Waukesha County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Waukesha County bail and bond: the Door 8 window, the Business Center, and the rules behind them
People arrested in Waukesha County are held at the Waukesha County Jail, 515 West Moreland Boulevard, Waukesha, inside the Law Enforcement Center behind the courthouse. The Sheriff's Department runs it, and the jail answers around the clock at 262-548-7170. Use Waukesha County Inmate Search to check custody. Wisconsin bans bail bondsmen, so you pay bail to the county. Where you pay depends on the hour and on whether the court set the amount.
1. Is the person I am looking for inside the Waukesha County Jail?
Search Waukesha County Inmate Search first. If the booking is brand new, wait and look again. The jail desk, open every day around the clock, is at 262-548-7170. The public entrance for jail visitors is at the southwest corner of the Law Enforcement Center, off Riverview Avenue.
2. Which Waukesha phone number do I use for what?
Use 262-548-7170 for the jail, 262-548-7122 for the Law Enforcement Center, and 262-446-5070 for non-emergency police help. The Sheriff's Business Office, 262-548-7117, answers weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Clerk of Circuit Court is a separate office at 262-896-8525.
3. Can I hire a bondsman in Waukesha?
No. Wisconsin has not allowed paid bonding since 1979. A surety must be an individual who lives in the state, and no one may be paid for the role. A company or person who offers a bond for a percentage is not working lawfully.
The legal options are release without money, a signed promise, and the cash deposit the judge sets.
4. Where do I pay when the court has set the bail?
If the bail was set in Waukesha County Criminal/Traffic Court, pay at the Business Center, Room 112, in the Courthouse during business hours, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. The Courthouse is open 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Visitors enter through Door 2 and pass security screening.
5. Where do I pay at night, on weekends, or for other bail?
All other bail goes through the Sheriff's Department. The bail window at Door 8 in the Law Enforcement Center lobby is open 24 hours a day, every day. It accepts cash, certified funds, cashier's checks, Visa, Discover, and MasterCard. Money orders are taken too.
Ask the jail at 262-548-7170 for the exact amount before you come, bring the full legal name and date of birth, and keep the written receipt for the refund.
6. Is a deposit at the lobby kiosk the same as bail?
No. The kiosk and SmartDeposit fund an inmate's account for store and phone use. At the kiosk, cash (no $1 bills) carries a $3.25 fee and a $500 limit, and cards carry a $4.95 fee and a $100 limit. SmartDeposit is at 866-394-0490. None of this releases anyone. Only bail paid at the Business Center or the Door 8 window does.
7. How soon does a judge see the person?
Within a reasonable time. Court decisions use about 48 hours as the limit for a warrantless arrest. Remote appearance by video is allowed. The Clerk of Circuit Court at 262-896-8525 has the date and courtroom once a case is open.
8. Are bail, bond, and conditions of release different things?
Bail means money. A bond is the document. A cash bond is posted in money. An unsecured appearance bond means a signature and a debt only if terms are broken. Rules like no contact, curfew, or no weapons are conditions of release. A judge may use all three tools in one order.
9. How does the judge choose the number?
The judge may order bail only after finding it is needed to secure appearance, or, on a violent charge, after weighing the whole picture. Ability to pay, the charge, the evidence, prior record, and probation status count. Misdemeanor bail cannot top the largest fine for the offense. There is no statewide felony schedule.
10. Can a misdemeanor arrest end with no cash?
Often. The statewide misdemeanor schedule tells officers to release without cash unless a reason applies, such as no proper ID, a risk of harm to someone, no community ties, a missed court date or citation before, or an investigation that needs the person held.
11. Does Waukesha County have a pretrial program?
Yes. It is one of the counties with a program and has been a pilot site. A judge can order supervision instead of cash or in addition to it. A court cannot enroll everyone charged without an individual decision, so a lawyer should ask in the specific case.
12. What does it mean if the court holds someone with no bail?
The court can refuse release only in narrow cases. These include some homicide and sexual assault charges and violent charges against a person with a violent past. A prosecutor must ask. The hearing begins within 10 days, with a clear and convincing proof standard. The hold ends at 60 days after the hearing at the latest.
13. What happens to release after a domestic abuse arrest?
Release is delayed. Officers must arrest in qualifying cases and cannot free the person until bail is posted or a judge has acted. On release the person gets 72 hours with no contact and no entry to the alleged victim's home, and signs an acknowledgment. A knowing violation can cost up to $10,000, up to nine months in jail, or both.
14. What is the Huber facility?
Huber is work release for people sentenced to county jail. They may leave for a job, school, treatment, or family duties at set hours. The Huber Facility is at 1400 Northview Road, Waukesha, 262-548-7181. It does not apply to someone awaiting trial who cannot pay bail.
15. What follows a no-show after bail is posted?
Forfeiture and a warrant are the usual results. Bail jumping may be charged as well, a Class A misdemeanor on a misdemeanor case or a Class H felony on a felony case. Moves must be reported to the Clerk in writing within 48 hours.
16. Can I get the bail payment back?
You can if the case is dismissed or the defendant is acquitted, because the person who paid is repaid. After a conviction, what remains once bond costs are taken goes first to restitution, then to the judgment. Forfeited money is not refunded.
17. Will Waukesha County take property?
No filing steps for property appear in state law. A signer must be a Wisconsin resident and a person, not a company, and the judge decides how ability to pay is shown. Ask the Clerk at 262-896-8525 before signing.
18. How do I collect a car or belongings, or do court-ordered fingerprints?
Property and vehicle release is by appointment only, at Door 8: call 262-896-8140 or 262-548-7138. Court-ordered ID processing and DNA swabs need no appointment, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.; call 262-896-8166 or 262-896-8167.
19. Who is the public defender for Waukesha County?
The State Public Defender's Waukesha office, 407 Pilot Court, Suite 500, serves the county at 262-521-5173. Counsel is requested from the judge at the first appearance, and the office decides eligibility.
20. Where are Waukesha County teens held when locked detention is ordered?
Waukesha County's own juvenile detention center closed on October 1, 2021. Youths who need locked detention are held under contract in Washington, Rock, or Dane counties. Washington County's center is at 500 Rolfs Avenue, West Bend, 262-306-2247. Juvenile Court is at 262-548-7449, and Waukesha County Inmate Search does not list minors.
Waukesha County bail contacts
- County jail
- Waukesha County Jail, 515 West Moreland Boulevard, Waukesha, WI 53188; 262-548-7170
- Bail and bond
- Pay bail at Business Center Room 112 (court-set bail, weekdays) or the Door 8 lobby window (24 hours)
- Sheriff's Department
- Law Enforcement Center, 515 West Moreland Boulevard; 262-548-7122; Business Office 262-548-7117
- Clerk of Circuit Court
- Courthouse, 515 West Moreland Boulevard; 262-896-8525
- Huber Facility
- 1400 Northview Road, Waukesha; 262-548-7181
- Custody lookup
- Waukesha County Inmate Search
- Public defender
- 407 Pilot Court, Suite 500, Waukesha; 262-521-5173
- Juvenile
- Juvenile Court 262-548-7449; Washington County Juvenile Detention, 500 Rolfs Avenue, West Bend, 262-306-2247
Window hours, fees, and payment rules change, so call the jail before you pay. This is a general guide, and only a lawyer can advise on a case.
Waukesha County Jail Remote Bail Deposits
There are five choices for putting money on an inmate's books that may be used for paying an inmate's Bond or Bail.
Check with Waukesha County Jail by calling 262-548-7170 prior to paying a bond online as this is being rolled out to different facilities slowly.
1. Commissary money in the form of a money order may be mailed to:
AdvancePay Service Department
P.O. Box 911722
Denver, CO 80291-1722
2. You may use cash or credit/debit cards at any time by using the kiosk located in the front lobby. The fee for the use of the ATM is generally $1.50 per transaction for cash and 10% fee for credit/debit cards.
3. Commissary money can also be added to an inmates account at any time using any of these methods online.
4. Cash deposits to ConnectNetwork are now available at 26,000 retail locations nationwide including Walmart, ACE, Kmart, Kroger, and more. You’ll start the payment process online in your ConnectNetwork account, then complete your transaction with cash at a participating local retail store. Plus, many of these stores are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Find a retail store near you.
5. You can call customer service 24/7 at 877-650-4249 and get instructions for depositing money over the phone using a debit or credit card.
Waukesha County Jail
Address:
515 West Moreland Blvd.
Waukesha, WI 53188
Phone:
262-548-7170
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Waukesha County
Does Waukesha County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Waukesha County?
Who can set bail in Waukesha County?
When is bail set in Waukesha County Wisconsin?
Does Waukesha County have bail?
Yes, Waukesha 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 Waukesha County?
The Waukesha County courts recognize cash bail or10% cash percentage bonds. In some cases, a property bond will be considered.
Who can set bail in Waukesha County?
Bail is set by a judge in Waukesha 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 Waukesha 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 Waukesha 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 Waukesha 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 Waukesha 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 Waukesha 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 Waukesha County have bail?
Yes, Waukesha 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 Waukesha County?
The Waukesha County courts recognize cash bail or10% cash percentage bonds. In some cases, a property bond will be considered.
Who can set bail in Waukesha County?
Bail is set by a judge in Waukesha 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 Waukesha County Wisconsin?
Yes, your attorney can request a bond reduction.
In Waukesha 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 Waukesha 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 Waukesha County Jail for more information about the jails in Waukesha County.
What options are there to pay bail in Waukesha 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 Waukesha County Jail for more information about posting bail in Waukesha 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 Waukesha 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.
Waukeha County Bail Posting
During normal business hours, bail set in a Waukesha County Criminal/Traffic Court may be posted in the:
Waukesha County Courthouse
515 W Moreland Blvd. Business Center, Room 112
Waukesha, WI 53188
For exact bail amount, call 262-548-7170.
All other bail postings will be handled through the Sheriff's Department. The Department accepts cash, certified funds, cashier's checks, Visa, Discover and MasterCard.