Lincoln County Arrest Records

An arrest occurs when a person is believed to have committed a crime and needs to be taken into law enforcement custody. Per Wis. Stat. § 968.07, a law enforcement officer may arrest an individual under the following conditions:

• The officer has a warrant or believes that a warrant for the person's arrest has been issued in the county.
• The officer believes that an arrest warrant has been issued for a felony offence in another state.
• The officer has sufficient reasons to believe the individual is committing or has committed a crime.

Once arrested, individuals are usually booked and held at the Lincoln County Jail, which is operated by the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office. The Sheriff’s Office is also primarily responsible for generating and maintaining arrest records in the county. Arrest records typically form the basis for criminal prosecution and are closely tied to other court records, such as the Lincoln County court records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Lincoln County?

Yes, In Lincoln County, arrest records are generally considered public under the Wisconsin Open Records Law (Wis. Stat. §§ 19.31-19.39). Under the law, individuals have the right to inspect any record in the custody of a public body, including law enforcement agencies. However, certain records are not subject to public disclosure under the law, such as:

• Records connected to ongoing investigations or proceedings (administrative, arbitration, or court)
• Records containing personally identifiable information that could endanger someone's life or safety
• Records that reveal the identity of a confidential informant
• Records that could compromise the security of prisons, jails, juvenile facilities, and mental health institutes
• Records revealing the actual address of someone in the Wisconsin address confidentiality program
• Records that would hinder the rehabilitation of someone in custody

These records may only be released to the public when the court issues an order granting access.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Lincoln County public arrest records reveal key details about an individual’s arrest. These records contain an arrestee’s personal information, such as name, date of birth, and gender. They also provide specifics about the arrest, such as the date and location of the arrest, charges filed, the arresting agency, the offender's mugshot, booking details, and bond information.

Lincoln County Arrest Statistics

Lincoln arrest statistics provide valuable insights about crime trends, patterns, and rates to law enforcement and the public. The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) receives and compiles arrest data from law enforcement agencies throughout the state through its Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program.

Lincoln County arrest statistics can be accessed on the DOJ’s UCR Arrest Data dashboard. According to data provided on the dashboard, 1475 arrests occurred in Lincoln County in 2023. The Merrill Police Department was responsible for 823 arrests and the Sheriff’s Department for 528. The society and property crime categories had the highest number of arrests that year, 329 and 220, respectively.

Find Lincoln County Arrest Records

Arrest records are available for inspection at law enforcement departments in Lincoln County. Inquirers can visit an arresting law enforcement agency to view or obtain a copy of an arrest record. However, they should be prepared to pay any assessed fees for duplicating an arrest record. The local sheriff's office also provides the public with online access to information about persons in jail on its Current Inmates portal. Inmates, including recent arrestees, can be located on the portal using their names.

Inmates not in the county jail may be in a state adult or juvenile facility. Users can utilize the Wisconsin Department of Corrections Offender Locator to find inmates in a state correctional facility. State inmates can be located by name or DOC number.

For persons incarcerated in a federal correctional facility or transferred to federal custody, individuals can search the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Inmate Locator. The website can be searched with an inmate's name or number.

Free Arrest Record Search in Lincoln County

Individuals can find Lincoln County arrest records on third-party aggregator websites. While these platforms are not operated by government bodies, they often provide free public access to arrest information.

To search a third-party site, users typically need to enter a name or case number. Performing a search is usually free on such databases, but viewing a record's full contents may require payment. It is important to note that third-party websites do not have access to confidential arrest records—such documents can only be obtained directly from law enforcement agencies.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Forever. In Lincoln County, Wisconsin, arrest records remain permanently on an individual's record unless removed through a court order. Wisconsin law provides for the expungement of certain arrests under specific conditions. Eligible individuals may petition the court to have their arrest records expunged, depending on the case outcome.

Expunge Lincoln County Arrest Records

Expungement of arrest records in Lincoln County is governed by Wisconsin state law (Wis. Stat. § 973.015). In Wisconsin, arrests that do not result in a conviction are typically expunged automatically. Additionally, minors convicted of certain privacy-related offenses under Wis. Stat. § 942.08 are eligible for automatic expungement after completing their sentences.

For other individuals, expungement is available only under specific conditions. To be eligible, the person must:

• Have been under 25 years old at the time the offense was committed
• Have committed an offense with a maximum imprisonment of six years or less
• Have no subsequent convictions
• Have satisfied all conditions of probation (if applicable)

An individual will not be eligible to apply for expungement if the conviction was for a violent felony, stalking, child abuse, or child enticement, or if they have multiple felony convictions.

Eligible individuals may petition the circuit court in Lincoln to have their arrest records expunged. If the court grants the order, the arrest will be removed from the record and made inaccessible to the public.

Lincoln County Arrest Warrants

Arrest warrants are legal documents instructing law enforcement to take a person into custody. To obtain an arrest warrant in Lincoln, law enforcement files a complaint with the court, which can be supported by a sworn statement or affidavit. If an examination of the complaint and evidence presented supports a reasonable belief that the defendant has committed the crime (also called "probable cause"), the judge may approve an arrest warrant or issue a summons.

If the sitting judge does not find probable cause, the complaint will be dismissed and filed with the court clerk. For minor misdemeanors with a maximum punishment of six months in prison, the judge will issue a summons instead of a warrant unless they believe the accused will not attend court.

A warrant issued in Lincoln County contains the following information:

• The crime committed and the statute violated
• A copy of the complaint
• The identity of the accused or a clear physical description
• A command to arrest and bring the accused before the judge
• The date of issuance
• The title and signature of the issuing judge

Do Lincoln County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, an arrest warrant issued in Lincoln County does not expire. It remains active indefinitely until it is executed (the individual is arrested) or voided by the court. This means law enforcement may arrest the individual named on the warrant at any time, regardless of how much time has passed. However, several factors can affect the timeliness of a warrant’s execution. These include the offense's seriousness, available law enforcement resources, and jurisdictional limitations.