Waupaca County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Waupaca County bail and bond: clerk by day, jail kiosk after hours
Adults arrested in Waupaca County are held at the Waupaca County Jail, 1402 East Royalton Street, which the Sheriff's Office runs. Use Waupaca County Inmate Search to see whether a person is in custody and what bail was set. On weekdays, pay a cash bond at the Clerk of Courts; after hours, use the kiosk at the jail lobby. Bail bondsmen are barred in Wisconsin. The Jail Division answers at 715-256-4545.
Where do I look to see if my relative is in the Waupaca County Jail?
Start with Waupaca County Inmate Search. If the name is missing, call the Jail Division at 715-256-4545 and ask whether the person is booked, still being processed, or held on behalf of another county.
Have the person's full legal name and date of birth ready.
What is the jail like, and who is held there?
The Waupaca County Jail is at 1402 East Royalton Street, run by the Sheriff's Office. It can hold 320 people, and the daily count runs around 200. Besides Waupaca County arrests, the jail holds many Wood County and Portage County inmates as safekeepers, plus some state Extended Supervision inmates from Brown County.
Where do I pay a cash bond on a weekday?
Go to the Clerk of Courts on the third floor of the courthouse, 811 Harding Street. Cash bonds are taken from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The clerk's number is 715-258-6460. Bring photo ID and the case number.
Where do I pay after the clerk closes?
Use the kiosk in the jail lobby at Door 19. It takes cash or a debit card. Bring the exact amount, because the jail cannot make change. If you are unsure of the amount, call 715-256-4545 before you drive over.
What does the jail charge besides bail?
Separate from bail, a $40 booking fee applies to most people, except probation holds and safekeepers from another county. It can be paid up to 10 days after release before the account goes to collections. People brought in on a warrant pay a $35 warrant fee, and sentenced inmates pay $10 a day. GPS and Huber release cost $210 a week, plus a one-time $10 urine test at setup. These are costs of jail programs, not bond money.
My brother is from Portage or Wood County but sits in Waupaca. Who sets his bail?
The county that holds the case does. Waupaca keeps him as a safekeeper, and court dates, bond, and release times come from the county that charged him. Call that county: the Portage County Jail at 715-346-1259 or the Wood County Jail at 715-421-8730.
Can I hire a bondsman in Waupaca County?
No. Wisconsin forbids paid sureties, and Wis. Stat. 969.12 says a surety must be an individual who lives in the state. You pay the clerk or the jail kiosk, not a company.
What if he is also on probation?
A probation hold is a separate reason to stay in custody even if bail is paid. Probation and Parole in Waupaca is at 715-258-4620. A hold during a violation investigation is not an arrest, so the 48-hour judicial review rule does not apply to it.
What does the district attorney do about bail?
The district attorney, 715-258-6444, prosecutes the case and can ask the court to change release terms (Wis. Stat. 969.08). For a short list of serious charges, only the district attorney can ask the judge to hold a person with no bail, and a hearing must start within 10 days.
What rules follow a domestic abuse arrest?
A required arrest means no release until bail is posted or a judge sees the case. After release, the person has 72 hours of no contact and must avoid the alleged victim's home (Wis. Stat. 968.075). Breaking this rule on purpose can mean a fine up to $10,000, up to 9 months in jail, or both.
When does a judge first see him?
A judge must see an arrested person within a reasonable time, and court decisions require a probable cause finding within 48 hours of a warrantless arrest. Release terms are set at that hearing. Call the clerk at 715-258-6460 for the date.
Does every person have to pay to leave?
No. Wisconsin judges may release a person on an unsecured appearance bond, a signed promise that creates a debt only if the terms are broken. A judge may also add rules such as travel limits, a ban on weapons, or a duty to return to custody at set hours (Wis. Stat. 969.02 and 969.03). Money bail requires a judge's finding that it is needed (969.01).
What if he fails to come back for a court date?
The court can order the bond forfeited and mail notice to the payer, who has 30 days to respond before judgment may be entered. The person can also be charged with bail jumping under Wis. Stat. 946.49, a Class A misdemeanor or a Class H felony depending on the original charge. A new address must be reported to the clerk within 48 hours.
Can a lawyer get the amount lowered?
Yes. A lawyer can petition under Wis. Stat. 969.08. A person still held 72 hours after the first appearance may ask for a review, and the judge must put the reasons for keeping the terms on the record.
What happens to the cash when the case ends?
A dismissal or acquittal returns the deposit to the payer. On a conviction, bond costs are paid first, then restitution, then the judgment. Forfeited bond is not returned. Keep your receipt.
Who is the free lawyer in Waupaca County?
The State Public Defender office at 1265 Main Street, Suite 201, Stevens Point, WI 54481 covers Waupaca County. The phone is 715-345-5382. Counsel can be appointed by the judge at the first hearing if you cannot afford a lawyer.
What if the arrested person is a minor?
Phone the juvenile clerk at 715-258-6425. Staff can tell you the hearing date and the youth facility, if any. Juvenile cases are private, so the adult search omits any child.
What is a common bail scam?
A caller says to wire money or buy gift cards right now. Real payment goes only to the clerk or the jail kiosk. Hang up and call 715-256-4545 yourself.
Waupaca County bail contacts
- Jail
- Waupaca County Jail, 1402 East Royalton Street, Waupaca, WI; Jail Division 715-256-4545
- Custody lookup
- Waupaca County Inmate Search
- Clerk of Courts
- Courthouse, 811 Harding Street, Waupaca, WI 54981; 715-258-6460
- District attorney
- 715-258-6444
- Probation and Parole
- 715-258-4620
- Juvenile clerk
- 811 Harding Street; 715-258-6425
- Public defender
- 1265 Main Street, Suite 201, Stevens Point, WI 54481; 715-345-5382
Hours, fees, and phone numbers can change. Call the office to verify before you pay. This page is a general guide and not legal advice.
Paying an Inmate's Bail or Bond in Waupaca County
The Waupaca County Sheriff recommends that you might want to use a bail bond agent licensed to do business in Waupaca County.
However if you don't want to use a bail bond agent:
- You can always pay a cash bond yourself, or use your home in Waupaca County, or in some cases the state of Wisconsin, but the benefit of using a bail bond agent is that they take responsibility for making sure the inmate shows up for court in Waupaca County, and if they don't, then they take the financial responsibility.
- The typical fee for a bond in Wisconsin is between 10-20% of the bail amount; usually 15% or less. So if an offender has a bail of $10,000.00, their bond will be $1,500.00.
- Pay by cash, cashier's check, money order or credit card at the Waupaca County Jail, or the courthouse in Waupaca County where the offense took place.
Call 715-256-4545 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Waupaca County inmate locator.
Waupaca County Jail
Address:
1402 East Royalton Street
Waupaca, WI 54981
Phone:
715-256-4545
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Waupaca County
Does Waupaca County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Waupaca County?
Who can set bail in Waupaca County?
When is bail set in Waupaca County Wisconsin?
Does Waupaca County have bail?
Yes, Waupaca 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 Waupaca County?
The Waupaca County courts recognize cash bail or10% cash percentage bonds. In some cases, a property bond will be considered.
Who can set bail in Waupaca County?
Bail is set by a judge in Waupaca 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 Waupaca 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 Waupaca 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 Waupaca 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 Waupaca 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 Waupaca 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 Waupaca County have bail?
Yes, Waupaca 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 Waupaca County?
The Waupaca County courts recognize cash bail or10% cash percentage bonds. In some cases, a property bond will be considered.
Who can set bail in Waupaca County?
Bail is set by a judge in Waupaca 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 Waupaca County Wisconsin?
Yes, your attorney can request a bond reduction.
In Waupaca 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 Waupaca 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 Waupaca County Jail for more information about the jails in Waupaca County.
What options are there to pay bail in Waupaca 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 Waupaca County Jail for more information about posting bail in Waupaca 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 Waupaca 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.