Dane County Arrest Records

Under Wisconsin State Statute 62.09(13) and Wisconsin State Statute 968.07, a peace officer must effect an arrest, whether with or without a warrant, and diligently present the offender before the court. In this context, an offender is any individual within the city who is involved in disturbing the peace or infringing any state law or city ordinance. Once apprehended, individuals are transferred to the Dane County jail, which falls under the management of the Sheriff’s Office.

The booking procedure involves searching the arrestee to ensure no weapons or contraband are carried into the jail, completing the necessary documentation, and updating the database with relevant details. Information collected during booking includes the arrestee's name, address, physical description, time and cause of arrest, the agency executing the arrest, fingerprints, a mugshot, and the specific charges. This compilation of data constitutes what is commonly known as an arrest record. Following the booking process, the decision to grant or deny bail is contingent upon factors such as the nature of the offense committed and the individual's prior criminal history.

Arrest records are created and maintained by the Sheriff’s Office, and they may be interwoven with other types of records. For instance, arrest records in Dane County would typically be incorporated within a broader Dane County court record or a comprehensive criminal record.

Are Arrest Records Public in Dane County?

Yes. According to the provisions outlined in §§ 19.31-19.39 of the Wisconsin Statutes, individuals from the general public have the right to access information from governmental agencies to the maximum extent possible. This legislation also addresses the dissemination of such information. Essentially, a Dane County arrest record, being a record generated by a government agency, is considered a public record, allowing any individual to request and obtain specific records.

Notwithstanding, exceptions exist within this law that dictate certain parts or entire arrest records can be sealed or kept confidential, thereby not accessible to the public. Some of these exceptions include:

• Details containing sensitive personally identifiable information
• Information that could endanger the security or rehabilitation of an individual in custody
• Arrest records concerning minors
• Information that, if disclosed, might compromise an ongoing investigation or evidence.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

While an arrest record is categorized as a public record, not all details within the record are accessible to the general public. The following are some of the typical pieces of information included in a standard Dane County arrest record:

Arrestee Details:

• Name
• Status
• Building
• Area
• Scheduled release
• Booking number
• Booking date
• Name number

Arrest Information:

• Date and time of arrest
• Arresting agency
• Agency case number
• Offense
• Count
• Court case number

Dane County Crime Rate

According to the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) offense data, there were 13,512 offenses committed in Dane County in 2023. This figure translates to a crime rate of 22.89 offenses per 1,000 residents, considering that Dane County had an estimated population of 590,056 residents as of 2023, according to the state’s Department of Administration Population Estimates. Overall, larceny theft had the highest offense count at 7,457, followed by simple assault (3,011), burglary (1,031), and aggravated assault (964).

Dane County Arrest Statistics

Arrest statistics provided by the Dane County Community Justice Council reveal that 16,549 arrests were made in Dane County in 2024. The statistics reported five major categories of offenses: society crimes, other crimes, property crimes, drug crimes, and violent crimes. The other crimes category had the highest number of arrests at 7,101, and offenses that fell under this category included simple assault (2,155), offense to family and kids (156), negligent manslaughter (6), and more. 

The table below outlines the arrest totals for the remaining categories.

Find Dane County Arrest Records

Arrest records in Dane County can be accessed through online platforms, by mail, or in person. Dane County comprises approximately 22 law enforcement agencies, some of which are authorized to conduct arrests. Following an arrest, individuals are taken to the Dane County Jail for processing and lodging.

Those interested in viewing arrest records can visit the Sheriff’s Office webpage. On the Homepage, one can click on the 'see residents roaster' feature. On the next page displayed the researcher can access a list of current residents in custody.

Researchers can also request arrest records by filling out the online request form available on the Sheriff’s webpage. The form requires personal information and specific details about the record for identification purposes. The processing time for requests is three days.

Additionally, members of the public seeking Dane's arrest records can either send a mail request or visit the Sheriff’s Office in person at the following address:

Dane County Sheriff's Office
115 West Doty Street
Madison, WI 53703
Phone: (608) 284-6827

In cases where an individual's arrest record is not found in the Sheriff’s arrest record database, researchers can check the inmate locator provided by the Wisconsin Department of Corrections (DOC) for public use in case the inmate is housed in the state prison.

Furthermore, residents of Dane County can access arrest records of inmates held by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) through the online inmate locator.

It is worthy of note that the DOC only holds arrest records of inmates within its facilities, while Federal inmate records can be found on the BOP website.

Free Arrest Record Search in Dane County

Generally, Dane's Sheriff's Office typically offers free access to arrest records unless requesting a copy. This means that these records can be easily obtained online and in person without any charges.

Furthermore, individuals conducting research have the option to seek arrest records from private aggregate websites. Many of these unofficial platforms provide arrest records at no cost, offering basic information about an individual's arrest record. To access this information for free, individuals usually need to provide the subject's name or booking number.

Get Dane County Criminal Records

While the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Crime Information Bureau (CIB) serves as the primary repository for criminal records in the state, individuals seeking Dane County criminal records have other avenues for obtaining this information. A criminal record, also known as a criminal history or RAP sheet, documents an individual's arrests and convictions, reflecting their legal encounters.

It is essential to note that criminal records are created based on an arrestee's legal guilt upon conviction. If a requester specifically aims to access records of offenses committed within the county, they can directly approach the law enforcement agency responsible for the arrest or visit the Sheriff’s office to make the necessary inquiries.

For comprehensive criminal records covering all criminal activities within Dane County and across the state, individuals can contact the Wisconsin Department of Justice. Through the department's online record check system, individuals can access organized records after creating an account and paying the designated fee. The department offers a guidance manual to assist users in navigating the system effectively.

Moreover, individuals can also obtain a copy of their criminal record by contacting the FBI for a fee of $18.

Dane County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Arrest records and criminal records share similarities in that an arrest record is typically a component of a criminal record, but they are distinct entities. Both records are produced following an individual's arrest, with an arrest record created after an arrest, and a criminal record established post-conviction.

However, it is important to note that an arrest record does not imply guilt as an individual can have an arrest record without a corresponding criminal record, which is only established upon a finding of guilt for a crime.

Furthermore, a criminal record provides more information, including details about the individual, their arrests, court proceedings, and any past history of arrest or criminal involvement. In contrast, arrest records solely document the details of the arrest itself and the individual involved.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In normal circumstances, when someone is arrested in Dane County, the resulting arrest record is permanent. This means that throughout the individual's life, the record remains unless they pursue expungement or sealing, and if approved, the arrest record would then be inaccessible during a background check.

Expunge Dane County Arrest Records

Wisconsin has a distinct approach to expunging arrest records. While a court can order the expungement of a record leading to a conviction, records maintained by the State's Department of Correction cannot be erased. This means that even if a court orders the expungement of an arrest record resulting in a conviction in Dane County, the record would still be discoverable in WDOC's database.

According to Wisconsin Statute §165.84(1), an arrest can be expunged or sealed if the charge was dismissed or not prosecuted, the arrestee was released without charges, or the individual was acquitted by a court. Without any of these criteria, an arrest record would continually be on an individual's record.

Individuals eligible to request expungement must submit a fingerprint record removal request, detailed arrest record information, two fingerprints, and their signature to the Crime Information Bureau. Processing times vary based on when the application reaches the court with jurisdiction over the case.

While expungement for a guilty verdict is challenging, individuals can seek Executive Clemency from the Governor, though this does not erase the arrest record. It may, however, restore certain rights forfeited due to the record's existence.

Applicants can refer to the arrest record removal brochure provided by the CIB for more information.

Dane County Arrest Warrants

A Dane County arrest warrant is an official written order authorized and signed by a magistrate or judge, empowering a peace officer to apprehend the specified individual named in the document. Such warrants are typically issued when there is reasonable suspicion that an individual has violated a criminal law or is on the verge of committing a crime. Additionally, arrest warrants can be issued in relation to civil matters, such as failing to appear in court after being summoned.

In general, a Dane County arrest warrant contains specific details about the individual and the cause for the warrant, including:

• The full name of the individual named in the warrant (along with any known alias)
• Warrant number
• Warrant information: date, process type, crime class, court case number
• The rationale behind the issuance of the warrant

Dane County Arrest Warrant Search

In Dane, individuals from the public looking to conduct a warrant search have the option of reaching out to the court or contacting law enforcement. The Dane County Clerk of Court can be contacted by residents using online platforms, mail, fax, or by visiting in person to inquire about any active or outstanding arrest warrants, as these warrants are typically issued by the court. It is possible to request the case record pertaining to the individual named in the arrest warrant, and this service is provided at no cost.

Moreover, individuals can search for active warrants in Dane County through the Office of the Sheriff's website, where a list of individuals with active warrants in the county is available. For those seeking a more up-to-date list, it is recommended that they contact the office during regular working hours at (608) 284-6110.

Do Dane County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. A Dane County arrest warrant does not have an expiration date and stays valid until the individual named in the warrant is arrested. Whether the person is taken into custody forcibly or voluntarily surrenders, the warrant remains in effect until the individual is presented before a judge.