1104 East First Street

Merrill, WI. 54452

Jail Division

(715) 536-6275

Fax (715) 536-3466

You have been convicted in Lincoln County Circuit Court.  As part of that conviction you have been sentenced to serve a period of time in the Lincoln County Jail.  The Judge has given you a date when you have to present yourself to the jail to start that sentence.  Failure to report to jail at that time is a crime under Wisconsin ss 946.425 -  Failure to Report to jail.   Persons found guilty of a crime but not sentenced to jail time may also have to report to the jail as required by State Statute 165.83 (2) (a) & 970.02 (7) for fingerprinting and identification purposes.  You need to report for this procedure immediately after court unless otherwise ordered by the sentencing Judge.  Failure to report for this is punishable under Wisconsin ss  785 - Contempt of Court and may also be a violation of any imposed probation.

The official court document detailing your conviction is called a Judgment of Conviction.  The Jail staff will require that a copy of this form be available to them at the time you are booked into the jail.  Persons reporting for fingerprint and identification processing need this form also.  The Lincoln County Clerk of Courts office processes these forms for Lincoln County.  make sure that a copy of the form has been delivered to the Jail before the time you are to report.  The Clerk of Courts can be contacted by calling (715) 536-0320.  If you are to report directly from court to jail, the Clerk will provide you with a hand written form.  You will need this form when you report to jail. 

DO NOT report to jail under the influence of Alcohol or illegal drugs.  You will be tested upon arrival at the jail.  Violations may result in loss or restriction of privileges, including Huber, or loss of Good time credit.  You will be required to follow certain rules while in jail.  These rules will be provided to you when you report.  Violations will result in loss of privileges or other punishment.  

If you have been granted “HUBER” law privileges (Wis. ss 303.08) by the Judge and are working, you need to provide certain information to the jail staff in order to determine your eligibility for work release.  Contact the jail staff at the above number or address to obtain the forms that you will need to have filled out by your employer.  If you are self-employed you will need to provide documentation to prove that you are following self-employment laws and have a legitimate business.

If you are sentenced for an O.W.I. (Operating a Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated or otherwise Impaired) charge, you have been required by the court to obtain an assessment and comply with a drivers safety plan.  If you have not done this prior to starting your jail sentence, the Sheriff CANNOT allow you out on “Huber” except to go to the appointment for the assessment.

Child care under the “Huber” privilege is restricted to care of your biological children or those children that you are a legal guardian for.  You must have been providing care for the children on a regular basis prior to your jail term, at your residence, within Lincoln County.  The need must show that no other responsible person is available to provide the care.  You will have to fill out a form for child care and have it approved prior to being granted this privilege.  Child visitation with children that are in the custody of an ex-spouse is not child care.   

Huber release for Educational purposes is at the discretion of the Sheriff.  You will need to provide information on your classes, etc.  Programs that you are involved in such as AODA (Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse), Anger Management, etc must have the approval of the Sheriff for you to participate.  Contact the Corrections staff at the above number or address for more information. 

Electronic Monitoring of inmates at their home, in Lincoln County, is a program that is authorized by the Sheriff and run through the Lincoln County jail.  You may be eligible for our Electronic Monitoring program.  Applications for the program will only be accepted after you have been sentenced by the court, just prior to the start of your jail term, or at any time during your incarceration.  The jail administration along with staff from Lutheran Social Services will determine if you are eligible to participate in this program.  Under most circumstances, you will be required to serve part of your sentence in jail prior to being allowed out on Electronic Monitoring. 

Requests to transfer to another county for work under the Huber law will need to be coordinated through the jail Administration.  The court must approve of the transfer and it must be listed on your Judgment of Conviction, but that is only the first step in a possible transfer.  The Sheriff of the county that you wish to transfer to MUST agree to accept you as a transfer.  Once all the approvals are finished, you will need to report to the Lincoln County jail to be processed before you can travel to the other county to start your sentence.  Violations of that counties’ rules may cause you to have to return to the Lincoln County jail for the remainder of your sentence.

Huber fees [Wis. ss 303.08 (4)] are $110.78 per week.   Your employer will be required [Wis. ss 303.08 (3)] to send your paycheck directly to the Lincoln County jail.  If you are self-employed, you will be required to pay at least two weeks Huber fees in advance.  Electronic Monitoring fees vary depending on equipment used.  The minimum amount is $168.00 per two weeks and must be paid in advance.

Only bring with you the clothes you are wearing.  Non-Huber inmates will be provided all the clothing needed while in jail including underclothes.  Huber inmates will be provided a SMALL locker to store work clothes in.  They will also be provided all clothing needed while in the Huber dorms.  Do not bring reading material or personal hygiene items.  Books, magazines and newspapers will be provided.  Personal hygiene items will need to be purchased through the jail’s canteen services.  If you have a medical need for certain personal hygiene items or have medications that you take, you will need to contact the jail nurse to have them verified and approved.  Only prescription medicines in the original container will be considered by the jail medical staff.          

Bring proof of medical insurance for any medical problems/emergencies that occur while you are in jail.  The jail is responsible for providing medical care, but the cost of that care is still your responsibility.  The jail has a doctor that serves as our medical advisor and sees non-working Huber and non-Huber inmates at the jail.  His/her decisions are what you will be governed by medically while in jail.  Working Huber inmates are responsible for their own medical care but will need to co-ordinate it with the jail nurse. 

Visitation of inmates by friends or relatives is restricted in time and numbers.  Telephone access is provided during part of the day/night.  Calls are either collect to the caller or you may purchase a calling card through the jail staff.  Canteen services (Swanson Company) are provided once a week.  Any money that you bring in or is received at the jail for you will be placed in the inmates’ account.  Indigent inmates will be provided necessary items and costed at a negative balance in the inmates account.  

If you have any questions, you can contact the jail staff at (715) 536-6275.  Nursing staff normally are at the jail between 9:00am to 12:00noon M-F.

Lincoln County Sheriff