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This page lists all 145 county jails in Wisconsin. You can browse by county below, search for specific facilities, or navigate to related pages.
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About County Jails in Wisconsin
Understanding county jails in the Wisconsin
Welcome to the most complete and up-to-date directory of county jails and correctional facilities in Wisconsin. This page lists every active county-level detention facility operating across Wisconsin, providing families, attorneys, bail bondsmen, social workers, and the general public with fast, reliable access to accurate information about county-level incarceration. County jails are often the first longer-term facility a person is sent to after initial arrest and police booking, making this directory essential for anyone trying to locate a recently arrested loved one.
What Are County Jails and How Do They Work?
County jails in Wisconsin are local correctional facilities operated by the county sheriff's office or county department of corrections. They serve as the primary point of longer-term detention for individuals awaiting trial, unable to make bail, or serving shorter sentences for misdemeanor offenses.
The county jail system is decentralized — each county operates its own facility tailored to its population size, court system, and law enforcement needs. This means county jails vary significantly in size, capacity, programming, and conditions.
How County Jails Differ From Other Facilities
- County Jails: Operated by sheriff's office. Hold pretrial detainees, those unable to make bail, misdemeanor sentences under one year.
- City/Municipal Jails: Operated by city police. Shorter holds immediately after arrest before county transfer.
- Police Lockups: Short-term holding (24-72 hours) during initial booking and processing.
- State Prisons: Operated by Wisconsin's DOC for felony sentences over one year.
- Federal Prisons: Operated by Federal Bureau of Prisons for federal crimes.
Types of County Correctional Facilities
- County Jail: Standard county detention facility serving the general pretrial and sentenced misdemeanor population.
- County Correctional Center: Larger facility with expanded programming, multiple housing units, and specialized services.
- County Detention Center: Often houses higher proportion of pretrial detainees or federal contract inmates.
- County Work Release Center: Minimum-security allowing day employment with evening return.
- County Medical/Mental Health Facility: Specialized units for inmates requiring ongoing medical or mental health care.
- County Honor Farm: Minimum-security where inmates perform outdoor work assignments.
How to Use This Directory
- Browse the full directory of all county jails in Wisconsin by scrolling below.
- Filter by county using the dropdown to narrow results to a specific county.
- Switch states using the state selector to load county jails in any other US state.
- Click any facility to open its dedicated page with contact details and inmate search.
- Locate an inmate using the search feature on any facility page or our main inmate locator.
Finding an Inmate in a County Jail
County jails maintain their own inmate databases, and most offer online inmate lookup tools through the county sheriff's website. The fastest way to find someone is to identify the county where they were arrested using the directory below, then visit that facility's dedicated page to use the inmate search feature. You can also use our free US inmate locator tool to search across all county jails simultaneously.
Visitation
Policies vary considerably — some jails offer in-person contact visits, others have non-contact or video visitation only. Check visitation rules for the specific facility before planning a visit. Click any facility to view its complete visitation guidelines.
Calling an Inmate
Phone calls are outbound only from pre-approved numbers. Your number must be registered with the facility's phone provider and a prepaid account funded. Read our calling guide for complete setup instructions.
Getting Bail
Once bail is set at arraignment, pay it directly to the county jail or court, or work with a licensed bail bondsman who will post bail for a fee of 10-15% of the total amount.
Programs Available
Larger county jails typically offer GED and literacy programs, substance abuse counseling, religious services, and sometimes vocational training. Program availability varies significantly by facility size and resources.
Sheriff's Role
In most counties, the sheriff's office operates and manages the county jail. The sheriff is accountable for safe, humane, and legally compliant operation, including staffing, programming, medical services, and state/federal compliance.
Release & Reentry
Release can happen through bail, sentence completion, dismissal of charges, or court order. The transition back to daily life requires planning for employment, family reconnection, court-ordered supervision, and financial stability.
Frequently Asked Questions
County Jails by County in Wisconsin
View facilities organized by county
Filter County Jails by County
Wisconsin has County Jails spread across dozens of counties, and finding the right one quickly can be challenging without the right tools. Use the county list below to instantly narrow results and view only the County Jails in a specific county within Wisconsin. This is particularly helpful if you are trying to locate someone who was recently arrested in a specific area, or if you are planning a visit and need to find the closest facility to your location.
All County Jails in Wisconsin
Complete listing of county jails
Browse the Complete List of County Jails in Wisconsin
The full directory of county jails and correctional facilities in Wisconsin is displayed below. Every active county-operated detention facility is included in this listing. Each entry includes the facility name, operating county, location, address, security classification, and contact information. County jails are operated by the county sheriff's office or county department of corrections and serve as the primary detention facility for the county's pretrial population and sentenced misdemeanor offenders.
| Facility Name | County | Action |
|---|---|---|
|
Adams County WI Jail
301 Adams St
PO Box 279, Friendship, WI 53934
|
Adams | View Details |
|
Adams County WI Juvenile Detention
108 E North St, Friendship, WI 53934-0500
|
Adams | View Details |
|
Ashland County WI Jail
220 East 6th St, Ashland, WI 54806
|
Ashland | View Details |
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Ashland County WI Juvenile Detention
301 Ellis Ave, Ashland, WI 54806
|
Ashland | View Details |
|
Barron County WI Jail
1420 State Hwy 25 North, Barron, WI 54812-3007
|
Barron | View Details |
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Barron County WI Juvenile Detention
330 East LaSalle St, Barron, WI 54812
|
Barron | View Details |
|
Bayfield County Juvenile Detention
PO Box 100, Washburn, WI 54891
|
Bayfield | View Details |
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Bayfield County WI Jail
615 Second Ave East
PO Box 115, Washburn, WI 54891-0115
|
Bayfield | View Details |
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Brown County WI Jail
3030 Curry Lane, Green Bay, WI 54311
|
Brown | View Details |
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Brown County WI Juvenile Detention Center
111 North Jefferson St, Green Bay, WI 54305-2188
|
Brown | View Details |
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Buffalo County Juvenile Detention Center
PO Box 517, Alma, WI 54610-0517
|
Buffalo | View Details |
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Buffalo County WI Jail
407 South Second St
PO Box 396, Alma, WI 54610-0396
|
Buffalo | View Details |
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Burnett County WI Jail
7410 County Road K #122, Siren, WI 54872
|
Burnett | View Details |
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Burnett County WI Juvenile Detention Center
7410 County Road K #280, Siren, WI 54872
|
Burnett | View Details |
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Calumet County WI Jail
206 Court St, Chilton, WI 53014-1198
|
Calumet | View Details |
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Calumet County WI Youth Detention Center
206 Court St, Chilton, WI 53014-1198
|
Calumet | View Details |
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Chippewa County WI Jail
50 East Spruce St, Chippewa Falls, WI 54729
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Chippewa | View Details |
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Chippewa County WI Juvenile Detention Center
711 North Bridge St
Room 203, Chippewa Falls, WI 54729
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Chippewa | View Details |
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Clark County WI Jail
517 Court St, Room 308, Neillsville, WI 54456
|
Clark | View Details |
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Clark County WI Juvenile Detention
517 Court St, Room 502, Neillsville, WI 54456
|
Clark | View Details |
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Columbia County WI Jail & Huber Center
403 Jackson St, Portage, WI 53901
|
Columbia | View Details |
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Columbia County WI Juvenile Detention
626 East Slifer St
PO Box 564, Portage, WI 53901
|
Columbia | View Details |
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Crawford County WI Jail
224 North Beaumont Road, Prairie du Chien, WI 53821
|
Crawford | View Details |
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Dane County Jail System - City-County Building Jail
210 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Madison, WI 53703
|
Dane | View Details |
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Dane County Jail System - Public Safety Building Jail
115 West Doty St, Madison, WI 53703
|
Dane | View Details |
County Jails in Other States
Browse county jails in other states
Explore County Jails in Other States
Looking for county jails beyond Wisconsin? We've got you covered. Use the state selectors below to instantly switch to a full directory of county jails in any other US state. Whether you need to look up facilities in a neighboring state or search across the country, our nationwide directory makes it simple to find the information you need in just a few clicks.