Chapter 969

969.08(9) (9) This section does not limit any other authority of a court to revoke the release of a defendant.

969.08(9m) (9m) A person who has had bail revoked under this section is entitled to placement of his or her case on an expedited trial calendar and his or her trial shall be given priority.

969.08(10) (10) In this section:

969.08(10)(a) (a) “Commission of a serious crime” includes a solicitation, conspiracy or attempt, under s. 948.35, 1999 stats., or s. 939.30, 939.31, or 939.32, to commit a serious crime.

969.08(10)(b) (b) “Serious crime” means any crime specified in s. 943.23 (1m), 1999 stats., s. 943.23 (1r), 1999 stats., or s. 943.23 (1g), 2021 stats., or s. 346.62 (4), 940.01, 940.02, 940.03, 940.05, 940.06, 940.08, 940.09, 940.10, 940.19 (5), 940.195 (5), 940.198 (2) (a) or (c), 940.20, 940.201, 940.203, 940.204, 940.21, 940.225 (1) to (3), 940.23, 940.24, 940.25, 940.29, 940.295 (3) (b) 1g., 1m., 1r., 2. or 3., 940.302 (2), 940.31, 941.20 (2) or (3), 941.26, 941.30, 941.327, 943.01 (2) (c), 943.011, 943.013, 943.02, 943.03, 943.04, 943.06, 943.10, 943.231 (1), 943.30, 943.32, 943.81, 943.82, 943.825, 943.83, 943.85, 943.86, 943.87, 943.88, 943.89, 943.90, 946.01, 946.02, 946.43, 947.015, 948.02 (1) or (2), 948.025, 948.03, 948.04, 948.05, 948.051, 948.06, 948.07, 948.085, or 948.30 or, if the victim is a financial institution, as defined in s. 943.80 (2), a crime under s. 943.84 (1) or (2).

969.08 History History: 1971 c. 298; 1977 c. 449; 1979 c. 112; 1981 c. 183; 1985 a. 293 s. 3; 1987 a. 90, 332, 399, 403; 1991 a. 153, 269; 1993 a. 50, 92, 94, 227, 441, 445, 491; 1997 a. 143, 180, 295; 1999 a. 32; 2001 a. 109; 2005 a. 212, 277; 2007 a. 97, 116; 2021 a. 76, 209; 2023 a. 10, 128.

969.09 969.09 Conditions of bond.

969.09(1) (1) If a defendant is admitted to bail before sentencing the conditions of the bond shall include, without limitation, the requirements that the defendant will appear in the court having jurisdiction on a day certain and thereafter as ordered until discharged on final order of the court and that the defendant will submit to the orders and process of the court.

969.09(2) (2) If the defendant is admitted to bail upon appeal, the conditions of the bond shall be that the defendant will duly prosecute the defendant’s appeal, that the defendant will appear at such time and place as the court directs, and that if the judgment is affirmed or reversed and remanded for a new trial or further proceedings upon notice after remittitur, the defendant will surrender to the sheriff of the county in which the defendant was tried.

969.09(3) (3) A defendant shall receive a copy of the bond which the defendant executes pursuant to this chapter.

969.09 History History: 1993 a. 486; 1995 a. 225.

969.09 Annotation A petition for a writ of habeas corpus properly named the state department with custody of probationers, rather than the sheriff, as the respondent if the petitioner was released on bail pending appeal. Dreske v. DHSS, 483 F. Supp. 783 (1980).

969.10 969.10 Notice of change of address. A person who has been released on bail or other conditions shall give written notice to the clerk of any change in his or her address within 48 hours after the change. This requirement shall be printed on all bonds.

969.10 History History: 1981 c. 183.

969.11 969.11 Release upon arrest in another county.

969.11(1) (1) If the defendant is arrested in a county other than the county in which the offense was committed, he or she shall, without unreasonable delay, either be brought before a judge of the county in which arrested for the purpose of setting bail or other conditions of release or be returned to the county in which the offense was committed. The judge shall release him or her on conditions imposed in accordance with this chapter to appear before a court in the county in which the offense was committed at a specified time and place.

969.11(2) (2) If the defendant is released on bail or other conditions pursuant to sub. (1), the judge shall make a record of the proceedings and shall certify his or her minutes thereof and shall forward the bond and bail to the court before whom the defendant is bound to appear.

969.11 History History: 1981 c. 183.

969.12 969.12 Sureties.

969.12(1) (1) Every surety under this chapter, except a surety under s. 345.61, shall be a resident of the state.

969.12(2) (2) A surety under this chapter shall be a natural person, except a surety under s. 345.61. No surety under this chapter may be compensated for acting as such a surety.

969.12(3) (3) A court may require a surety to justify by sworn affidavit that the surety is worth the amount specified in the bond exclusive of property exempt from execution. The surety shall provide such evidence of financial responsibility as the judge requires. The court may at any time examine the sufficiency of the bail in such manner as it deems proper, and in all cases the state may challenge the sufficiency of the surety.

969.12 History History: 1979 c. 34; 1993 a. 486.

969.13 969.13 Forfeiture.

969.13(1) (1) If the conditions of the bond are not complied with, the court having jurisdiction over the defendant in the criminal action shall enter an order declaring the bail to be forfeited.

969.13(2) (2) This order may be set aside upon such conditions as the court imposes if it appears that justice does not require the enforcement of the forfeiture.

969.13(3) (3) By entering into a bond, the defendant and sureties submit to the jurisdiction of the court for the purposes of liability on the bond and irrevocably appoint the clerk as their agent upon whom any papers affecting their bond liability may be served. Their liability may be enforced without the necessity of an independent action.

969.13(4) (4) Notice of the order of forfeiture under sub. (1) shall be mailed forthwith by the clerk to the defendant and the defendant’s sureties at their last addresses. If the defendant does not appear and surrender to the court within 30 days from the date of the forfeiture and within such period the defendant or the defendant’s sureties do not satisfy the court that appearance and surrender by the defendant at the time scheduled for the defendant’s appearance was impossible and without the defendant’s fault, the court shall upon motion of the district attorney enter judgment for the state against the defendant and any surety for the amount of the bail and costs of the court proceeding. Proceeds of the judgment shall be paid to the county treasurer. The motion and such notice of motion as the court prescribes may be served on the clerk who shall forthwith mail copies to the defendant and the defendant’s sureties at their last addresses.

969.13(5) (5) 

969.13(5)(a) (a) A cash deposit made with the clerk pursuant to this chapter shall be applied first to the payment of any recompense determined under par. (b) and then, if the recompense is paid in full, to the payment of costs. If any amount of such deposit remains after the payment of costs, it shall be applied to payment of the judgment of forfeiture. The person making the cash deposit shall be given written notice of the requirements of this paragraph.

969.13(5)(b) (b) The court shall determine a recompense amount for any victim, or if the victim is deceased, for his or her estate, of the crime for which the bond was entered into unless the court finds substantial reason not to do so and states the reason on the record. The court shall determine the recompense amount in the same manner as the court would have determined the restitution amount under s. 973.20 (2), (3), (4), (4m), (5), and (7) had the person been convicted.

969.13 History History: 1971 c. 298; 1993 a. 486; 2005 a. 447.

969.13 Annotation Forfeiture proceedings are a part of an underlying criminal case. State v. Givens, 88 Wis. 2d 457, 276 N.W.2d 790 (1979).

969.13 Annotation The trial court abused its discretion in refusing to modify an order under sub. (2) when partial remission of a bond was appropriate. State v. Ascencio, 92 Wis. 2d 822, 285 N.W.2d 910 (Ct. App. 1979).

969.13 Annotation Forfeiture proceedings are civil in nature; appeals are governed by s. 808.04. State v. Wickstrom, 134 Wis. 2d 158, 396 N.W.2d 188 (1986).

969.13 Annotation Sub. (1) mandates bail forfeiture for any bond condition violation. State v. Badzmierowski, 171 Wis. 2d 260, 490 N.W.2d 784 (Ct. App. 1992).

969.13 Annotation A circuit court has discretion to enter a judgment on an order forfeiting bail absent a motion by the district attorney when the defendant appears within 30 days of the forfeiture. State v. Achterberg, 201 Wis. 2d 291, 548 N.W.2d 515 (1996), 94-3360.

969.13 Annotation The trial court’s decision under sub. (2) requires the exercise of discretion. Refusing all requests for the return of bail money is not an exercise of discretion. The standard “that justice requires” cannot be parlayed into an all-inclusive list, but is essentially an appeal to the conscience of the court. Melone v. State, 2001 WI App 13, 240 Wis. 2d 451, 623 N.W.2d 179, 00-0969.

969.14 969.14 Surrender of principal by surety.

969.14(1) (1) When the sureties desire to be discharged from the obligations of their bond, they may arrest the principal and deliver the principal to the sheriff of the county in which the action against the principal is pending.

969.14(2) (2) The sureties shall, at the time of surrendering the principal, deliver to the sheriff a certified copy of the original warrant and of the order admitting the principal to bail and of the bond thereon; such delivery of these documents shall be sufficient authority for the sheriff to receive and retain the principal until the principal is otherwise bailed or discharged.

969.14(3) (3) Upon the delivery of the principal as provided herein, the sureties may apply to the court for an order discharging them from liability as sureties; and upon satisfactory proof being made that this section has been complied with the court shall make an order discharging them from liability.

969.14 History History: 1993 a. 486.