Wisconsin Statutes
Wis. Stat. § 969.03 (2026)
Release of defendants charged with felonies
✓ current as of July 2026
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969.03(1)(1) A defendant charged with a felony may be released by the judge without bail or upon the execution of an unsecured appearance bond or the judge may in addition to requiring the execution of an appearance bond or in lieu thereof impose one or more of the following conditions which will assure appearance for trial:
969.03(1)(a)(a) Place the person in the custody of a designated person or organization agreeing to supervise the person.
969.03(1)(b)(b) Place restrictions on the travel, association or place of abode of the defendant during the period of release.
969.03(1)(d)(d) Require the execution of an appearance bond with sufficient solvent sureties, or the deposit of cash in lieu of sureties. If the judge requires a deposit of cash in lieu of sureties, the person making the cash deposit shall be given written notice of the requirements of sub. (4).
969.03(1)(e)(e) Impose bail following a finding under s. 969.01 (1) (b) or any nonmonetary condition deemed reasonably necessary to secure appearance in court as required, protect members of the community from serious harm, or prevent intimidation of witnesses, including a condition requiring that the defendant return to custody after specified hours. The charges authorized by s. 303.08 (4) and (5) shall not apply under this section.
969.03(1m)(1m) The clerk of circuit court may accept a credit card or debit card, as defined in s. 59.40 (5) (a) 1. and 2., instead of cash under sub. (1) (d).
969.03(2)(2) As a condition of release in all cases, a person released under this section shall not commit any crime.
969.03(2m)(2m) Any person who is charged with a felony and released under this section shall comply with s. 940.49. The person shall be given written notice of this requirement.
969.03(3)(3) Once bail has been given and a charge is pending or is thereafter filed or transferred to another court, the latter court shall continue the original bail in that court subject to s. 969.08. A single bond form shall be utilized for all stages of the proceedings through conviction and sentencing or the granting of probation.
969.03(4)(4) If a judgment of conviction is entered in a prosecution in which a deposit had been made in accordance with sub. (1) (d), the balance of the deposit, after deduction of the bond costs, shall be applied first to the payment of any restitution ordered under s. 973.20 and then, if ordered restitution is satisfied in full, to the payment of the judgment.
969.03(5)(5) If the complaint against the defendant has been dismissed or if the defendant has been acquitted, the entire sum deposited shall be returned. A deposit under sub. (1) (d) shall be returned to the person who made the deposit, his or her heirs or assigns, subject to sub. (4).
969.03(6)(6) The restriction on the application of cash deposits under subs. (4) and (5) do not apply if bail is forfeited under s. 969.13.
969.03 HistoryHistory: 1971 c. 298; 1979 c. 112; 1981 c. 118, 183; 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 63; 1993 a. 486; 2005 a. 59, 447; 2023 a. 3.
969.03 AnnotationThe trial court, not the accused, decides whether to require cash or securities for a bond under sub. (1) (d). State v. Gassen, 143 Wis. 2d 761, 422 N.W.2d 863 (Ct. App. 1988).
969.03 AnnotationAs used in this section, “crime” includes violations committed in another jurisdiction. State v. West, 181 Wis. 2d 792, 512 N.W.2d 207 (Ct. App. 1993).
969.03 AnnotationThe application of bail posted by third parties to the defendant’s fines under sub. (4) was not unconstitutional. State v. Iglesias, 185 Wis. 2d 117, 517 N.W.2d 175 (1994).
969.03 AnnotationThe conditions that a court is authorized to impose under this section and s. 969.01 govern the release of a defendant from custody and do not apply if the defendant cannot post bond and is not released. A court may impose pretrial, no-contact provisions on incarcerated defendants under s. 940.47 if the terms of that statute are met. State v. Orlik, 226 Wis. 2d 527, 595 N.W.2d 468 (Ct. App. 1999), 98-2826.
969.03 AnnotationThe state need not obtain a conviction for the underlying crime in order to prove that a defendant violated the bail jumping statute by committing a crime. If there is evidence sufficient for a reasonable jury to conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant intentionally violated a bond by committing a crime, that evidence is not required to be in the form of a conviction for the underlying crime. State v. Hauk, 2002 WI App 226, 257 Wis. 2d 579, 652 N.W.2d 393, 01-1668.
969.03 AnnotationSub. (5) requires that any bond money posted shall be returned to the payor once a complaint against the defendant is dismissed, even if the underlying offenses comprising that criminal action are read in at sentencing for a different case. State v. Jones, 2021 WI App 15, 396 Wis. 2d 602, 957 N.W.2d 551, 19-0224.
969.03 AnnotationThe retention of 10 percent of a partial bail deposit, with no penalty for release on recognizance or when full bail is given, does not violate equal protection requirements. Schilb v. Kuebel, 404 U.S. 357, 92 S. Ct. 479, 30 L. Ed. 2d 502 (1971).
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 21
cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1972–2023 · leading case: State v. Iglesias, 517 N.W.2d 175 (Wis. 1994).
State v. Iglesias, 517 N.W.2d 175 (Wis. 1994). “NOTES [1] Section 969.03(1), Stats., (1989-90), provided that: A defendant charged with a felony may be released by the judge without bail or upon the execution of an unsecured appearance bond or the judge may in addition to requiring the execution of an appearance bond or in…”
Matter of Disciplinary Proceedings Against Inglimo, 2007 WI 126 (Wis. 2007). “In addition, Wis. Stat. § 969.03 (2) (1999-2000) 2 provided that "[a]s a condition of release in all cases, a person released under this section shall not commit any crime.”
State v. Hauk, 2002 WI App 226 (Wis. Ct. App. 2002). “" Hauk contends that there was insufficient evidence to prove that she violated this condition because she was never convicted of an underlying crime.”
State v. Henning, 2004 WI 89 (Wis. 2004). “02 ) or felonies ( Wis. Stat. § 969.03 ) violate the bail jumping statute if they commit any crime while released on bond.”
State v. Anderson, 580 N.W.2d 329 (Wis. 1998). “49 providing that the defendant shall neither directly nor indirectly threaten, harass, intimidate or otherwise interfere with victims or witnesses in the action; Wis. Stat. § 969.03 (2) providing that the defendant shall not commit any crimes or engage in any criminal activity;…”
State v. Peters, 2003 WI 88 (Wis. 2003). “02 (1) (misdemeanor bail) and § 969.03(1) (felony bail). The term "bond" as used in this context means "a writing .”
State v. Cetnarowski, 480 N.W.2d 790 (Wis. Ct. App. 1992). “On appeal, Brian argues that sec. 969.03(1)(d), Stats. (release of defendants charged with felonies), is the only statutory provision enabling a court to reduce the amount of bail returned to a defendant absent a bail forfeiture circumstance.”
State of Iowa v. Patrick John Letscher, 888 N.W.2d 880 (Iowa 2016). “”); Wis. Stat. Ann. § 969.03 (4) (West, Westlaw current through 2015 Act 392) ("If a judgment of conviction is entered .”
Schilb v. Kuebel, 404 U.S. 357 (1972). “Wisconsin imposes a cost only on those found guilty, Wis. Stat. § 969.03 (1) (c) (1969). New York until recently imposed a flat percentage fee on all who obtain pretrial release, regardless of method chosen.”
State v. James A. Jones, 2021 WI App 15 (Wis. Ct. App. 2021). “§ 969.03. The court noted that the restitution statute specifically defines “a crime considered at sentencing” to include “any crime for which the defendant was convicted and any read-in crime.”
State v. Beiersdorf, 561 N.W.2d 749 (Wis. Ct. App. 1997). “Beiersdorf notes that § 969.03(2), Stats., requires as a condition of bail that a defendant "shall not commit any crime.”
State v. Gassen, 422 N.W.2d 863 (Wis. Ct. App. 1988). “Section 969.03(1), Stats., provides in pertinent part: A defendant charged with a felony may be released by the judge without bail or upon the execution of an unsecured appearance bond or the judge may in addition to requiring the execution of an appearance bond or in lieu…”
— Wis. Stat. § 969.03(1) — 4 cases
State v. Iglesias, 517 N.W.2d 175 (Wis. 1994). “NOTES [1] Section 969.03(1), Stats., (1989-90), provided that: A defendant charged with a felony may be released by the judge without bail or upon the execution of an unsecured appearance bond or the judge may in addition to requiring the execution of an appearance bond or in…”
State v. Peters, 2003 WI 88 (Wis. 2003). “02 (1) (misdemeanor bail) and § 969.03(1) (felony bail). The term "bond" as used in this context means "a writing .”
State v. Gassen, 422 N.W.2d 863 (Wis. Ct. App. 1988). “Section 969.03(1), Stats., provides in pertinent part: A defendant charged with a felony may be released by the judge without bail or upon the execution of an unsecured appearance bond or the judge may in addition to requiring the execution of an appearance bond or in lieu…”
State v. Aaron L. Jacobs (Wis. Ct. App. 2023).
— Wis. Stat. § 969.03(1)(d) — 2 cases
State v. Cetnarowski, 480 N.W.2d 790 (Wis. Ct. App. 1992). “On appeal, Brian argues that sec. 969.03(1)(d), Stats. (release of defendants charged with felonies), is the only statutory provision enabling a court to reduce the amount of bail returned to a defendant absent a bail forfeiture circumstance.”
State v. James A. Jones, 2021 WI App 15 (Wis. Ct. App. 2021). “§ 969.03. The court noted that the restitution statute specifically defines “a crime considered at sentencing” to include “any crime for which the defendant was convicted and any read-in crime.”
— Wis. Stat. § 969.03(1)(e) — 1 case
State v. Aaron L. Jacobs (Wis. Ct. App. 2023).
— Wis. Stat. § 969.03(2) — 3 cases
State v. Beiersdorf, 561 N.W.2d 749 (Wis. Ct. App. 1997). “Beiersdorf notes that § 969.03(2), Stats., requires as a condition of bail that a defendant "shall not commit any crime.”
State v. Henning, 2004 WI 89 (Wis. 2004). “02 ) or felonies ( Wis. Stat. § 969.03 ) violate the bail jumping statute if they commit any crime while released on bond.”
State v. West, 512 N.W.2d 207 (Wis. Ct. App. 1993).
— Wis. Stat. § 969.03(4) — 2 cases
State v. Iglesias, 517 N.W.2d 175 (Wis. 1994). “NOTES [1] Section 969.03(1), Stats., (1989-90), provided that: A defendant charged with a felony may be released by the judge without bail or upon the execution of an unsecured appearance bond or the judge may in addition to requiring the execution of an appearance bond or in…”
State v. James A. Jones, 2021 WI App 15 (Wis. Ct. App. 2021). “§ 969.03. The court noted that the restitution statute specifically defines “a crime considered at sentencing” to include “any crime for which the defendant was convicted and any read-in crime.”
— Wis. Stat. § 969.03(5) — 1 case
State v. James A. Jones, 2021 WI App 15 (Wis. Ct. App. 2021). “§ 969.03. The court noted that the restitution statute specifically defines “a crime considered at sentencing” to include “any crime for which the defendant was convicted and any read-in crime.”
— Wis. Stat. § 969.03(l)(d) — 2 cases
State v. Gassen, 422 N.W.2d 863 (Wis. Ct. App. 1988). “Section 969.03(1), Stats., provides in pertinent part: A defendant charged with a felony may be released by the judge without bail or upon the execution of an unsecured appearance bond or the judge may in addition to requiring the execution of an appearance bond or in lieu…”
State v. Cetnarowski, 480 N.W.2d 790 (Wis. Ct. App. 1992). “On appeal, Brian argues that sec. 969.03(1)(d), Stats. (release of defendants charged with felonies), is the only statutory provision enabling a court to reduce the amount of bail returned to a defendant absent a bail forfeiture circumstance.”
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