Fond du Lac County Arrest Records

Generally, law enforcement takes individuals into custody to protect the public, secure evidence, or enforce the law. Law enforcement agencies may arrest individuals if they

• Commit arrestable offenses
• Tamper with evidence of a crime
• Are the subjects of arrest warrants
• Pose immediate danger
• Are flight risks during legal proceedings
• Fail to comply with lawful orders.

In Fond du Lac County, the Sheriff's Office and the City of Fond du Lac Police Department, the Wisconsin State Patrol, the FBI, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the University of Wisconsin-Fond du Lac Campus Police, and other local law enforcement agencies create arrest records to account for individuals they take into custody for various offenses. Depending on age and the nature of the arrest, Law enforcement within Fond du Lac County may detain arrestees at:

• The Fond du Lac County Jail
• Municipal Holding Facilities
• Fond du Lac County Secure Detention Center (for juvenile arrestees)
• State and Federal Facilities outside Fond du Lac County.

An arrest is a preliminary step to a criminal case trial. Hence, Fond du Lac County arrest records are typically a component of Fond du Lac County court records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Fond du Lac County?

Yes, Fond du Lac arrest records are public. Per Chapter 19, Subchapter 31 - 37 of the Wisconsin Statutes, all persons are entitled to information regarding government affairs and its employees' official acts.

However, Wisconsin and federal laws restrict public access to Fond du Lac arrest records relating to active judicial or law enforcement investigation, minors, sealed or expunged records, records sealed by federal or Wisconsin Statutes, victim or witness information, undercover officers, or informant details. Nonetheless, restricted Fond du Lac arrest records are accessible to the subjects of the arrests, law enforcement officials, and the courts.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

An arrest record contains the personal information of the owner of the records, including the event that led to the arrest, processing, and release of information. Generally, arrest records information include but are not limited to

• Name, address, gender, date of birth, race of the owner of the owner of the record
• Name of the arresting agency
• Name and badge number of the arresting officer
• Date, location, and time of arrest
• Description of charges against the record owner and statute number
• Booking number, date, and time
• Fingerprints and mugshots
• Jail/Detention facility
• Bail/Bond information
• Incident report
• Incarceration status (in custody, released on bail or Self-recognizance).

Fond du Lac County Crime Rate

Data from the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) show larceny-theft as the most common crime within Fond du Lac County. In 2022, the Fond du Lac Police Department, Sheriff's Office, North Fond du Lac Police Department, and Ripon Police Department reported 839 larceny-theft incidents to the NIBRS. In comparison, there were 605 drug/narcotic violations (the next highest crime) within the same period.

Also, there were 796, and 998 larceny-theft incidents in 2021 and 2020. These figures accounted for 84.5% and 95.7% of property-related crimes reported by these agencies in 2021 and 2020.

Fond du Lac County Arrest Statistics

Arrest Statistics from the NIBRS show that 3,488 individuals were taken into custody by the Fond du Lac Sheriff's Office and the Fond du Lac and North Fond du Lac Police Departments in 2022. The same agencies reported 3,877 and 3,762 arrests in 2021 and 2020, respectively. The below outlines the arrest statistics from these agencies for some common crimes in Fond du Lac County between 2020 and 2022.

Fond du Lac County Sheriff's Office

Fond du Lac Police Department

North Fond du Lac Police Department

Data Source: FBI Crime Explorer.

Find Fond du Lac County Arrest Records

Fond du Lac County is accessible using local and state government search tools. Inquirers for Fond du Lac County arrest records should

• Call or visit the Fond du Lac County Sheriff's Office at

180 S. Macy Street, Fond du Lac,
WI
Phone: (920) 929-3394

• Email an Open Records Request to sheriff@fdlco.wi.gov, or:

• Download an Open Records Request Form from the Fond du Lac County Sheriff's Office Open Records Page

• Fill out the request form and mail it to

The Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office

Attention: Records

180 S. Macy Street,
P.O. Box 1273
Fond du Lac,
WI 54936-1273

• Log in to the Fond du Lac County JailExchange Inmate Search Web Page
  • Click Inmate Search to access the Search Locator
  • Enter the name, age, and race of the owner of a record
  • Review the results to access arrest information
• Log in to the Fond du Lac Police Department Records Bureau – Records Request Webpage and submit a Public Records Request to access arrest records in their possession.
• Call the Fond du Lac County Jail at (920) 929-3394 or visit their office at

63 Western Avenue
Fond du Lac,
WI 54935.

Free Arrest Record Search in Fond du Lac County

Accessing Fond du Lac County arrest records may involve fee payments. Notwithstanding, record seekers can obtain information on Fond du Lac County arrests for free. For free access to Fond du Lac County arrest records:

• Log in to the Fond du Lac County Inmate Search Webpage and use the online search tools to access arrest information for free.
• Search for Fond du Lac County arrest records through third-party websites; some private online databases may offer free access to Fond du Lac County arrest information.

Get Fond du Lac County Criminal Records

Criminal records are official details of criminal activities and prosecutions. Fond du Lac County criminal records provide details of individuals’ encounters with law enforcement and the criminal justice system.

To access Fond du Lac County criminal histories:

• Log in to the Fond du Lac County Inmate Search Portal and access inmates' criminal records.
• Visit the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) Portal:
  • Enter a name, birth date, and case number
  • Select Fond du Lac from the County menu, search for criminal records
• Call, fax, send a mail, or visit the Fond du Lac County Clerk of Courts Office at

2nd Floor of City/County Government Center
160 S. Macy Street
Fond du Lac,
WI 54935
Phone: (920) 929-3038
Fax: (920) 929-3933

• Visit the Wisconsin Department of Justice Online Record Check System Portal, register a user account, log in, and submit a criminal background check request.

Fond du Lac County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

There are significant distinctions between Fond du Lac County arrest and criminal records.

Fond du Lac County arrest and criminal records are crucial for maintaining law and order. However, differences exist in their creation, content, and use.

Fond du Lac County, law enforcement agencies create arrest records to account for individuals they take into custody for various crimes. On the other hand, the Fond du Lac Court Circuit and Municipal Courts generate criminal records to detail criminal case trials.

Typically, arrest records contain personal information and details of the circumstances leading to individuals' arrests and incarcerations. Criminal records contain information on the prosecution, conviction, imprisonment, probation, and parole of criminal offenders.

Also, an arrest record does not confirm the guilt or innocence of the owner. Contrariwise, a criminal record may be a legal confirmation that the owner of the record is guilty of a crime.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Fond du Lac County and the rest of Wisconsin, arrest information will stay on a record indefinitely. However, Chapter 973, Section 015 of the Wisconsin Statutes grants individuals the right to petition for the sealing or removal of Fond du Lac County arrest information if they fulfill the eligibility requirements.

Expunge Fond du Lac County Arrest Records

In Fond du Lac County and the rest of Wisconsin, an individual may petition the court to expunge arrest information from a record if

• The court orders at the time of sentencing that the relevant agencies should seal or remove the record if the convict completes the sentence
• The arrest does not result in a conviction.
• The owner of the record is below the age of 25 years at the time of the offense.
• The conviction is for a misdemeanor or a Class H or I felony
• The individual completes the sentence for the offense, pays all applicable fines, and makes restitution (if required).

Eligible record owners in Fond du Lac County seeking to expunge arrest information should do the following:

• Gather supporting documents that may aid their petition.
• Download and complete a Petition for Expungement of Court Record of Conviction (CR-266) from the Wisconsin Court System Circuit Court Forms Page. If the arrest did not lead to a conviction, draft a petition for an arrest record expungement. The draft must include
  • Name, current address, and date of arrest
  • Date, location, and time of arrest
  • Name of the arresting agency
  • The charges that led to the arrest
  • Reasons the court should expunge the record
• Submit the petition at the Fond du Lac County Clerk of Courts Office
• Send a copy of the petition to the Fond du Lac County District Attorney's Office
• Attend any court hearing relating to the petition to provide answers to questions
• If the court grants the petition, it will issue an order for the expunging of the record
• Follow up and ensure that the relevant agencies seal or remove the record from their databases.

Fond du Lac County Arrest Warrants

Fond du Lac arrest warrants refer to court documents that authorize law enforcement to take individuals into custody. A judge/magistrate of the Fond du Lac Circuit or Municipal Court may issue an arrest warrant if

• Law enforcement presents sufficient evidence to establish probable cause that an individual committed a crime.
• The law enforcement provides an affidavit detailing evidence of a crime by an individual.
• An individual disobeys a court order or summon
• A convict violates probation or parole
• There is evidence that implicates an individual in a crime
• A person is a public risk
• There are reasons to believe a person is planning to flee the jurisdiction to avoid prosecution or arrest.

Generally, warrant information include

• Identifying information (such as the name, address, aliases, and physical description of the subject)
• Details of the Alleged crime. These include a description of the offense and statute or code violations.
• A probable cause statement or affidavit outlining the evidence of the crime
• Name of the issuing authority (these include the name and signature of the issuing judge/magistrate, the location and name of the court)
• Date and time of issuance of the warrant
• Authorization to law enforcement to take the individual into custody, instructions on how to execute the arrest, and geographic area or jurisdiction in which the warrant is valid
• Instructions to law enforcement on how to return the warrant after apprehending the subject
• Bail or Bond information (if applicable).

Fond du Lac County Arrest Warrant Search

There are several options for Obtaining information on Fond du Lac County active arrest warrants. For information on wanted persons in Fond du Lac County:

• Visit the Fond du Lac County Sheriff's Office website
  • Scroll up and click the warrants link
  • On the new page, click Sheriff Warrants List to download a PDF of individuals wanted for various offenses.
• Log in to the Wisconsin Circuit Access Portal
  • Enter a name into the search tools
  • Select Fond du Lac from the County option
  • Provide the case number and search for records
  • Review the search results for information relating to active warrants
• Contact the Fond du Lac County Sheriff's Office or other local law enforcement agencies for information relating to active arrest warrants
• Log in to the Fond du Lac County JailExchange Inmate Search Portal, and use names to look for active arrest warrants
• Search for active arrest warrants online through third-party or local News websites
• Look for active Fond du Lac County warrants on local notice boards.

Do Fond du Lac County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, Fond du Lac County arrest warrants generally do not expire. In the United States and its component states, a warrant remains active until law enforcement apprehends the fugitive. However, an arrest warrant becomes dormant at the subject's demise or if the court quashes it.