Ozaukee County Arrest Records

Under Wisconsin Statutes, a police officer may arrest someone if a warrant is out (Section 968.07). A police officer may also detain a person if there are reasonable grounds for suspecting they have committed a crime. The police officers then take the suspect to the nearest jail or police department for booking.

In Ozaukee County, arrestees are typically taken to the County Jail, managed by the Sheriff’s Office. During the booking process, the suspect's identity, the offense they committed, their mugshot, fingerprints, DNA samples, a health examination, and personal possessions are all recorded. This process creates what is known as an arrest record. Individuals should note that they may access arrest records through Ozaukee County Court Records, as they tend to hold some arrest information.

Are Arrest Records Public in Ozaukee County?

Yes, Ozaukee County residents may freely access arrest records. Interested parties may visit the Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Office to obtain arrest records. Residents may find the Office at:

Ozaukee County Sheriff
1201 South Spring Street
Room 104
P.O. Box 245
Port Washington, WI 53074-0245

However, the ability to view or copy arrest records does not cover private or deleted material. Only a select few, such as record holders, attorneys, or law enforcement officials, may access such records. Only with a court order may non-public arrest records be made public. The following records are considered confidential:

• Arrest records involving juvenile offenders.
• Arrest records that are being used in an ongoing investigation.
• Arrest records contain identifiable information that may expose a confidential informant or endanger a person's life.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

An Ozaukee County arrest record would typically contain the following information:

• Arrestee's first and last name
• Arrestee's age, sex, race, height, weight, hair, and eye color.
• Arrest agency
• Arrest type
• Mugshot of the arrested person
• Arrest date and time
• Arrest charges
• Statute description
• Location of arrest
• Offense
• Court case number

Ozaukee County Arrest Statistics

According to data published by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Crime Data Explorer, the Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Office made 676 arrests between January and December 2023. Within that time period, 509 men and 167 women were arrested. The offense with the most arrests was All Other Offenses, with 239 arrests. This was followed by Drug and DUI offenses, with 145 and 142 arrests, respectively.

Find Ozaukee County Arrest Records

All inmates in Ozaukee County are held at the County Jail. The County Sheriff's Office is responsible for maintaining the Jail and making inmate information available via the Ozaukee County Inmate Search. Users may use the inmate's last name, first name, gender, and birthdate to find the inmate’s records.

The search results may include the inmate's photo, physical description, case number, and exact offense. The Sheriff's Office also keeps an online list of all the county's arrest warrants on the Active Ozaukee County Warrants page. Interested parties may find the Ozaukee County Jail at:

Ozaukee County Jail
1201 South Spring Street
Port Washington, WI 53074
Phone: (262) 284-8446
Fax: (262) 284-8496

Free Arrest Record Search in Ozaukee County

Interested parties may contact the county's clerk's or sheriff's office to conduct a free search for arrest records. Both agencies maintain public records, including arrest records. Additionally, interested individuals may access Ozaukee County's arrest data by visiting third-party websites. It is essential to remember that many websites require money or a subscription to examine specific records. Furthermore, these websites are not government-run and may include false information.

Ozaukee County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Arrests and criminal records represent two phases of the criminal process. Every time someone is detained by the police on suspicion of committing a crime, this is recorded as an arrest. An arrest record contains essential details such as the person's identity, the date of the arrest, the charges, and the arresting agency. The public may access these documents, which neither establish nor deny guilt. Their sole function is to provide information. A record custodian may withhold specific details to preserve privacy or safeguard ongoing investigations.

However, criminal records, which contain comprehensive details about the arrest, charges, trial, and punishment, are created when a person is found guilty in court. Particularly when they concern children, these data may be sealed or erased and are frequently unavailable to the general public.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Unless purged or restricted, an arrest in Ozaukee County usually stays on a person's record indefinitely. If there was no conviction or the charges were dropped, either record limitation or expungement may be an option. However, additional charges and felony convictions may permanently impact a person's record. Local law enforcement agencies, including Ozaukee County, adhere to several legislative obligations when keeping arrest records.

Expunge Ozaukee County Arrest Records

The process of expungement in Ozaukee County involves the removal of an arrest record from the public domain so that no one may access the files. If a person satisfies specific qualifying requirements and has served their sentence, the court may expunge their arrest record. According to Wis. Stats. 973.015, the court only permits expungements for:

• Misdemeanors or specific felonies committed by individuals under 25 whose sentences are finished and have a maximum jail sentence of six (6) years or less;
• Crimes under Wisconsin Statute 942.08 (2) (b), (c), or (d) or (3) committed by people younger than eighteen and for which they have served a sentence;
• People who engage in sex work as a victim of human trafficking.

A judge is unlikely to approve the expungement petition in any other circumstances. Judges in Wisconsin, for instance, are not permitted to delete arrest records related to civil or small claims disputes or traffic penalties. Furthermore, if the arrested individual had a previous felony conviction and the present offense is deemed violent, Wisconsin law prohibits the erasure of Class H or I felony conviction records.

When a person serving a jail or prison sentence or being placed on probation completes their sentence, their Wisconsin arrest record is typically automatically wiped. However, by submitting a Petition to Expunge Court Record of Conviction (Non-Probation/Non-Incarceration) form, those fined or ordered to make restitution may ask a Circuit Court to expunge their arrest records. Juvenile arrest records may be expunged by submitting a Petition to Expunge Court Record of Adjudication/Recommendation of District Attorney form.

Ozaukee County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a legal document issued by a court of law that gives the police the power to make an arrest. The purpose of arrest warrants in Ozaukee County is to ensure that arrests are made on legitimate and lawful grounds. Ozaukee County arrest warrants provide the following information:

• The name and identifying information of the individual for whom the warrant was issued.
• Any additional information regarding the issuing and execution of the warrant.
• The specific charge or charges that resulted in the issuance of the warrant. The warrants need to be approved by the court or other authorities.
• The day the warrant was issued.
• The name of the person or law enforcement agency responsible for executing the warrant.

Do Ozaukee County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Warrants in Ozaukee County remain valid until one of the following happens: the person mentioned in the warrant is taken into custody, the judge or magistrate who issued the warrant recalls the warrant, or the charges against the person are dropped.