The UW-Madison Police Department has the ability to write both state statute citations and City of Madison municipal citations. State statute citations are handled by the Dane County Clerk of Courts while City of Madison municipal citations are handled by the City of Madison Municipal Court.
State Statute Citations
If you were issued a citation from a UWPD officer related to a violation of state statute, your citation is handled by the Dane County Clerk of Courts. Your appearance is NOT required on your scheduled court date/time. You will receive correspondence from the Dane County Clerk of Courts on how to plead your citation(s) two to three weeks before your court date.
Listed below are frequently asked questions about state statute citations:
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How do I pay my citation?
IN-PERSON
You may pay by cash, check, money order, or credit/debit card with a convenience fee (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express). Make check payable to Clerk of Courts.
Dane County Courthouse Room 1000
215 South Hamilton Street
Madison, WI 53703-3285
BY MAIL
You may pay by check or money order. Make check payable to Clerk of Courts. Include the citation or case #; to lookup your case information, go to Wisconsin Circuit Court Access.
Payments should be sent to:
Clerk of Circuit Court
Dane County Courthouse Room 1000
215 South Hamilton Street
Madison, WI 53703-3285
ONLINE
Dane County now accepts credit or debit card payments through AllPaid. Payments can be made using Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover credit/debit cards.
To make payments through AllPaid you will need:
- Pay Location Code: 5479
- Payment amount
- Citation or case #; to look-up your case information, go to Wisconsin Circuit Court Access
- Name and date of birth of person the payment is being made for
- Your credit or debit card information
How can I obtain a copy of the police report?
Police reports can be obtained AFTER your court date. You may request the police report online or in person at the UW-Madison Police Department. There is a fee for this report.
Will this charge be listed on the Wisconsin Circuit Court website?
Yes – the citation will be listed for two years or five years, depending on case disposition.
Will this charge impact my job and/or career opportunities?
On a job application, if you are asked if you have ever been convicted of a crime, the answer is NO. A civil forfeiture offense (FO) is not a criminal offense.
Will this impact my insurance?
This is up to each individual insurance company. We do not report this offense to any insurance company.
Traffic Citations
For information specific to traffic citations, please visit: A Traffic Citation: Your Rights & Responsibilities
City of Madison Municipal Citations
You do not have to appear in court if you enter your plea on or before your court date.
Municipal Court
General Info Municipal
Citations Payments &
Payment Plans Penalties for
Underage Alcohol Violations
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Will this charge be listed on my driving record?
- Wisconsin driver’s license: Yes — this charge will remain on your driving record for five years. There are no points assessed against your driver’s license; it is merely used as a tool for law enforcement agencies to see if you’ve had a prior offense(s).*
- Out-of-state driver’s license: it’s up to each individual state — please contact your state’s Department of Transportation for more information.
* Per Wis. Statute 343.50(5), Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) underage alcohol conviction records are confidential — WisDOT may not disclose information concerning a conviction or suspension as a result of an underage alcohol conviction to any person other than a court, district attorney, municipal prosecuting attorney, law enforcement agency, the underage individual, or his/her parents or legal guardian.
Pleading guilty or no contest
If you do not have any alcohol-related convictions on your record, the court MAY impose the following:
- No suspension of your driver’s license
- The minimum forfeiture — you be allowed time to pay
If you have any alcohol-related convictions on your record, the court MAY impose the following:
- The minimum forfeiture (the specific amount will depend on your record)
- A suspension of your driver’s license — or, as an alternative, a referral to an education program
If you plead not guilty
If you plead not guilty, the above policies may not apply to the disposition of your case if you are later convicted.
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Victim Rights
If the Dane County District Attorney’s Office issues charges in this case, you will have the right, upon request, to attend all court proceedings and to be heard in court when your rights as a victim are implicated. If you would like to exercise these rights, please contact the Dane County Victim Witness Unit via email or call at (608) 266-9003 for further information about charges, the next court proceeding, and to provide your input regarding potential protective bail conditions that may be ordered by the court.
Under Wis. State Statute Act 181 and 950.04, victims are afforded certain rights as follows:
- You have the right to receive protection from the offender throughout the justice process.
- You have the right to have any stolen, recovered, or seized property which is no longer needed as evidence, returned to you as quickly as possible. Contact the Investigating Officer or Detective to determine when property may be released.
- You have the right to information regarding financial restitution, compensation, and other services. For the purposes of restitution, it’s important that you gather and keep accurate documentation about your losses.
- You have the right to attend all hearings.
- You have the right to request an opportunity to confer with staff of the District Attorney’s Office.
- You have the right to a timely disposition of the case.
- You have the right to submit a victim impact statement to the judge.
- You have the right to be informed of the final disposition of the case.
Obtaining Information
As the victim of a crime, you have the right to obtain information from records maintained by the law enforcement agency investigating the crime you reported. The information you are being provided is confidential and may only be used to determine if the offender is being held in the Dane County Jail or the Dane County Juvenile Reception Center for the purpose of recovering from the injury, damage, or loss suffered as a result of the offender’s act.
An arrest may not be made during the initial investigation of the crime you reported — but if sufficient information is available, or if it appears that further investigation may develop substantial leads, your case may be assigned to an investigator. Cases not specifically assigned for follow-up are retained in an active status until additional information is forthcoming. You may assist in the investigation by promptly reporting all new information that you discover or remember. To determine the status of your investigation, contact the police officer who assisted you. You may also call (608) 264-2677 and ask to speak to a supervisor within the UWPD Investigative Services Unit.
Dane County VINE Services
VINE is a free, 24-hour service that allows you to check on the status of inmates in custody within the Dane County Jail, and to register for automatic notification when an inmate is released or transferred. For inmate information, visit VINE online or call (877) 418-8463 or visit. VINE can also provide you with information on the inmate’s charges and bail, location in the jail, scheduled release date, where and when an inmate was transferred, and court information concerning scheduled hearings.
Do not depend solely on the VINE service for your protection. If you feel that you may be at risk, take precautions as if the inmate has already been released.
Adult Offenders
If an adult offender has been arrested and confined in jail in connection with this investigation, you may contact the Dane County Sheriff’s Office to determine if the offender has been released from jail.
Offenders will be held in jail in accordance with Wisconsin State Statutes and bail provisions. The case will be referred to the Dane County District Attorney (DA) for determination of whether charges will be filed.
If an adult offender has been arrested by misdemeanor citation but is not being held in jail, a court date has been set and prosecution will be handled by the Dane County DA for determination of whether charges will be filed.
If an adult offender has been identified but not confined in jail in connection with this investigation, the case may be referred to the Dane County DA for determination of whether charges will be filed.
CONTACTS
Dane County Jail
(608) 284-6100
Dane County District Attorney’s (DA) Office
(608) 266-4211
Dane County DA’s Office Victim/Witness Unit
(608) 266-9003
Dane County DA’s Office Domestic Violence Unit
(608) 284-6880
Prosecution of Adult Offenders
If the District Attorney’s Office decides to charge the offender, they will contact you after the initial appearance and inform you of the case status and your rights as a victim (your right to attend court proceedings, your right to discuss the case with the prosecutor, etc.).
Wisconsin Courts Online
The Wisconsin Court System provides access to certain public records of Wisconsin Circuit Courts. The information is an exact copy of the case information entered into the case management system by court staff in the counties where the case files are located. The court record summaries viewed here are all public records under the state’s open records law.
Juvenile Offenders
If a juvenile offender has been identified and detained in connection with this offense, you may contact the Juvenile Reception Center to determine if the juvenile has been released. The intake worker or judge will follow Wisconsin State Statutes when determining where and for how long a juvenile will be detained. The case will be referred to Juvenile Intake for review and charging decisions and you will be contacted, as soon as possible, regarding rights and services. Please refer to the case number when you call. If a juvenile offender has been identified and referred for charging by the investigating officer, but not detained in connection with this offense, the charge may be referred to Juvenile Intake for review and charging decisions.
Dane County Juvenile Reception & Intake
(608) 266-4983
Disposition of Juvenile Offenders
If, after review, the case will be handled by the Department of Human Services without the filing of formal charges, you will be sent information about your rights, including your right to discuss the case with an intake worker and/or submit other information about the impact of the offense. If formal charges are issued, the DA’s office will contact you as soon as possible with additional information — including your right to attend court proceedings and your right to discuss the case with the prosecutor. Please contact UWPD at (608) 264-2677 if you are subjected to threats or intimidation arising from your cooperation with law enforcement or prosecution efforts relating to the investigation of any crime. Call 911 if you are in immediate danger.
UW-Madison and community resources are available to address questions concerning sex discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, and sexual violence. Individuals with questions or concerns about sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, may contact the UW-Madison Title IX Coordinator:
Office of Compliance
(608) 890-3788
Crime Victim Compensation Program
If this crime resulted in a personal injury, the Crime Victim Compensation Program may be available to help pay for out-of-pocket expenses (medical bills, counseling, lost wages, etc.), even if there is no arrest or conviction. Reimbursement is not available for property damage or loss. If you would like more information please contact the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Crime Victim Services Office: (800) 446-6564.
Victim Support Resources
IF YOU ARE IN IMMEDIATE DANGER, CALL 911
Dane County District Attorney’s Office
(608) 266-4211
Dane County District Attorney’s Office Victim / Witness Unit
(608) 266-9003
Dane County District Attorney’s Office Crime Response Program
(608) 284-6908
Dane County District Attorney’s Office Domestic Violence Unit
(608) 284-6880
Dane County Rape Crisis Center
(608) 251-7273 (24 hours)
Domestic Abuse Intervention Services
(608) 251-4445
Journey Mental Health Center
Emergency (24 hours): 608) 280-2600
Non-emergency: (608) 280-2720
Dane County Human Services
(608) 242-6200
United Way of Dane County
(608) 246-4350 or 211 (info and referral service)
Wisconsin Department of Justice Victim Resource Center
(608) 264-9497
UW-Madison Student Affairs
(608) 263-5700
UW-Madison University Health Services
(608) 265-5600
IMPORTANT
To participate in the Community Restorative Court process, you MUST call UWPD Court Services at (608) 262-4522 within TWO WEEKS of being issued your citation.
The Community Restorative Court (CRC) process is designed for young people, age 17-25, who have committed one of the following offenses:
- Simple battery/assaultive behavior
- Disorderly conduct
- Obstructing/resisting an officer
- Theft
- Criminal damage to property/vandalism
- Trespassing/closing hours/unauthorized presence
The CRC process involves taking responsibility for your actions by meeting with members of the community and completing a repair harm agreement — which may include community service. If successful completion of this agreement is achieved, your citation — for the above-listed offense(s) only — will be voided. The offense(s) will not be listed on the Circuit Court Automated Program (CCAP).
To participate in the CRC process, you MUST call UWPD Court Services at (608) 262-4522 within TWO WEEKS of being issued your citation. If you don’t wish to participate in CRC, follow the instructions on your citation.