Facing a criminal charge in Wisconsin

Bond and pretrial release in Wisconsin

Article I Section 8 of the Wisconsin Constitution provides that all persons before conviction shall be eligible for release under reasonable conditions designed to assure appearance and protect the community, with monetary conditions permitted only as needed to assure appearance under most circumstances. Wis. Stat. Chapter 969 governs bail. Wis. Stat. Sec. 969.01 directs the court to impose the least restrictive condition that will reasonably assure appearance, with monetary bond available only if non-monetary conditions are insufficient. April 2023 voters approved Wisconsin Constitutional Amendment to art. I sec. 8, expanding the categories under which courts may consider community safety in setting cash bail for violent crimes. Forms include release on personal recognizance, signature bond, cash bond, and surety bond.

Bond amounts, conditions, and timelines vary by county and judge. Confirm with counsel or the court.

Criminal defense attorneys serving Wisconsin

Our directory is still building in Wisconsin. Public-defender intake is available now.

Record clearing in Wisconsin

Wisconsin expungement is governed by Wis. Stat. 973.015. The statute provides a court-ordered expungement pathway that, when granted at the time of sentencing, results in expungement upon successful completion of sentence for eligible offenses committed by persons under age 25. The statute provides expungement only if ordered by the court at the time of sentencing, limited to offenses committed before age 25 carrying a maximum penalty of six years or less; Class H and I felonies are eligible subject to that ceiling, and Class A through G felonies, violent offenses listed in 939.632, and traffic offenses defined in 343.30(1q) are excluded. The order is entered in the court of conviction.

Eligibility, waiting periods, and the petition vs. automatic pathway depend on the conviction class and the date of the offense. Confirm with counsel or the court record.

Public defender intake in Wisconsin

Wisconsin State Public Defender serves STATEWIDE County. Public defenders are appointed by the court based on financial eligibility. We do not refer you to a specific public defender and we do not represent you.

Public defenders are appointed by the court based on financial eligibility. LawSensai does not refer you to a public defender and does not represent you. This packet is a courtesy summary you can share with your public defender or their intake staff. You remain responsible for applying to the court for appointed counsel.