Persons charged with misdemeanor crimes may be able to post bail and be released and will have to return to the Dane County Courthouse at a later date. Out of custody initial appearance hearings are held in Courtroom 1A of the Dane County Courthouse, 215 S. Hamilton Street, Madison.
Persons charged with felony crimes MUST WAIT in jail for an initial appearance before a court commissioner. These hearings are held Monday through Friday at 1:30 p.m. at the Public Safety Building (Dane County Jail), 115 W. Doty St, Madison. The jail is adjacent to the courthouse.
Call the jail at (608) 284-6800 or the VINE system at 1-877-418-8463.
This first court date is based on how quickly the District Attorney’s Office receives information from the arresting police agency and files a criminal complaint in court (usually within one to four days). At initial appearances, the conditions and amount of bail are set.
| MONDAY | Court Hearings | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00 a.m. | Out of Custody Initial Appearances | Courthouse 1A |
| 1:30 p.m. | In Custody Arraignment Hearings & Temp. Restraining Orders | Dane Co. Jail |
| TUESDAY | Court Hearings | Location |
| 1:30 p.m. | In Custody Arraignment Hearings & Temp. Restraining Orders | Dane Co. Jail |
| WEDNESDAY | Court Hearings | Location |
| 8:30 a.m. | Out of Custody Initial Appearances: Criminal Traffic | Courthouse 1A |
| 9:00 a.m. | Criminal Traffic: Madison Police Department (Spanish cases) | Courthouse 1A |
| 1:30 p.m. | In Custody Arraignment Hearings | Dane Co. Jail |
| THURSDAY | Court Hearings | Location |
| 8:30 a.m. | Out-of-Custody Initial Appearances | Courthouse 1A |
| 10:30 a.m. | Out-of-Custody Initial Appearances | Courthouse 1A |
| 1:30 p.m. | In Custody Arraignment Hearings & Temp. Restraining Orders | Dane Co. Jail |
| FRIDAY | Court Hearings | Location |
| 1:30 p.m. | In Custody Arraignment Hearings & Temp. Restraining Orders | Dane Co. Jail |
Pay bail in person at the Bail / Release window at the Public Safety Building (Dane County Jail), 115 W. Doty St., Madison, on the ground floor. The jail accepts cash, credit cards, money orders, or cashier’s checks. Cash bail can also be paid at any Sheriff’s Department in Wisconsin; simply let them know you are bailing someone out in Dane County.
he District Attorney's Office cannot provide legal advice. The District Attorney’s Office prosecutes crime on behalf of the state, and ethically prosecutors cannot give legal advice. This office also does not determine if someone obtains a court-appointed attorney. Ask the judge handling the case or call the State Public Defender’s Office at (608) 266-9150. They are located at 17 S. Fairchild St., 2nd Floor, Madison.
This depends on why someone is in jail. Inmates serving sentences have a scheduled release date if no other charges or warrants exist. Those being held on a probation or parole violations can only be released by their probation or parole agent.
Call the Department of Corrections Central Records at (608) 240-3750 and provide the person’s name, date of birth, or inmate number.
