Washington County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Washington County bail and bond: the West Bend jail and where to pay
People arrested in Washington County are held in the Washington County Jail at 500 Rolfs Avenue in West Bend, which the Sheriff's Office runs. Use Washington County Inmate Search to see if a person is in custody and what the bail is. Wisconsin bans paid bail bondsmen, so bail is paid in cash or by card to the Clerk of Courts by day and at the jail lobby after hours. The jail answers at 262-335-4427.
How do I tell if someone is in the Washington County Jail?
Search the name on Washington County Inmate Search. It shows custody and the bail, if one is set. For anything else, the jail answers at 262-335-4427.
A new booking can take a while to appear in the search. Check again later in the day.
Where is the jail, and which door do I use?
The Washington County Jail is at 500 Rolfs Avenue, West Bend, WI 53090, north of the courthouse. The public enters through the red doors. The Sheriff's Office runs the jail and a juvenile detention unit in the same building.
The jail phone is 262-335-4427. Bring a valid photo ID any time you come.
Where do I post a circuit court bond during the day?
Go to the Clerk of Courts, 484 Rolfs Avenue, Suite 3151, West Bend, during court hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The clerk takes cash or a wire transfer only. A wire is recommended for anything over $5,000. For wire questions, call 262-365-5131.
For other clerk questions, such as the court date, call 262-335-4341.
Where do I post bail at night or on a weekend?
Use the front lobby of the jail when the clerk is closed. The lobby takes cash or a credit card. Personal checks are not accepted. Bring photo ID. Call 262-335-4427 first to confirm what the lobby is taking that day.
Card payments made through the phone and online line carry a non-refundable fee.
Can I pay bail by phone or online?
Yes, with a credit card. Call the EZ Bail line at 877-392-2455 or use the county's online payment site. Cards accepted are Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Diners Club, and Discover. A non-refundable fee applies.
You need the right pay location code: 2601 for circuit court bonds, 2602 for municipal court, 2603 for out-of-county warrants, and 2604 for child support warrants. Call the jail to confirm the code for your case before you pay.
What about a municipal court bond?
Municipal bonds are posted at the Mid-Moraine Municipal Court, 962 West Paradise Drive, West Bend, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The phone is 262-334-5700.
That court handles ordinance cases, not state crimes, so a person held on a criminal case is posting through the Clerk of Courts.
Why do I keep seeing "bondsman" ads?
You may see bondsman ads online. In Wisconsin, paid bail bonding is illegal. Wis. Stat. 969.12 allows only an individual who lives in the state to serve as surety, and it bars paying that person. There is no company to hire in West Bend.
You pay the court's bail in money. That deposit can come back when the case ends, which a bondsman's fee never does.
What does Wisconsin mean by "bail"?
Only the money. Conditions of release are the other rules, like no contact with a named person, no weapons, a curfew, or a duty to return to custody at set hours.
A judge can order money bail only after finding a reasonable basis to think it is needed to make the person return to court. In a violent-crime case the judge can look at all the circumstances, including earlier violent convictions and witness safety.
When does the judge see the person?
A person arrested must be brought before a judge within a reasonable time, and for a warrantless arrest a judge must find probable cause within 48 hours. Hearings may be by video.
The Clerk of Circuit Court at 262-335-4341 can give the date and courtroom. Washington County Inmate Search shows the bail once it is set.
Is there a cap on bail for misdemeanors?
Yes. Misdemeanor bail may not exceed the maximum fine for the offense. Felony bail has no statewide chart.
Judges may weigh ability to pay, the charge, the record, ties to the community, and the strength of the evidence. Courts have also said cash bail does not fit a misdemeanor where there is no risk the person will skip court.
When can a Washington County judge deny bail?
Only in limited cases under Wis. Stat. 969.035: specified serious charges, or a violent-crime charge where the person has a prior violent conviction. The district attorney must file, and the hearing starts within 10 days.
The state has to meet a clear and convincing burden. Bail can be denied for up to 60 days after the hearing.
How is a domestic abuse arrest handled in West Bend?
Officers must arrest in many domestic abuse cases, and under Wis. Stat. 968.075 the person cannot be released until bail is posted or a judge sees the case. Release brings a 72-hour no-contact order covering the victim's home and any contact, direct or through someone else.
A knowing violation can mean up to nine months in jail and a fine of up to $10,000. The victim may sign a written waiver.
What happens at booking if I am ordered to report?
Bring photo ID and your court paperwork. Leave extra items, jewelry, and electronics in your vehicle, and remove piercings for the photo. Only the person being booked may enter the booking room.
Expect a wait of about 15 to 45 minutes, sometimes more. Bookings are first come, first served, and your place is not held if you leave.
Is money on the kiosk the same as bail?
No. The lobby kiosk adds money to an inmate's account. A credit card payment has a $4.95 fee, a $100 limit per transaction, and a $200 weekly maximum. Cash has a $2.75 fee and no limit. This is not bail and does not release anyone.
Bail goes to the clerk, the jail lobby, or the phone and online payment line. If you cannot tell which applies, call 262-335-4427.
Where does a juvenile go?
The Washington County Juvenile Detention unit is inside the jail building at 500 Rolfs Avenue. It is a secure regional facility that serves Washington County and other Wisconsin counties, and it holds youth ordered detained by a court. Pod Control answers at 262-306-2247, and the manager's office at 262-335-4410.
Juvenile matters get priority over court bookings, which can slow adult processing. Parents or guardians must complete a medical consent form on arrival. Release is only to a responsible adult with ID.
What are the juvenile visiting rules?
Visits are daily, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., in half-hour slots set in advance. They are non-contact. Up to three visitors may come at a time. Eligible visitors include parents, step-parents, foster parents, guardians, and grandparents.
Visitors sign in, show photo ID, and go through a metal detector. Phones and cameras stay out. Call Pod Control at 262-306-2247 to confirm who is eligible.
How do I reach the West Bend public defender?
The State Public Defender's West Bend office is at 215 North Main Street, Suite 210, West Bend, WI 53095, phone 262-335-5370. Ask the judge for a public defender at that hearing.
A lawyer can ask the court to lower bail. A person still held 72 hours after the first appearance can also ask the judge to review the conditions.
What if someone misses a court date?
The court can forfeit the bail and issue a warrant. Wisconsin treats a knowing violation of bond terms as bail jumping (Wis. Stat. 946.49), graded as a Class A misdemeanor or a Class H felony to match the original charge.
A released person must notify the clerk of a new address in writing within 48 hours.
How and when is bail refunded?
If the case is dismissed or ends in acquittal, the deposit goes back to the person who paid it. After a conviction, the leftover deposit is applied to restitution, then to the judgment, once bond costs are covered. Call the Clerk of Courts at 262-335-4341.
The refund goes to the payer, not the defendant, so keep the receipt.
What rules apply to a sentenced inmate's property and time?
Each inmate must keep one full set of street clothing at the jail. To pick up an inmate's property, the inmate completes a Property Release form naming the person who will collect it and listing the items. Property left 30 days after release is disposed of.
A person sentenced to county jail, but not as a condition of probation, may earn up to one-quarter good time. Inmates serving a probation condition or a municipal court sentence receive none unless the court allows it.
Washington County bail contacts
- Jail
- Washington County Jail, 500 Rolfs Avenue, West Bend, WI 53090; 262-335-4427
- Custody lookup
- Washington County Inmate Search
- Circuit court bonds
- Clerk of Courts, 484 Rolfs Avenue, Suite 3151, West Bend; Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; 262-335-4341; wire questions 262-365-5131
- After hours
- Jail front lobby (cash or credit card; photo ID; no personal checks)
- Phone and online
- EZ Bail 877-392-2455; codes 2601 circuit, 2602 municipal, 2603 out-of-county warrants, 2604 child support
- Municipal court
- Mid-Moraine Municipal Court, 962 West Paradise Drive, West Bend; 262-334-5700
- Public defender
- State Public Defender, 215 North Main Street, Suite 210, West Bend; 262-335-5370
- Juvenile
- Washington County Juvenile Detention, 500 Rolfs Avenue; Pod Control 262-306-2247; manager 262-335-4410
Hours, fees, and rules can change, and a judge may set terms that differ from the general rules here. Confirm with the jail or clerk before you pay or travel. Use it as an overview, and ask a lawyer about your own case.
Pay an Inmate's Bond Online
Washington County Jail uses a service called allpaid (also known as GovPayNet) for paying an inmate's Bail Bond online for an inmate.
Register with them online or call them at 877-392-2455 for assistance.
To make a payment, you will need the following:
- Court of Jurisdiction
- Payment Amount
- The Pay Location Code (PLC #) if you can get it. Call 262-335-4427 to ask for this.
- Name of Arrestee/Defendant for whom payment is being made
- Arrestee/Defendant's Date of Birth
- Arrestee/Defendant's Booking Number
Washington County Jail
Address:
500 Rolfs Avenue
West Bend, WI 53095
Phone:
262-335-4427
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Washington County
Does Washington County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Washington County?
Who can set bail in Washington County?
When is bail set in Washington County Wisconsin?
Does Washington County have bail?
Yes, Washington 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 Washington County?
The Washington County courts recognize cash bail or10% cash percentage bonds. In some cases, a property bond will be considered.
Who can set bail in Washington County?
Bail is set by a judge in Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington County have bail?
Yes, Washington 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 Washington County?
The Washington County courts recognize cash bail or10% cash percentage bonds. In some cases, a property bond will be considered.
Who can set bail in Washington County?
Bail is set by a judge in Washington 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 Washington County Wisconsin?
Yes, your attorney can request a bond reduction.
In Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington County Jail for more information about the jails in Washington County.
What options are there to pay bail in Washington 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 Washington County Jail for more information about posting bail in Washington 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 Washington 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay a Washington County Jail inmate's bond online?
Yes, you can pay a Washington County Jail inmate's bond online using a third-party service called 'allpaid'. The instructions are easy... From their website, look up Washington County Jail or Washington County, input the inmate's name, and then use your credit or debit card to deposit the bond amount. As soon as the payment is processed and the information is sent to the Washington County Jail, the jail will begin the release process. You do not have to be present for all of this to take place. Learn more about how to bail or bond out an inmate in the Washington County Jail, call allpaid directly at 877-392-2455, or call the jail at 262-335-4427.