Racine County Arrest Records

In Racine County, law enforcement officers are empowered to make arrests based on the reasonable belief that an individual is about to commit a crime, has already committed a crime, or is involved in criminal activities. The processes for conducting arrests in the county are outlined in Wisconsin Legislature 968.07, which provides the legal framework for taking individuals into custody.

Subsequently, once a person has been arrested, they are transported to a Racine jail facility, and the details of the suspect and the offense form an arrest record. This record may be maintained as a standalone record or as part of other legal and criminal records, such as the Racine County court record or the Racine criminal record. Generally, the arrest records are compiled and stored by the arresting agency that arrested the offender within the county, with the Sheriff’s office being the primary source for data on arrests in the county.

Are Arrest Records Public in Racine County?

Yes, Racine's arrest records are subject to the Public Records Law in Wisconsin, granting residents the right to access these records when possible. According to this law, the agency responsible for the records inquiry is obligated to provide the requested information in an organized manner.

However, according to Wisconsin Statute 19.36, not all arrest records are considered public. In some cases, a Racine County arrest record may be partially concealed. These cases can fall into several categories, including:

• Seal by the provision of other laws: This pertains to records or parts of records that are sealed following state or federal laws, making them inaccessible.
• Sensitive information: This includes details related to trade secrets, ongoing investigations, or information that may endanger a witness's life or the subject of the record.
• Some Personal Information: This category covers personal details such as a driver's license number or social security number.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

The information typically included in a publicly available arrest record comprises:

• Inmate particulars (including date of birth, race, sex, age, height, weight, hair color, eye color, booking date, and possibly the bail amount)
• Case specifics (such as the charge, description, severity, bail amount, type of case, reason for the arrest, and the arresting agency)

Racine County Crime Rate

According to the data derived from the Wisconsin Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program, the law enforcement agencies in the county documented 1,255 instances of larceny-theft, 943 cases of simple assault, and 272 incidents of aggravated assault as the top three reported crimes within the county in 2023.

Comparatively, in 2022, there were 1,346 reported cases of larceny-theft, marking a decrease from the 1,439 occurrences reported in 2021. Simple assault incidents increased to 949 in 2022 from 924 in 2021. Burglary reports totaled 421 in 2022, a slight decline from the 441 cases reported in 2021.

Racine County Arrest Statistics

According to the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Arrest Data, 163 arrests were made in 2023, representing a decrease from the total 214 arrests recorded in 2022. Specifically, there were 126 arrests for aggravated assault, 16 for robbery, and 13 for rape in 2023. On the other hand, in 2022, the figures were 155 for aggravated assault, 37 for robbery, and 14 for rape. In 2021, there were 278 arrests, including 222 cases of aggravated assault, 35 for robbery, and 17 for rape.

Find Racine County Arrest Records

There are several ways to access arrest records in Racine County. This can be done at different levels,

County-Level Arrest Records

In Racine, the Office of the Sheriff offers an online inmate check tool for individuals to ascertain who is currently in jail. Furthermore, to obtain a comprehensive detail of a specific arrest record, requesters can send an inquiry mail to the Sheriff’s office, the particular agency in the county that made the arrest if that is known, or visit any of the offices in person to request an inspection of the records.

State-Level Arrest Records

Typically, state-level arrest records are not provided to inquirers as standalone records but rather as part of a criminal record. This means that arrest records that did not result in a criminal record can only be obtained at the county level and are not accessible through platforms offered by the state's Department of Justice or court system. Furthermore, individuals can locate Racine offenders in state correctional facilities using the inmate locator available through the department. Upon providing the necessary parameters, the arrest details of the subject will be retrieved.

Federal-Level Arrest Records

The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) offers an online inmate locator, allowing residents to discover the details of an offender's arrest. Additionally, individuals have the option to conduct a criminal history check to obtain an arrest record.

Free Arrest Record Search in Racine County

Several sources offer arrest details at no cost, with the Sheriff's office fulfilling this obligation as part of the agency's responsibilities. Individuals can directly contact the office to determine the most suitable method for accessing the records. Moreover, they can utilize inmate search tools available from the Sheriff's office, Wisconsin’s Correctional facility, or the Bureau of Prisons, all of which are accessible free of charge.

Researchers need to note that the depth of information provided on each platform can vary.

In addition, residents have the choice to explore private websites that host arrest record databases. Some of these platforms offer a certain level of information at no cost, providing relatively convenient and straightforward access to the data.

Get Racine County Criminal Records

Criminal records are documents curated from arrest records and legal prosecution of offenders. Otherwise known as a criminal history or RAP sheet, this document highlights an individual's contact with both law enforcement and the justice system.

Considered public records, criminal records are subject to the open records law in the state, making them accessible to any member of the public. Residents can use the Wisconsin Department of Justice database to peruse and request copies of criminal records. Similarly, individuals can access criminal records maintained by the FBI, although the level of access granted depends on the specific requester.

When individuals determine which agency to approach for a criminal record, they can visit the agency's website to explore the procedures for obtaining the record. For example, for a state background check, it is recommended to create an account if one does not already have one. An online guide is available for users to navigate the database, and there is also the option of contacting the department directly. Typically, these records are obtainable for a fee.

Racine County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

There are several distinctions between arrest records and criminal records. In Racine County, the individual with an arrest record may not necessarily have a criminal record, particularly if the case resulted in dismissal or did not lead to a guilty charge. Criminal records are more comprehensive, making them more intricate and detailed, containing details that are not typically found in an arrest record.

While individuals may be able to access arrest records in Racine for free, the same does not hold true for criminal records. Generally, arrest records are kept at the county level by the Sheriff’s Office and can be obtained from this level. On the other hand, criminal records are maintained at the state or federal level and can only be accessed through the respective overseeing agency.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrest records are generally considered permanent and remain on an individual's background check indefinitely, particularly if there is a conviction associated with the arrest. The only circumstances under which an arrest record may become confidential and inaccessible to the public is if it is expunged or sealed through a petition or as mandated by legal statutes.

Expunge Racine County Arrest Records

The process for expungement in Wisconsin is delineated by several laws, with the state only allowing expungement of certain arrest records and no provision for expunging other types of arrest records.

Under Wisconsin Statute § 973.015, an arrest record can be expunged if the offense carries a maximum sentence of not more than six years and the offender was under 25 years old at the time of the crime, provided that they have completed their sentencing.

Juvenile cases not involving serious crimes are also eligible for expungement. As per Wisconsin Statute § 938.355(4m), when a juvenile offender reaches the age of 17 and has satisfactorily fulfilled the conditions of their dispositional order, they may petition the court to expunge their record.

Individuals falling under either of these categories can complete the necessary expungement form, gather all required documents, and apply to the court that handled the case, along with any relevant fees. Following the successful expungement of the record, it becomes inaccessible to the public.

Racine County Arrest Warrants

Typically in Racine, the Sheriff's office is responsible for processing and executing arrest warrants, although these documents are issued by the circuit court in the county. Arrest warrants are authorized when a law enforcement officer presents all evidence and an affidavit indicating probable cause to believe that the subject of the warrant is either about to commit a crime or has already done so. It is important to note that the existence of an arrest warrant does not imply the personal guilt of the individual named; rather, it simply allows for further investigation into the matter.

Arrest warrants provide law enforcement officers with the authority to apprehend the subject of the warrant and bring them before a judge. These warrants typically contain information about the individual named on the record and the reason for its issuance. Such details often include the suspect's name, any aliases, a physical description, details about the issuing court and judge, the date of issuance, and the cause for the arrest.

Racine County Arrest Warrant Search

There are various methods for conducting Racine County arrest warrant searches, depending on the agency being contacted. Individuals can choose to approach either the county's law enforcement or the court for this purpose. Although the Sheriff’s office does not offer online access to warrant records or a list of most wanted individuals in the county, individuals can mail in a request form or visit the office during regular business hours to make inquiries.

In addition, researchers can reach out to the Wisconsin Circuit Court through online, mail, or in-person channels. The circuit clerk can provide significant information about a warrant or even furnish access to a list of active warrants in the county.

Irrespective of the agency being approached for an arrest warrant search, the requester will need to supply the subject's name and the date of warrant issuance to facilitate the prompt retrieval of the record.

Do Racine County Arrest Warrants Expire?

A warrant in Racine does not have an expiration date and remains valid indefinitely until it is carried out, meaning that the individual named in the warrant is arrested and brought to face legal proceedings.

Ultimately, a warrant's validity only ends once it has been executed. This implies that a warrant remains in force until the objective of apprehending the subject is fulfilled through arrest and the individual is presented before the appropriate judicial authorities.