What to know before posting bond at Brown County Jail: payment methods, cashier's-check delays, and refunds
Posting bond is usually straightforward, but a couple of Brown County Jail rules can throw off your timeline and costs—especially if you pay with a cashier's check. Here's what you need to know before you hand over any money.
Only pay bond through two legitimate channels: in person at the Brown County Jail, or through an official third-party online service listed in Brown County materials. Here's the catch - different county documents reference two different online portals (allpaid.com and govpaynow.com). Don't trust a random search result or a link someone texts you. Before submitting any payment online, confirm which portal Brown County is actually directing people to use right now.
Note: Brown County information has referenced different online payment portals. Before paying online, verify the active portal through Brown County’s official pages.
Cash is accepted for all bonds - Brown County bonds, local municipal bonds, and bonds from other counties. Credit cards work too, but expect a 5% surcharge. Cashier's checks from a bank are also accepted, though they come with a release delay rule (more on that below) that can keep someone locked up longer even after you've paid.
Thinking about using a cashier's check? Build in extra time. As of October 22, 2023, Brown County Jail won't release someone until a cashier's check clears at the bank. The clearing process takes about 10–15 business days, counted from the Tuesday after the bond is posted. So what you hoped would be a same-day release could stretch into weeks.
- Post bond with a cashier’s check - The jail accepts cashier’s checks from a bank, but the release won’t happen right away.
- Wait until the “following Tuesday” marker - The jail’s stated clearing window is counted from the Tuesday after the bond is posted.
- Allow for bank clearing time - The jail estimates the check could take about 10–15 business days (from that following Tuesday) to clear.
- Expect release after the check clears - Under this policy, release is tied to the bank clearing the cashier’s check.
Tip: Need the fastest release possible? A cashier's check is actually the slowest option under Brown County Jail's clearing policy. If time matters, use a different payment method.
Bond refunds don't come from the jail window. The Clerk of Courts issues refund checks, and they're made payable to the name on your receipt and mailed to the address recorded at the time of payment. Those receipt details matter - whoever is listed gets the check, sent to wherever that receipt says.
Reminder: Keep your bond receipt and make sure the name and address on it are correct - refund checks are issued to the name/address shown on that receipt.
Bond scams thrive on urgency, pushing you toward a "quick payment" method that has nothing to do with the jail. Protect yourself: pay in person at Brown County Jail or use the official online service Brown County lists. Since county materials have referenced different portals, take a minute to verify which one they're currently directing people to before entering card details. If anything feels off - pressure, secrecy, instructions to pay somewhere unusual - stop. Confirm the correct process through official Brown County sources first.
- ✓ Use only the two legitimate routes: pay in person at the Brown County Jail or through the official third-party online service Brown County lists.
- ✓ Verify the active online payment portal through Brown County’s official pages before you pay (their materials have referenced different portals).
- ✓ If you’re unsure, choose in-person payment rather than sending money through an unverified site.
- ✓ Confirm the accepted payment types (cash, credit card with 5% surcharge, or cashier’s check from a bank) before you submit payment.
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