Bail In Wisconsin (Part 1)

If you have a criminal court case in Wisconsin, your first hearing is called an ‘Initial Appearance.’ At that hearing you are formally informed of the charges, and bail is set.

What most people call bail is really two parts, bail and bond. Bail is the amount of money that must be posted to be released from (or stay out of) custody as a promise to come back to Court. Bond is the non-monetary conditions of release designed to assure appearance in court and the protection of the community.

The Wisconsin Constitution requires that “all persons, before conviction, shall be eligible for release under reasonable conditions designed to assure their appearance in court, protect members of the community from serious bodily harm or prevent the intimidation of witnesses.” It also requires that any court allow a person to be eligible for release, even under cash and other conditions. Finally, it allows for the legislature to put forth legislation that allows a court to revoke release for violations of the conditions of release.

In some cases the monetary component can be a Signature Bond or Personal Recognizance “PR” Bond. That is a promise to come back to court and follow the conditions of the bond without actually having to post the money for deposit. In other cases, a certain amount of money must be posted as a deposit to make that promise.

If you have questions about bail for your own or a loved one’s case contact Garuz Legal Group to discuss the unique circumstances of your case today.