The Wisconsin State Prison System

The State of Wisconsin prison system is integral to the state's criminal justice system. State prisons serve as a penalty to confine persons guilty of a crime in the state. They also prepare inmates to be reintegrated into society upon finishing their prison sentences. Before being sentenced to prison, inmates have to be convicted in a state court for any crime leveled against them.

Within the state’s jurisdiction, the Department of Corrections (DOC) manages the daily operations of prisons and their facilities.

What Is The Difference Between Jail and Prison in Wisconsin?

While jails and prisons in Wisconsin are often used in place of each other, there are some differences between them. Typically, the state government manages Wisconsin state prisons through the Department of Corrections, while jails serve the county where they are situated. The local law enforcement agency, which is usually the Sheriff’s Office, is responsible for the operation of the jail facilities.

Offenders convicted of a serious felony offense that the court penalizes with long-term imprisonment are sentenced to state prison. Jails hold inmates who commit less severe crimes or are awaiting trial. The court is more likely to punish misdemeanor offenses with a jail sentence, especially for crimes with a maximum jail time of one year.

There are different levels of prison facilities, based on the severity of the offense or the security threat that the inmate poses. The court may sentence offenders to a minimum, medium, or maximum prison facility.

How Many Prisons Are In Wisconsin?

Wisconsin has twenty adult prison institutions and sixteen correctional system centers that are minimum-security facilities. The following are the prisons located in Wisconsin:

Adult Prison Institutions

• Chippewa Valley Correctional Treatment Facility
• Columbia Correctional Institution
• Dodge Correctional Institution
• Fox Lake Correctional Institution
• Green Bay Correctional Institution
• Jackson Correctional Institution
• Kettle Moraine Correctional Institution
• Milwaukee Secure Detention Facility
• New Lisbon Correctional Institution
• Oakhill Correctional Institution
• Oshkosh Correctional Institution
• Prairie du Chien Correctional Institution
• Racine Correctional Institution
• Racine Youthful Offender Correctional Facility
• Redgranite Correctional Institution
• Stanley Correctional Institution
• Sturtevant Transitional Facility
• Waupun Correctional Institution
• Wisconsin Secure Program Facility
• Taycheedah Correctional Institution

Correctional Center System facilities

• Black River Correctional Center
• Drug Abuse Correctional Center
• Felmers O. Chaney Correctional Center
• Flambeau Correctional Center
• Gordon Correctional Center
• John C. Burke Correctional Center
• Kenosha Correctional Center
• Marshall E. Sherrer Correctional Center
• McNaughton Correctional Center
• Oregon Correctional Center
• Sanger B. Powers Correctional Center
• St. Croix Correctional Center
• Thompson Correctional Center
• Winnebago Correctional Center
• Milwaukee Women’s Correctional Center
• Robert E. Ellsworth Correctional Center

How Do I Search For An Inmate In Wisconsin State Prison?

Interested persons may search for inmates held in a Wisconsin state prison by using the Inmate and Offender Search tool. The search tool requires querying parties to input some personal information on the inmate to retrieve results. The information needed includes the inmate’s full name (including any alias), race, date of birth, gender, age range, DOC number, offender status, and the facility's location.

Querying parties typically obtain information such as the inmate’s criminal offense history and probation/parole details. However, the search tool may provide limited information on inmates. Persons who wish to make inquiries about the inmate search tool can send a U.S mail to the address:

Department of Corrections
P. O. Box 7925
Madison, WI 53707–7925
DOCGeneral@wisconsin.gov

Wisconsin Inmate information may also be available through third-party websites that offer public records services. The websites often manage a registry of inmates in Wisconsin state prisons and may provide such information to the public via a search tool.

Are Incarceration Records Public in Wisconsin?

Under the Wisconsin Open Records Law, records generated and managed by government agencies are available to the general public for inspection or duplication. Incarceration records and the criminal history of individuals are public in the state, and querying parties can obtain them from the record custodians. However, if the record requested is sealed/expunged, custodians cannot provide requestors with such information.

Records that are considered public may be accessible from some third-party websites. These websites often simplify the search process by aggregating information from various jurisdictions and providing it to record seekers via a single database. Users are generally required to provide the following information to facilitate a search:

• The name of the person involved in the record, unless said person is a juvenile
• The location or assumed location of the record or person involved. This includes information such as the city, county, or state where the person resides or was accused.

Third-party sites operate independently from government sources and are not sponsored by these agencies. Therefore, the accuracy and validity of the information they provide may not be guaranteed.

How to Look Up Jail Records in Wisconsin

The Sheriff’s Office in a Wisconsin county is responsible for managing and disseminating records concerning the county jail. Jail records usually include inmates' incarceration information and criminal history. Typically, querying parties may visit the Sheriff’s Office to request non-confidential jail records. The Directory of Wisconsin Sheriffs provides the location and contact information of all the Sheriff’s Departments in the state.

Individuals may search for desired jail records online on county or Sheriff’s Office sites. Additionally, the Department of Justice provides an Online Record Check System that gives the public access to individuals' criminal histories. Users are generally required to create an account and pay the required fees to use the platform.

Can Jail Records be Expunged in Wisconsin?

Under Section 973.015 of the Wisconsin Statutes, a court is likely to expunge an individual’s jail record if:

• The criminal incident occurred when the offender was below twenty-five years old
• The jail sentence imposed is at most six years of incarceration
• The individuals should be done with their jail sentence

Persons who do not meet the eligibility criteria may expunge their arrest records if a law officer apprehends them but the court does not convict them of any criminal offense.