A signature bond, also known as a personal recognizance bond or PR bond, is a type of bail in Wisconsin that allows a defendant to be released from jail without paying cash bail. Instead, the defendant signs a contract, or bond, promising to meet certain conditions set by the court.

How Signature Bonds Work

Signature bonds are a type of pre-trial release that allows a person to be out of custody without paying any money. Essentially it is a contract with the state promising to follow the bail conditions.

Common Bail Conditions for Signature Bonds

Whether the court orders a cash bond or signature bond, there will be bail conditions the defendant must follow as well. Common bail conditions on an OWI case, for example, may be to maintain absolute sobriety, to not drive without a valid license, and/or comply with a sobriety monitoring device such as a CAM ankle bracelet. These conditions are in addition to the standard requirements to appear in court as scheduled and to not commit any other crimes. Bail conditions can vary greatly depending on the charges and the facts of the case.

Paying for a Signature Bond

There will still be a dollar amount associated with a signature bond–for example, someone might get a $1,000 signature bond. The whole point of a signature bond though is that the amount does not need to be paid unless there is a violation of the bond conditions. If there is a bond violation, the state can sue the defendant for the amount listed in the bond in addition to potentially filing more charges for bail jumping or charges related to the facts of the violation.

Who Gets Offered a Signature Bond

Signature bonds are typically ordered in cases with less serious offenses, or where the defendant poses a low risk of missing court. Some factors the court considers in a bail decision are:

• If the person lives locally or has family locally
• Employment
• Criminal history
• History of missing court or violating bond conditions
• The seriousness of the conduct alleged in the criminal complaint
• The victim’s wishes–if there was a victim
• The need to protect the public
• The person’s ability to post cash bond
• Other factors that may indicate the person’s ability to appear in court and/or follow bond conditions