Wisconsin Arrest Records Search | Criminal Records
Wisconsin · Police arrests, county jails, WCCA, DOJ and DOC records
Trace a Wisconsin Arrest From Local Booking to the Final Criminal Record
Wisconsin does not have one public county-jail roster covering every sheriff. Start with the arresting agency and booking county, then verify the case through Wisconsin Circuit Court Access.
This guide also explains police reports, cash and signature bonds, county jail services, state prison searches, WORCS background checks, public defenders, victim notifications, record correction and expungement.
WISCONSIN RECORD COMPASS
VERIFYING
POLICE / SHERIFF
ARREST + CUSTODY
WCCA / DOJ
FINAL RECORD
IDENTITY + DISPOSITION CONFIRMED
An arrest is not a conviction. A jail booking, mugshot, police log or DOJ arrest entry does not establish guilt. Verify the filed charge and final court disposition before relying on the record.
Recent arrest
Contact the police department or booking sheriff.
Court search
Use statewide Wisconsin Circuit Court Access.
State history
Use Wisconsin DOJ WORCS.
State prison
Use the Wisconsin DOC offender locator.
Official review
Procedures checked July 31, 2026.
Four Wisconsin systems answer four different questions
LOCAL POLICE
What did officers report?
Obtain the incident report, arrest report, citation, probable-cause information and releasable supplements.
Request from the department that created the record.
COUNTY SHERIFF
Is the person in county custody?
Confirm booking, jail location, bond, release status, visitation, calls, mail and deposits.
Each Wisconsin sheriff operates separate procedures.
WCCA / CLERK
What happened in court?
Find charges, court dates, bond conditions, warrants, pleas, judgments, sentences and dispositions.
The county clerk maintains the official court file.
WISCONSIN DOJ
What appears in state criminal history?
Use WORCS to request a name-based Wisconsin arrest-history report maintained by the Crime Information Bureau.
WORCS is not a live jail roster.
Best search order: Confirm the arrest location, search the county jail, save the booking identifiers, obtain the police report, search WCCA and compare the final disposition with the DOJ report.
How to search Wisconsin arrest and criminal records
Identify the arrest location
Determine the city, village, town or county and the approximate arrest date.
Identify the arresting agency
The record may belong to municipal police, a county sheriff, Wisconsin State Patrol, campus police or another agency.
Check police-station custody
A very recent arrestee may remain with the arresting department before county transfer.
Find the county sheriff
Search the sheriff serving the county where the person was physically booked.
Verify the legal booking name
Use the full name, date of birth, booking number and arrest date when available.
Save the law-enforcement report number
Use it to request the police report and connect the booking to the court case.
Search Wisconsin Circuit Court Access
Search the defendant’s name and narrow by county, date of birth and filing date.
Open WCCA
Separate each criminal case
One arrest can create several charges or more than one circuit or municipal case.
Read the final disposition
Review every count for dismissal, conviction, amendment, acquittal or another outcome.
Request the actual documents when needed
The criminal complaint, police reports and exhibits generally are not displayed publicly through WCCA.
Run a Wisconsin DOJ record check
Use WORCS when a name-based statewide Wisconsin criminal-history report is needed.
Open WORCS
Correct or restrict the record
Use the DOJ challenge process for mistakes and review expungement only when the record meets Wisconsin’s limited rules.
Find someone in a Wisconsin county jail
There is no single public Wisconsin county-jail roster. County sheriffs use different inmate-search websites, telephone systems, visitation providers, mail addresses and deposit vendors.
Determine the booking county
Use the physical arrest location rather than the person’s home address.
Open the official county website
Wisconsin.gov directs residents to the Wisconsin Counties Directory.
Open Wisconsin county-contact guidance
Select the correct county
Open its Sheriff, Jail, Corrections or Inmate Information section.
Search by legal name
Add the date of birth, booking date or inmate number when the system permits.
Call when no public roster exists
Provide the full name, date of birth, arresting agency and arrest date.
Ask whether the person is at court or another facility
Temporary court movement or transfer can make the location unclear.
Confirm bond and every hold
A local bond does not clear another county, probation, parole, immigration or federal detainer.
Save the booking number
Use it for mail, phone, commissary, visitation and records requests.
County-jail verification script
I am trying to confirm the custody status of [full legal name], date of birth [date]. The arrest may have occurred on [date] through [agency]. Can you confirm whether the person is being booked, currently held, released, transferred or listed under another name or booking number?
Wisconsin counties to check for local jail custody
Select the county where the arrest occurred, open its official website and look for Sheriff, Jail, Inmate Roster, Corrections or Current Inmates.
Adams
Ashland
Barron
Bayfield
Brown
Buffalo
Burnett
Calumet
Chippewa
Clark
Columbia
Crawford
Dane
Dodge
Door
Douglas
Dunn
Eau Claire
Florence
Fond du Lac
Forest
Grant
Green
Green Lake
Iowa
Iron
Jackson
Jefferson
Juneau
Kenosha
Kewaunee
La Crosse
Lafayette
Langlade
Lincoln
Manitowoc
Marathon
Marinette
Marquette
Menominee
Milwaukee
Monroe
Oconto
Oneida
Outagamie
Ozaukee
Pepin
Pierce
Polk
Portage
Price
Racine
Richland
Rock
Rusk
Sauk
Sawyer
Shawano
Sheboygan
St. Croix
Taylor
Trempealeau
Vernon
Vilas
Walworth
Washburn
Washington
Waukesha
Waupaca
Waushara
Winnebago
Wood
Location warning: A city arrest does not always mean the person is housed in that city. Municipal police commonly transfer arrestees to the county sheriff responsible for jail custody.
Why a recent Wisconsin arrest may not appear
The person remains at the police station
County booking may not have started.
Intake is still being processed
Fingerprints, medical screening and identity verification can delay publication.
The name is recorded differently
Try a maiden name, former surname, hyphenated name, suffix or alternate spelling.
The person was released
Some county searches show current inmates rather than complete historical bookings.
The wrong county was searched
Use the physical booking county, not the home county.
The person was transferred
Check another county, Wisconsin DOC or federal custody.
The case began by citation or summons
A court case can exist without a normal jail booking.
The record is restricted
Juvenile, expunged, sealed or confidential information may not appear.
Request a local police arrest or incident report
Request the report from the agency that created it. The county jail may hold the person without possessing the arresting officer’s complete narrative.
Confirm the arresting agency
Use the booking record, citation, court case or police log.
Find the agency records custodian
Look for Public Records, Open Records, Records Division or Records Custodian.
Name the exact records
Request the incident report, arrest report, citation, probable-cause statement and identified supplements.
Provide narrow identifiers
Include the full name, incident number, date, time, location and court case number.
Request an electronic copy
Existing electronic records may cost less than printed or mailed copies.
Set a cost limit
Ask for an estimate before processing costs exceed a stated amount.
Ask for the legal basis for redactions
Active investigations, confidential sources, victims, juveniles and protected personal information may be withheld.
Keep the written response
Wisconsin does not use one fixed response deadline for every request; agencies must respond as soon as practicable and without unnecessary delay.
Copy-ready Wisconsin police-record request
Under the Wisconsin Public Records Law, I request an electronic copy of the releasable incident report, arrest report, citation, probable-cause documentation and releasable supplements concerning [full legal name] for the incident on or about [date and time] at [location]. Known identifiers are incident number [number], booking number [number] and circuit court case number [number]. Please provide an estimate before processing if the total cost will exceed $[amount], and identify the legal basis for any withheld or redacted material.
Information that may be withheld or redacted
Active investigative material
Victim or witness identifying information
Juvenile information
Medical and mental-health information
Confidential informant information
Security-sensitive investigative methods
Expunged or sealed information
Protected account and identity numbers
Search criminal cases through WCCA
Open Wisconsin Circuit Court Access
Accept the site terms before searching.
Open WCCA
Search the defendant’s legal surname
Add the first name or initial and avoid unnecessary filters at first.
Narrow by county
Select the county where the criminal case was filed.
Open every plausible result
Similar names can appear in different counties or case types.
Verify the date of birth
Criminal defendants’ birth dates may be displayed to help distinguish identities.
Confirm the case type
Criminal cases commonly use a CR case classification. Municipal and traffic cases may use different systems or classifications.
Read every charge
Compare the original charge, amended charge and final conviction or dismissal.
Review the court record chronologically
Later entries can change bond, warrant, attorney, plea and disposition information.
Find the final judgment
A closed case may still contain later activity, payments, appeals or sentence-related entries.
Contact the clerk for official proof
The clerk of circuit court maintains the official case file.
WCCA provides public statewide circuit court case information. It does not guarantee that every event is current or complete, and the clerk’s official file controls when formal proof is required.
Understand a Wisconsin criminal court record
| Field | What it identifies | What it does not prove | Next action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case number | The county circuit court case. | The arrest created only one case. | Use it for document and clerk requests. |
| Filing date | When the criminal case was opened. | The exact arrest or offense date. | Compare with the booking and police report. |
| Charge | The criminal allegation filed in court. | Guilt or final conviction. | Review amendments and disposition. |
| Bond | Release conditions ordered in the case. | Another hold or case is cleared. | Check every pending case and warrant. |
| Signature bond | Release based on a written promise and conditions rather than full cash deposit. | Release has already been processed. | Confirm with the county jail. |
| Cash bond | Money must be deposited before release under that order. | Payment clears all cases. | Confirm the exact total and payment office. |
| Dismissed | The court ended the identified charge. | The arrest or police record disappeared. | Review DOJ correction or removal options. |
| Not guilty | No conviction was entered on the resolved count. | Every count had the same outcome. | Check each charge separately. |
| Guilty due to plea | A plea resulted in a finding of guilt. | The original arrest charge remained unchanged. | Read the judgment and sentence. |
| Closed | A final judgment has been entered. | There will be no later case activity. | Read the actual judgment entry. |
Do not identify a person by name alone. Match the date of birth, county, case number, arrest date and charge history.
Obtain the criminal complaint, judgment or certified disposition
WCCA displays case information but generally does not display or sell the actual documents filed in circuit court cases.
Identify the filing county
The clerk in that county maintains the official file.
Write down the complete case number
Preserve the year, county code, case type and sequence number.
Name the exact document
Examples include the criminal complaint, information, judgment of conviction, dismissal order or sentencing transcript.
Ask whether certification is required
A regular copy may be enough for personal review, while formal proceedings may require certification.
Contact the clerk of circuit court
Use the official statewide clerk directory.
Find the county clerk of circuit court
Request the current fee total
Search, page, certification, transcript and mailing charges vary by record and county.
Visit the courthouse for public documents when necessary
Courthouse public-access terminals can display statewide case information and local public documents.
Copy-ready clerk request
I request a [regular or certified] copy of [exact document] in State of Wisconsin v. [defendant], case number [number]. The defendant’s date of birth is [date]. Please confirm the search, copy, certification and delivery charges before processing.
Follow a Wisconsin case in the correct order
Police contact or arrest
The agency records the alleged offense and creates the incident or arrest report.
Local booking
Identity, fingerprints, property, charges and release information are recorded.
County jail transfer
A person not released may be moved to the county sheriff facility.
Initial appearance
The court addresses the complaint, counsel, bond and release conditions.
Prosecutor review
The district attorney decides which charges to file, amend or dismiss.
Circuit court case
WCCA begins displaying the public case information entered by court staff.
Pretrial proceedings
The case may include discovery, motions, plea negotiations, bond review and trial scheduling.
Disposition
Each count may end by dismissal, acquittal, plea, conviction or another order.
Sentence or supervision
The judgment may include jail, prison, probation, fines, restitution or other conditions.
DOJ update and record relief
Arrest and court disposition information may be transmitted to DOJ and later corrected, removed or expunged when legally authorized.
How Wisconsin bail and bond information works
Signature bond
The defendant signs a promise to appear and follow release conditions without depositing the full bond amount.
Cash bond
The specified amount must be deposited before the jail can release the defendant.
Conditions
The court can impose no-contact, sobriety, weapon, travel, residence or reporting conditions.
Hold or detainer
Another case, county, DOC or federal agency may prevent release after local bond is posted.
Wisconsin does not use the same commercial bail-bond process common in many other states. Confirm the exact cash or signature-bond procedure with the county sheriff or clerk handling the case.
Verify the defendant
Use the legal name, birth date, booking number and case number.
List every open case
Check WCCA for other pending criminal matters or warrants.
Read the newest bond order
An older entry may have been modified.
Confirm signature versus cash
Do not assume the displayed dollar amount must always be deposited.
Ask about holds
Confirm probation, parole, another county, immigration or federal detainers.
Ask where payment must be made
The sheriff, police department or clerk may handle payment depending on timing and county procedure.
Confirm accepted payment forms
Ask about cash, cashier’s check, money order, card payments and exact-change requirements.
Keep the receipt and bond paperwork
Save the appearance date, conditions and payment proof.
Bond-verification script
I am calling about [full legal name], booking number [number], case number [number]. Please confirm every active charge, the current bond type and amount, all release conditions, outside holds, accepted payment methods and the office where payment must be made.
Verify visitation, mail, calls and deposits locally
Do not reuse another county’s instructions. A Milwaukee County mail address or phone provider may be wrong for Dane, Brown, Waukesha, Racine or another sheriff facility.
Before scheduling a visit
- Confirm current housing and booking number.
- Check whether visitor approval is required.
- Choose onsite, video or in-person visitation.
- Review appointment deadlines and charges.
- Bring the required government identification.
Before sending anything
- Copy the current facility address.
- Use the legal name and inmate number.
- Check whether personal mail is scanned.
- Use only the sheriff-linked deposit provider.
- Keep every transaction confirmation.
Common county visitation restrictions
Valid government photo identification
Advance visitor approval
Security and metal-detector screening
Facility dress code
Minor supervision and documentation
No phones, cameras or recording
No intoxication, threats or disruption
Visits may be monitored and recorded
Information to confirm for each service
| Service | Confirm before acting | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Visitation | Provider, approval, schedule, ID, cost and visit type. | Creating an account with another county’s provider. |
| Personal mail | Facility, mailing vendor, inmate number and page or photo limits. | Sending mail to the physical jail when a scanning address is required. |
| Legal mail | Direct legal-mail address and identification requirements. | Sending privileged mail to a personal-mail scanning center. |
| Telephone | Provider, prepaid account type, number approval and rates. | Discussing confidential legal strategy on a recorded call. |
| Trust deposit | Booking number, provider, fees, limits and payment methods. | Using a payment link sent by an unknown person. |
| Commissary package | Approved vendor, product eligibility and order limit. | Mailing store-bought food or hygiene products directly. |
Find someone in Wisconsin DOC custody
The DOC locator is not a county-jail roster. Use it for people sentenced to Wisconsin prison or listed under DOC supervision.
Open the official DOC offender locator
Use the Wisconsin Department of Corrections search.
Open Inmate and Offender Search
Search by last and first name
Use the DOC number when known for the most precise result.
Verify the person
Compare the middle name, age, DOC number and supervision information.
Confirm the current institution
Classification and transfer decisions can change housing.
Record the DOC number
It is required for personal mail, deposits and many facility inquiries.
Open the institution page
Review its address, phone, visitation schedule and local rules.
Open Wisconsin adult facilities
Adult DOC custody questions: 608-240-5104
Contact the current institution directly whenever possible.
Contact the current institution directly whenever possible.
Get approved for a Wisconsin DOC visit
Ask the person in custody for form DOC-21AA
The incarcerated person is responsible for obtaining and mailing the Visitor Questionnaire.
Complete one questionnaire for each visitor
Minor children also require a completed visitor questionnaire.
Return the form to the institution
Do not return it to DOC headquarters.
Wait for approval
The incarcerated person is notified when a visitor is approved.
Check the facility-specific schedule
Visiting days, hours, length and appointment procedures vary by institution.
Open statewide visitation guidance
Schedule in advance
DOC advises requesting visits at least two business days ahead unless the facility publishes a different requirement.
Bring acceptable photo identification
Visitors age 16 or older generally need a valid driver’s license, passport, state ID, military ID or tribal photo ID.
Prepare for screening
Visitors must follow security instructions and clear the metal detector.
Use ICSolutions for video visits
Confirm the current institution’s video schedule and account requirements.
Open ICSolutions
General visitor-list limits
| Status | General adult visitor limit | Important note |
|---|---|---|
| Intake, assessment and evaluation | Up to four close-family adult visitors | Approved minor children do not count against the four-adult limit. |
| General institution population | Up to 12 approved adults | Approved minors do not count until their eighteenth birthday. |
| Close-family exception | More than 12 may be approved | Requires superintendent or warden approval. |
Items and conduct
No item may be handed directly to a resident
Weapons, drugs and contraband are prohibited
Visitors must pass security screening
Intoxicated visitors are denied entry
Children must remain supervised
Facility-specific dress codes apply
Inappropriate conduct can end the visit
Medical accommodations require advance approval
Send Wisconsin DOC personal mail correctly
Wisconsin DOC personal mail is processed through TextBehind. Personal mail sent directly to the institution can be returned.
Personal-mail format
PIOC Full First and Last Name
DOC Number
Full Correctional Facility Name
P.O. Box 189
Phoenix, MD 21131
PIOC Full First and Last Name
DOC Number
Full Correctional Facility Name
P.O. Box 189
Phoenix, MD 21131
Confirm the institution
Use the DOC locator immediately before addressing the mail.
Write the full facility name
Do not abbreviate the institution.
Include the DOC number
Mail with incomplete identifying information may be returned as undeliverable.
Include the sender’s full return name and address
Missing sender information can prevent delivery.
Use the direct institution address for legal mail
Legal mail, subscriptions and approved property do not use the ordinary personal-mail address.
Check the facility mailing table
Select the institution to obtain the correct legal-mail and package address.
Open DOC mail addresses
Tablets may provide electronic-photo and messaging options. Those services do not convert ordinary family messages into privileged legal communications.
Set up Wisconsin DOC telephone communication
Residents place outgoing calls
Incoming family calls are not accepted
ICSolutions is the contracted calling provider
A prepaid account may be required
Ordinary calls may be monitored and recorded
Do not discuss confidential defense strategy
Confirm the DOC number and institution
Avoid funding or registering the wrong person.
Create an ICSolutions account
Choose the Wisconsin DOC facility and the approved account option.
Open ICSolutions
Add the telephone number
Use the number that will receive the calls.
Review current rates and fees
Confirm the complete price before funding.
Keep the payment receipt
Save the account, date, amount and transaction number.
Send money through Access Corrections
Do not send money directly to the Wisconsin correctional institution. DOC uses Access Corrections Secure Deposits.
Confirm the legal name and DOC number
Use the offender locator before submitting funds.
Choose online or telephone deposit
Provider service fees apply.
Open Access Corrections
Review the total before payment
Confirm the deposit and transaction fee.
Use CashPayToday for a cash walk-in deposit
Enroll first and locate an approved participating retailer.
Find a cash deposit location
Use the DOC deposit slip for a mailed check or money order
Write the DOC number on both the instrument and deposit slip.
Make mailed funds payable correctly
Use “ACCESS SECURE DEPOSITS” as the payee.
Send only the deposit documents
Letters and photographs included with a mailed deposit are discarded.
Mailed deposit address
Secure Deposits – Wisconsin DOC
P.O. Box 12486
St. Louis, MO 63132
Secure Deposits – Wisconsin DOC
P.O. Box 12486
St. Louis, MO 63132
Access Corrections
Agents available 24 hours a day.
CashPayToday
Enroll before visiting a cash location.
Specialty commissary packages
Use an approved DOC vendor
General-population eligibility rules apply
$20 minimum order
$150 maximum per resident, vendor and quarter
Approved vendors include Access Securepak
Approved vendors include Jack L. Marcus
Approved vendors include Union Supply Group
Property cannot be delivered during a visit
Apply for a Wisconsin public defender
Find the SPD office serving the case county
Eligibility is handled through the local Wisconsin State Public Defender office.
Find the local SPD office
Submit the application
Staff review the type of case and financial information.
Provide accurate financial details
Eligibility considers income, assets, spousal resources, family size and case type.
Wait for the appointment decision
An approved applicant receives a staff public defender or qualified assigned private attorney.
Ask the court after an SPD denial
A court may still appoint counsel based on individual indigency, public justice and sound policy.
Review the client fee
Wisconsin requires fees in adult cases, but reduced prepayment, extensions and inability-to-pay review may be available.
Do not discuss the case on ordinary recorded calls
Use counsel’s approved confidential communication procedure.
| Example | Reduced prepayment | Full amount if not satisfied through prepayment |
|---|---|---|
| Adult misdemeanor case | $60 within the applicable payment period | $240 |
Fee amounts vary by case type. Multiple cases can create multiple client fees. An ability-to-pay form must be submitted within the published deadline when the client cannot pay.
Wisconsin State Public Defender Administration
17 South Fairchild Street
Madison, WI 53703
Phone: 608-266-0087
Client fee payments and extensions: 800-445-2230
17 South Fairchild Street
Madison, WI 53703
Phone: 608-266-0087
Client fee payments and extensions: 800-445-2230
Verify a Wisconsin criminal-defense lawyer
Search for criminal-defense experience
Ask whether the attorney regularly appears in the filing county.
Verify Wisconsin license status
Use the Wisconsin Court System lawyer-status search.
Verify lawyer status and history
Ask who will handle the hearings
Confirm whether the consulted lawyer personally attends the initial appearance, motions and trial.
Request a written fee agreement
Identify whether bond review, motions, trial and appeal are included.
Provide the complete record
Share the booking number, police incident number, WCCA case number, bond and next court date.
Find Wisconsin victim notification and advocacy
Police-stage advocate
Contact the investigating agency for immediate safety planning, referrals and investigation information.
District attorney advocate
After charging, contact the Victim-Witness Assistance Program in the filing county.
DOC notification
Eligible victims, survivors and witnesses can enroll in DOC NOTIS for custody and supervision information.
Save the incident and WCCA case numbers
These identifiers connect the police, prosecutor, court and custody records.
Contact the county District Attorney
Ask for the Victim-Witness Assistance Program handling the case.
Ask the sheriff about jail release notifications
County notification systems vary; some facilities may provide VINELink or another service.
Enroll with Wisconsin DOC victim services after conviction
DOC NOTIS covers enrolled victims connected to prison, community supervision and specified registry cases.
Open DOC NOTIS information
Keep contact information current
Notify the advocate or DOC victim office after an address, email or telephone change.
Wisconsin DOC Office of Victim Services and Programs
Local: 608-240-5888
Toll-free: 800-947-5777
Email: docovspadmin@wisconsin.gov
Local: 608-240-5888
Toll-free: 800-947-5777
Email: docovspadmin@wisconsin.gov
Call 911 for immediate danger. Do not rely on a jail roster or WCCA entry as a substitute for a safety plan.
Run a Wisconsin Online Record Check System search
WORCS is a name-based Wisconsin arrest-history search. It is not a fingerprint identity check, national background check, live jail roster or substitute for the court’s final disposition.
Open the Wisconsin DOJ WORCS portal
Individuals and organizations can submit online Wisconsin criminal-history searches.
Open WORCS
Choose registered or anonymous access
Registered users can manage requests and billing information. Anonymous users must save the order reference number.
Enter the legal name and exact date of birth
Add other lawful identifying information when available.
Review the submitted identity carefully
Mistyped or duplicate requests generally require a new paid search.
Review the final online fee
WORCS displays the payment total before confirmation.
Save the order reference number
Anonymous users need it to retrieve the completed result.
Refresh the result status
Many searches complete quickly, while candidate review can require additional processing.
Download the PDF result
Completed online results are available for six months.
Use a mailed request when required
Police certificates, statements of good conduct and certified searches may require forms and written instructions.
The official single-person mail request form lists a $12 Wisconsin criminal-history search fee. Verify the current form, acceptable payment and mailing address before sending it.
Understand a Wisconsin DOJ criminal-history response
A name-based search can return records belonging to more than one person or a person whose identity information is similar to the submitted information.
| Result or field | What it means | Verification step |
|---|---|---|
| No record found | The search did not return a matching Wisconsin DOJ record under the submitted criteria. | It does not prove no arrest or court record exists anywhere. |
| One potential candidate | One DOJ record met the name-based matching criteria. | Compare the date of birth, physical description and court cases. |
| Multiple potential candidates | More than one record may match the submitted identity. | Do not choose a record by name alone. |
| Arrest segment | Law enforcement submitted fingerprint-supported arrest information. | Match the agency, date and offense to WCCA. |
| Prosecution or court segment | A disposition or charging update may have been submitted. | Compare it with the certified circuit court record. |
| Open or missing disposition | The state history may lack the final court result. | Obtain the judgment or dismissal and challenge the record. |
| Alias | Another name is associated with the fingerprint record. | Determine whether it belongs to the searched person. |
| WiUPIN | A unique personal identification number may be issued after a successful mistaken-identity challenge. | Use it on future checks as instructed by DOJ. |
Three-system verification: Compare the DOJ arrest segment with the local police report and the WCCA court disposition before making a decision.
Correct a wrong Wisconsin arrest or disposition
Save the complete DOJ result
Record the search date, order reference number and disputed entry.
Identify the type of error
Determine whether the record belongs to another person, contains the wrong charge or lacks the final disposition.
Search the WCCA case
Compare the arrest segment with the court case.
Obtain a certified disposition
Request the judgment, dismissal or other controlling document from the clerk.
Complete form DJ-LE-247
Use the Wisconsin criminal-history record challenge form.
Open DOJ challenge instructions
Obtain fingerprints when identity is disputed
Fingerprint comparison can determine whether the Wisconsin arrest record belongs to you.
Attach supporting records
Include the certified disposition and a clear explanation of the requested correction.
Keep a complete copy
Save the form, fingerprints, documents and mailing proof.
Run a new search after processing
Confirm that the corrected information appears properly.
Wisconsin Crime Information Bureau
Challenge information: 608-266-7314
Wisconsin DOJ does not charge for the criminal-history challenge. A local fingerprinting agency may charge for fingerprints.
Challenge information: 608-266-7314
Wisconsin DOJ does not charge for the criminal-history challenge. A local fingerprinting agency may charge for fingerprints.
Copy-ready correction explanation
I am challenging the accuracy or identity of the Wisconsin criminal-history entry associated with [full legal name and date of birth]. The disputed arrest occurred on [date] through [agency] and is connected to court case [number]. The report currently displays [incorrect or incomplete information]. The attached certified court record shows [correct disposition]. Please review the record, compare fingerprints if necessary and provide written confirmation of the result.
Request removal of an eligible Wisconsin arrest entry
A dismissal does not automatically mean that Wisconsin DOJ must remove the fingerprint-supported arrest. Eligibility depends on the statutory reason and the complete prosecution history.
Obtain the DOJ criminal-history report
Identify the exact arrest transaction.
Obtain the certified court disposition
Confirm whether charges were filed, dismissed, declined or otherwise resolved.
Review the DOJ removal criteria
Wisconsin DOJ explains when an arrest may qualify for fingerprint-record removal.
Open incorrect-record guidance
Complete form DJ-LE-250B when applicable
Use the Fingerprint Record Removal Request listed by Wisconsin DOJ.
Attach the required proof
Include court and agency documentation supporting the request.
Confirm local records separately
DOJ removal does not automatically delete a police report, jail record, news article or private database.
Three different remedies: A correction fixes wrong information, fingerprint-record removal addresses an eligible DOJ arrest entry, and court expungement affects a qualifying court conviction record.
Wisconsin employment protections for arrest and conviction records
Wisconsin law protects applicants and employees from certain discrimination based on arrest or conviction record. Exceptions can apply when a pending charge or conviction is substantially related to the circumstances of the job.
An arrest is not proof of criminal conduct
A pending charge is different from a conviction
The job relationship must be evaluated lawfully
Identity must be verified before adverse action
The applicant should receive a chance to explain errors
DOJ results explain the right to challenge accuracy
Determine whether a conviction qualifies for expungement
Wisconsin expungement is narrow. It is not a general petition available years later for every dismissed case or old conviction. For many adult convictions, the sentencing judge must authorize expungement at the time of sentencing.
Person was under age 25 when the offense occurred
Maximum imprisonment is six years or less
Court finds the person will benefit
Court finds society will not be harmed
Expungement was ordered at sentencing when required
Sentence was successfully completed
Probation was not revoked
No later conviction occurred during completion
Important exclusions and limits
Class H felony limits
Prior felony history, violent-offense classification and specified offenses can make a Class H felony ineligible.
Class I felony limits
Prior felony history, violent-offense classification and specified child-related offenses can prevent eligibility.
Traffic records
Court expungement does not remove conviction information the Wisconsin Department of Transportation must maintain.
Open the WCCA case
Confirm the exact conviction, offense date, sentencing date and judgment.
Obtain the sentencing transcript or judgment
Determine whether the judge authorized expungement.
Confirm successful sentence completion
Check discharge from probation, jail or other sentence conditions.
Ask whether the discharge certificate reached the court
Probation or the detaining authority normally forwards the certificate when expungement was ordered.
Use CR-266 when the sentence did not involve probation or incarceration
Wisconsin Courts provides a standardized petition for qualifying adult convictions.
Open form CR-266
File in the original circuit court
Contact the clerk in the county where the conviction occurred.
Verify WCCA after processing
Confirm how the public court record now appears.
Check DOJ and local agency records separately
Court expungement does not guarantee automatic destruction of every police, fingerprint, prosecutor or private record.
Dismissed charge versus expunged conviction: A dismissal means no conviction was entered on that charge. Expungement under Wisconsin’s adult statute applies to certain convictions and has separate eligibility requirements.
Juvenile adjudications use separate Wisconsin juvenile expungement statutes and forms. Do not use the adult CR-266 process for a juvenile adjudication.
Wisconsin criminal-record contacts
Wisconsin DOJ Crime Information Bureau
P.O. Box 2718
Madison, WI 53701-2718
Madison, WI 53701-2718
Wisconsin DOJ Headquarters
17 W. Main Street
Madison, WI 53703
Madison, WI 53703
Wisconsin DOC Headquarters
3099 E. Washington Avenue
Madison, WI 53704
Madison, WI 53704
Adult DOC Custody Questions
State Public Defender
17 S. Fairchild Street
Madison, WI 53703
Madison, WI 53703
DOC Victim Services
Access Corrections
ICSolutions
Map to Wisconsin Department of Justice
Map to Wisconsin Department of Corrections
Confirm before traveling: Most searches, challenges and records requests can begin online or by mail. Call the agency, sheriff, clerk or institution before visiting.
What this Wisconsin guide brings into the page
Local arrest and court search
County-jail routing, police reports, WCCA search steps, identity checks, bond fields, court documents and final-disposition decoding.
Custody and family services
County service verification, DOC offender search, visitor approval, TextBehind mail, ICSolutions calls and Access Corrections deposits.
State history and record relief
WORCS requests, result interpretation, identity challenges, fingerprint-record removal, employment protections and Wisconsin expungement limits.
Wisconsin arrest and criminal-record questions answered
How do I search Wisconsin arrest records?
Start with the arresting police department or county sheriff, search the criminal court case through WCCA and use WORCS when a statewide Wisconsin DOJ report is needed.
Is there one statewide Wisconsin jail roster?
No. County sheriffs maintain separate jail systems. Search the sheriff serving the county where the person was booked.
What does WCCA show?
WCCA can show parties, charges, court dates, filings, orders, bond information and dispositions entered in Wisconsin circuit court cases.
Can I download the criminal complaint from WCCA?
Public case documents generally are not displayed through WCCA. Request the complaint from the clerk of circuit court in the filing county.
What is Wisconsin DOJ WORCS?
WORCS is the Wisconsin Online Record Check System for name-based Wisconsin criminal-history searches.
Does a Wisconsin arrest prove conviction?
No. Review the WCCA charges and final disposition before treating the arrest as a conviction.
How do I find a Wisconsin state prisoner?
Use the Wisconsin DOC Inmate and Offender Search and verify the current institution and DOC number.
How do I challenge a wrong DOJ record?
Use form DJ-LE-247, attach supporting court documents and provide fingerprints when identity is disputed.
Who qualifies for Wisconsin expungement?
Eligibility is limited. Many qualifying adult cases require the person to have been under 25 at the time of the offense, the offense to carry no more than six years of possible imprisonment and the judge to authorize expungement at sentencing.
Does expungement delete every record?
No. Wisconsin court expungement does not automatically guarantee removal of every police, fingerprint, prosecutor, transportation or private background record.
