Chapter 818

CHAPTER 818

ARREST AND BAIL

818.01   In civil actions.

818.02   When arrests may be made.

818.03   Order of arrest, by whom made.

818.04   Order, when made.

818.05   Bond of plaintiff.

818.06   Order for arrest, what to contain.

818.07   Execution of order of arrest.

818.10   Bail, how given.

818.11   Deposit in lieu of bail.

818.12   Payment of deposit.

818.13   Bail after deposit.

818.14   Application of deposit.

818.15   Sheriff’s return to plaintiff; notice of nonacceptance.

818.16   Notice of justification of bail.

818.17   Qualification of bail.

818.18   Justification of bail.

818.19   Proceedings on justification.

818.20   Surrender of principal.

818.21   Arrest of principal by bail.

818.22   Custody of principal.

818.23   Proceedings against bail.

818.24   Exoneration of bail.

818.25   Sheriff’s liability.

818.26   Proceedings against sheriff.

818.27   Bail liable to sheriff.

818.28   Vacation of order of arrest, etc.

818.29   Motion papers.

818.01 818.01 In civil actions.

818.01(1) (1) No person may be arrested in a civil action except as prescribed by this chapter.

818.01(2) (2) Arrest of a person subject to contempt proceedings under ch. 785 may, but need not, be in accordance with the procedure under this chapter.

818.01 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 758 (1975); Stats. 1975 s. 809.01; Sup. Ct. Order, 83 Wis. 2d xiiiv (1978); Stats. 1977 s. 818.01; 1985 a. 29.

818.02 818.02 When arrests may be made. The defendant may be arrested as hereinafter prescribed in the following cases:

818.02(1) (1) In an action for the recovery of damages on a cause of action not arising out of contract, where the defendant is not a resident of the state, or is about to remove therefrom, or where the action is for an injury to person or character, or for seduction, or for criminal conversation, or for injuring, or for wrongfully taking, detaining or converting property, and in actions to recover damages for the value of property obtained by the defendant under false pretenses or false tokens.

818.02(2) (2) In an action for fine or penalty, or for money received, or for property embezzled or fraudulently misapplied by a public officer or by an attorney, solicitor or counsel, or by an officer or agent of a corporation or banking association, in the course of his or her employment as such, or by any factor, agent, broker or any person in a fiduciary capacity, or for any misconduct or neglect in office or in a professional employment.

818.02(3) (3) In an action to recover possession of personal property unjustly detained where the property or any part thereof has been concealed, removed or disposed of so that it cannot be found or taken by the sheriff.

818.02(4) (4) Subsections (1) and (3) do not apply to any security agreement under which the plaintiff claims a purchase money security interest, as defined in s. 409.103.

818.02(5) (5) In a proceeding to enforce the duty of child support or maintenance.

818.02(6) (6) In a proceeding to determine paternity or to establish or revise a child support or maintenance obligation, if the court or a circuit court commissioner finds that the petitioner cannot effect service of process upon the respondent despite due diligence on the part of the petitioner or after the respondent is personally served but fails to appear on the return date, on the date set for the pretrial hearing or on the date set for the trial.

818.02(7) (7) In an action for a forfeiture under s. 961.573 (2), 961.574 (2) or 961.575 (2) or under a local ordinance strictly conforming to s. 961.573 (1) or (2), 961.574 (1) or (2), or 961.575 (1) or (2).

818.02(8) (8) In an action for a forfeiture under a local ordinance enacted under s. 59.54 (25m).

818.02(9) (9) In a proceeding under s. 813.1285.

818.02 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 758 (1975); Stats. 1975 s. 809.02; Sup. Ct. Order, 83 Wis. 2d xiiiv (1978); Stats. 1977 s. 818.02; 1979 c. 352; 1983 a. 447; 1985 a. 29; 1989 a. 121; 1993 a. 481, 486; 1995 a. 448; 2001 a. 10, 61; 2003 a. 193; 2005 a. 116; 2013 a. 321.

818.03 818.03 Order of arrest, by whom made. An order for the arrest of the defendant must be obtained from the court in which the action is brought or a judge.

818.03 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 758 (1975); Stats. 1975 s. 809.03; Sup. Ct. Order, 83 Wis. 2d xiiiv (1978); Stats. 1977 s. 818.03.

818.04 818.04 Order, when made. The order may be made where it shall appear by affidavit that a cause of action exists, and that it is one of those mentioned in s. 818.02.

818.04 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 758 (1975), 777; Stats. 1975 s. 809.04; Sup. Ct. Order, 83 Wis. 2d xiiiv (1978); Stats. 1977 s. 818.04.

818.05 818.05 Bond of plaintiff. Before making the order for arrest the court or judge shall require a bond of the plaintiff, with or without sureties, to the effect that if the plaintiff fails to recover, the plaintiff will pay all costs that may be awarded to the defendant and all damages which the defendant may sustain by reason of the arrest, not exceeding the sum specified in the bond, which shall be at least $100. If the bond be executed by the plaintiff without sureties the plaintiff shall annex thereto an affidavit that the plaintiff is a resident and householder or freeholder within the state and worth double the sum specified in the bond above all of the plaintiff’s debts and liabilities in property in this state not exempt from execution. This section does not apply to an order for arrest in an action to determine paternity or to any action under ch. 767 brought by the state or its designee.

818.05 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 758 (1975); Stats. 1975 s. 809.05; Sup. Ct. Order, 83 Wis. 2d xiiiv (1978); Stats. 1977 s. 818.05; 1983 a. 447; 1989 a. 212; 1993 a. 486; 2001 a. 16.

818.06 818.06 Order for arrest, what to contain. The order for arrest may be made at any time before judgment. It shall direct the sheriff of a particular county or generally the sheriff of any county where the defendant may be found, and require the sheriff forthwith to arrest the defendant and hold the defendant to bail in a specified sum.

818.06 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 758 (1975); Stats. 1975 s. 809.06; Sup. Ct. Order, 83 Wis. 2d xiiiv (1978); Stats. 1977 s. 818.06; 1993 a. 486.

818.07 818.07 Execution of order of arrest. The affidavit, bond and order of arrest shall be delivered to the sheriff who, upon arresting the defendant, shall deliver to the defendant copies thereof; and the sheriff shall, within 5 days after such arrest, endorse the sheriff’s return on and file the originals with the clerk of the court in which the action is brought. The sheriff shall promptly notify the plaintiff’s attorney of the execution of the order of arrest.

818.07 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 758 (1975); Stats. 1975 s. 809.07; Sup. Ct. Order, 83 Wis. 2d xiiiv (1978); Stats. 1977 s. 818.07; 1993 a. 486.

818.10 818.10 Bail, how given. The defendant may give a bail bond executed by 2 or more sufficient sureties, stating their places of residence and occupations, to the effect that the defendant shall, at all times, be amenable to the process of the court during the pendency of the action and to such as may be issued to enforce the judgment therein, or if the defendant is arrested for the cause mentioned in s. 818.02 (3), a bond executed by sufficient sureties, to the effect that they are bound in a sum double the value of the property.

818.10 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 758, 777 (1975); Stats. 1975 s. 809.10; 1977 c. 308; Sup. Ct. Order, 83 Wis. 2d xiiiv (1978); Stats. 1977 s. 818.10; 1993 a. 481.

818.11 818.11 Deposit in lieu of bail. The defendant may, instead of giving a bond, deposit with the sheriff the amount mentioned in the order. The sheriff shall thereupon give the defendant a certificate of the deposit, and release the defendant.

818.11 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 758 (1975); Stats. 1975 s. 809.11; Sup. Ct. Order, 83 Wis. 2d xiiiv (1978); Stats. 1977 s. 818.11; 1993 a. 486.