Adams County Arrest Records

Law enforcement officers in Adams County, Wisconsin, are permitted by law to arrest a person if they have reasonable grounds to believe they are committing or have committed a crime. Officers may enlist the aid of any person to assist with a lawful arrest and ensure the suspect is brought before a court within a reasonable time. Arrested suspects in Adams County are usually housed at the Adams County Jail, operated by the local sheriff's office.

The Adams County Sheriff's Office is the primary arresting agency and typically generates and maintains arrest records. An Adams County arrest that brought up official charges and a trial may be found in Adams County Court Records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Adams County?

Under Wisconsin's Public Records Law, Adams County arrest records are considered public and open to public access. Unless the information within the record is specifically restricted or exempt from disclosure, the public is permitted to access, view, and copy arrest records for the county.
Records exempt from public disclosure under Wisconsin Law include the following:

• Expuged or sealed records
• Arrest records of juveniles and minors
• Records related to ongoing law enforcement investigations and prosecutions
• Records that would identify undercover law enforcement agents or informants
• Any records specifically restricted by federal or state laws

Adams County Arrest Statistics

The Adams County Sheriff's Office and local law enforcement submit crime statistics to the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting database. This information is typically used to monitor crime trends and judge the effectiveness of crime-fighting strategies.

According to the information submitted by the Adams County Sheriff, 385 arrests were reported in 2023. This total includes 165 arrests for disorderly conduct, 51 arrests for driving under the influence, 40 arrests for simple assaults, 40 arrests for various drug possession offenses, 24 arrests for larceny, 16 arrests for vandalism, 13 arrests for aggravated assaults, nine arrests for weapons violations, five arrests for motor vehicle theft, and four arrests for rape.

Find Adams County Arrest Records

Record seekers may obtain Adams County inmate information and arrest records by contacting the Adams County Sheriff's Office. Inmate information may be available from the records department of the Sheriff's administrative office. Requests may be made in person or by mail to:

Adams County, Wisconsin Sheriff's Office
401 Adams Street Suite 1,
Friendship, Wisconsin 53934

For any inquiries, record seekers are free to call the records deputies at (608) 339-4289 and (608) 339-4287. Inquiries may also be directed to the Adams County Jail at (608) 339-4239.

Arrest records that are part of court records may be available from the Adams County Clerk of the Circuit Court.

The Wisconsin Department of Corrections manages individuals housed in state-run facilities. Record seekers may look up inmate records using the facilities available in the Offender Information section of the department's website.

On the federal level, the Bureau of Prisons manages inmates in federal prisons. The bureau's website provides an Inmate Locator that may be used to look up inmate records. Information required to search with the inmate locator includes the inmate's name and prison number.

Adams County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Adams County arrest and criminal records are documentation generated and maintained by agencies that detail aspects of an individual's criminal history. Arrest records detail aspects surrounding the individual's arrest. These records include the suspect's name, arresting agency, the crime committed, arrest events, personal information collected during booking, and detention details. Typically, an arrest record does not prove guilt; it only shows the suspect was arrested in relation to a crime.

On the other hand, a criminal record is proof that an individual was found guilty and has passed through the full legal system. A criminal record is more comprehensive and usually contains part or all of the individual's arrest records. It will also contain court dates, trial details, verdicts, prison time, and supervision periods.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

The length of time an arrest stays on an individual's record in Wisconsin typically depends on the outcome and severity of the crime. When the charges related to the arrest are dismissed or the suspect is acquitted at trial, the record may be removed from the criminal database after 2 years. The situation changes if the arrestee was convicted. In conviction cases, the record may remain on the convict's record for between 20 and 75 years, depending on the severity of the case and if the suspect is eligible to seal or expunge the record.

In Wisconsin, expungement and sealing are similar but distinct methods of record relief. While expungement destroys a record and removes it from the criminal database, sealing makes records confidential, removing them from public access but keeping them accessible to certain law enforcement agencies.

Expungement in Wisconsin is typically available to first-time offenders under 25 years old who have been convicted. Offenders convicted of certain non-violent misdemeanors and specific felonies who have completed all aspects of their sentences and have no pending cases or penalties.

Adams County Arrest Warrants

Adams County arrest warrants are official documents issued by a judge or court official for the county, authorizing law enforcement to arrest an individual suspected of a crime and bring them before the judge.

According to Wisconsin Revised Statutes Chapter 968.04, an arrest warrant may be issued when law enforcement or the county's district attorney files an affidavit with the judge showing probable cause that a crime was committed and that the accused committed it. The judge may examine witnesses to the complaint under oath and issue the warrant if satisfied.

Arrest warrants issued in Adams County must be in writing and contain the following:

• The name of the person to be arrested or a reasonable description by which they may be identified with reasonable certainty
• Description of the crime and the section of the statutes that it violates
• An attached copy of the complaint
• A command to arrest the subject of the warrant and bring them before the issuing judge or any other sitting judge in Adams County
• The date of issue
• The name, title, and signature of the judge who issued the warrant

Do Adams County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Arrest warrants issued in Adams County, Wisconsin, do not expire. They remain active indefinitely until executed, the offender is arrested, the offender surrenders willingly, or dies. Sometimes, a judge may cancel or squash a warrant under certain conditions.

Expunge Adams County Arrest Records

Under Wisconsin law, certain criminal arrest and conviction records are eligible for expungement. Arrests where the case was dismissed or the offender was acquitted typically qualify for expungement. Convictions for certain non-violent misdemeanors and felonies may also qualify. Conditions to qualify for expungement of a record include the following:

• The offender must have been under 25 years when they were sentenced
• The offender must be a first-time offender with no prior convictions
• The judge at sentencing must determine that the offense qualifies for expungement at the time of sentencing
• Expungement is generally reserved for misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies with a maximum jail sentence of 6 years
• The offender must have completed their sentence, including any supervision or conditions such as probation
• The offender cannot have any pending cases or subsequent convictions

At sentencing, the offender must request expungement. The judge at sentencing will determine if the offence qualifies and authorize the expungement at the end of the sentence. After all aspects of the sentence are completed, the Department of Corrections issues a certificate of discharge, which must be filed with the sentencing court. The filing of the certificate will trigger the process to expunge the record.