custody status and bail. If the record is blank or you want to ask about something else, call the Sheriff's Office at 715-748-2200.
This page is about Taylor County, Wisconsin, in the north-central part of the state. Several other states have a Taylor County, so make sure any record you open is for Medford and not another state.
Where does Taylor County keep its prisoners?
The Taylor County Jail is run by the Sheriff's Office in the Taylor County Courthouse at 224 South 2nd Street, Medford, WI 54451. The same office runs the 911 Communications Center, and jail and dispatch jobs are staffed by non-sworn jailer/dispatchers.
The county holds its own arrestees. There is no state-run regional jail that takes them.
Who do I contact to pay bail?
Call the Sheriff's Office at 715-748-2200 and give the full name and birth date. Staff can tell you if bail is set and how to pay. For bail set at a court hearing, the Clerk of Circuit Court at 715-748-1425, 224 South Second Street, can say whether the clerk's counter takes it.
Wisconsin law allows an officer to take set bail only at a sheriff's office or police station, and the officer gives a receipt. Keep every receipt.
Why won't a bondsman take my call?
There are none to call. Wisconsin has no licensed bail bondsmen, since Wis. Stat. 969.12 requires a surety to be an individual living in the state and forbids paying a surety.
A person who offers to post a Taylor County bond for a fee is not acting lawfully. Your choices are the court's bail in cash, a release without money, or a request to the judge for different terms.
What is the difference between bail and conditions?
Bail is money. Conditions are rules like staying away from a person, avoiding alcohol, or checking in. A judge can order conditions alone.
Before ordering bail, the judge must find a reasonable basis to believe it is needed to make sure the person appears in court. In a violent-crime case the judge can weigh the full set of circumstances, including a past violent conviction and the need to protect others.
What are the choices at a misdemeanor hearing?
The judge can release the person with no bail, accept an unsecured appearance bond, require a cash deposit, or require a surety. An unsecured bond is a signed promise. Nothing is paid up front, but the amount is owed if the terms are broken.
The judge may add conditions, such as limits on travel or a ban on weapons. For any misdemeanor, bail cannot be more than the largest fine allowed for the offense.
What about a felony?
The same types of release are open, but a felony has no statewide bail chart. The judge or court commissioner sets the amount. The judge may consider the seriousness of the offense, the record, ability to pay, and the strength of the evidence.
The Clerk of Circuit Court at 715-748-1425 can tell you when the first hearing will be held.
How soon does a judge see an arrested person?
Within a reasonable time under the statute. For an arrest without a warrant, court rulings call for a judge's probable cause decision within 48 hours. The appearance can happen by video.
Check Taylor County Inmate Search for the current status, since bail is often set at that first appearance.
When is bail refused entirely?
Only in limited cases under Wis. Stat. 969.035: specified serious offenses, or a violent-crime charge for a person who has a prior violent-crime conviction. The district attorney must ask and show why conditions will not protect the public.
The hearing is set within 10 days. The state's proof must be clear and convincing. A hold can run up to 60 days after the hearing.
What if police arrested a spouse for domestic abuse?
Wis. Stat. 968.075 requires an arrest in many domestic abuse cases. The person cannot be released until bail is posted or a judge sees the case, and then must follow a 72-hour no-contact rule. That means no going to the victim's home and no contact, directly or through others.
The rule is serious: knowing violation can bring up to nine months in jail and a $10,000 fine. The victim may waive it in writing.
What about work release?
Huber release helps sentenced inmates keep a job. A judge grants it. The inmate may leave at set hours for work, school, medical care, or family needs, and wages go into a trust account that pays board and other costs.
Someone who is only waiting for trial does not qualify. The Sheriff's Office at 715-748-2200 can explain how the jail runs its program for sentenced inmates.
Where do youths go after an arrest?
Juvenile cases are handled by the juvenile side of the circuit court, and the adult search may not list a child. The Clerk of Circuit Court at 715-748-1425 can tell you the hearing date and where the court placed the youth. The Sheriff's Office at 715-748-2200 can also direct you.
Be ready with the child's date of birth.
Who is the free lawyer for Taylor County?
The State Public Defender's Merrill office covers Taylor, Price, Lincoln, and Langlade counties. It is at 807 East 1st Street, Merrill, WI 54452, phone 715-536-9105.
Tell the judge at the first appearance that you want one. A person still held 72 hours after it can ask the judge to review the conditions.
What if my son misses court?
The court can order the bail forfeited and issue a warrant. Bail jumping under Wis. Stat. 946.49 is charged as a Class A misdemeanor when the release was on a misdemeanor and as a Class H felony when it was on a felony.
The person must send the clerk a new address in writing within 48 hours.
Will we get the money back?
Yes, when the case is dismissed or ends in acquittal; the deposit goes to the person who paid it. After a conviction, what remains after bond costs goes to restitution first and then to the judgment. The clerk at 715-748-1425 knows the refund steps.
Funds put on a jail account for calls or commissary are not bail and do not get anyone out.
Taylor County bail contacts
- Jail
- Taylor County Jail, Sheriff's Office, Taylor County Courthouse, 224 South 2nd Street, Medford, WI 54451; 715-748-2200
- Custody lookup
- Taylor County Inmate Search
- Clerk of Circuit Court
- 224 South Second Street, Medford, WI 54451; 715-748-1425
- Public defender
- State Public Defender, Merrill, 807 East 1st Street; 715-536-9105
- Juvenile court
- Clerk of Circuit Court, 715-748-1425
Phone lines, hours, and bail amounts can change, and a judge may order terms different from the general rules here. Confirm with the Sheriff's Office or clerk before you pay. For advice about a particular case, speak with a lawyer.
Taylor County Jail
Address:
224 South Second St.
Medford, WI 54451
Phone:
715-748-1431
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Taylor County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Taylor County?
Who can set bail in Taylor County?
When is bail set in Taylor County Wisconsin?
Does Taylor County have bail?
Yes, Taylor 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 Taylor County?
The Taylor County courts recognize cash bail or10% cash percentage bonds. In some cases, a property bond will be considered.
Who can set bail in Taylor County?
Bail is set by a judge in Taylor 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 Taylor 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 Taylor 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 Taylor 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 Taylor 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 Taylor 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 Taylor County have bail?
Yes, Taylor 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 Taylor County?
The Taylor County courts recognize cash bail or10% cash percentage bonds. In some cases, a property bond will be considered.
Who can set bail in Taylor County?
Bail is set by a judge in Taylor 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 Taylor County Wisconsin?
Yes, your attorney can request a bond reduction.
In Taylor 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 Taylor 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 Taylor County Jail for more information about the jails in Taylor County.
What options are there to pay bail in Taylor 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 Taylor County Jail for more information about posting bail in Taylor 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 Taylor 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.