Sauk County Arrest Records

Per Wisconsin Statutes Section 968.07, a law enforcement officer can arrest an individual if they have a warrant, reasonably believe a warrant exists in the state or another state for a felony, or have reasonable grounds to suspect the person is committing or has committed a crime. Law enforcement officers in Sauk County make arrests when they have probable cause to believe a person has committed a crime. Those arrested in Sauk County are typically held at the Sauk County Jail and Huber Center located at 1300 Lange Court, Baraboo, WI 53913 until their initial court appearance or bond is posted. The Sauk County Sheriff's Department is in charge of creating arrest records.

It is crucial to understand that arrest records do not necessarily show guilt but indicate that an arrest occurred. Arrest records are typically the initial documentation in the criminal justice proceeding. Prosecutors use them to press charges, and judges use them to determine bail. The Sauk County Court Records detail the legal process that occurs after an individual is arrested, including submissions, court appearances, and case resolution. Both arrest and court records collaborate to create a detailed overview of a criminal case.

Are Arrest Records Public in Sauk County?

Yes, public arrest records are accessible in Sauk County. Under § 19.35 of the Revised Wisconsin Statutes for 2021-2022, all requesters are entitled to examine law enforcement records, which include arrest records. Also, before the creation of this law, police daily arrest lists are mandatorily made open for public inspection by the decision of the Supreme Court of Wisconsin. Nevertheless, it is crucial to understand that specific types of information in arrest records could be withheld from the public due to Wisconsin regulations; these include:

• Personal data that has the potential to threaten an individual's well-being or security.
• Classified details that could reveal the identity of secret sources.
• Information that may jeopardize the safety of correctional facilities.
• Information that may hinder the rehabilitation process of incarcerated individuals.
• Details that could reveal the identities of people involved in current investigations or legal cases.
• Some specific details concerning law enforcement officers and judiciary officers.
• Personal financial information.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Public arrest records typically contain the following information:

• Arrestee's personal information: Full name, date of birth, gender, race
• Arrest details: Date of arrest, time of arrest, arresting agency, location of arrest
• Charges: Specific criminal charges filed against the arrestee
• Disposition: Whether the charges were dropped, dismissed, or resulted in a conviction

Sauk County Arrest Statistics

According to the most recent Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Arrest Data made available on the Wisconsin UCR Data Dashboard Center by the Bureau of Justice Information and Analysis, 2,128 arrests were made by law enforcement agencies in Sauk County in 2023.

• Society crimes accounted for 28.9% (616) of all arrests, with the most common offenses being:
  • Driving under the influence (289 arrests or 46.9%)
  • Disorderly conduct (222 arrests or 36.0%)
  • Liquor law violations (53 arrests or 8.6%)
• Drug crimes accounted for 14.2% (303) of all arrests, with the most common offenses being:
  • Drug possession - marijuana (150 arrests or 49.5%)
  • Drug possession - other dangerous drugs (62 arrests or 20.4%)
  • Drug possession - opium/cocaine (56 arrests or 18.4%)
• Property crimes accounted for 12.1% (259) of all arrests, with the most common offenses being:
  • Larceny-theft (167 arrests or 64.4%)
  • Vandalism (58 arrests or 22.3%)
  • Fraud (9 arrests or 3.4%)
• Violent crimes accounted for 2.3% (49) of all arrests, with the most common offenses being:
  • Aggravated assault (45 arrests or 91.8%)
  • Rape (3 arrests or 6.1%)
  • Robbery (1 arrest or 2.0%)

Find Sauk County Arrest Records

Those looking to view their criminal records, such as arrest records, in Sauk County can do so through the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ). The CHU at the DOJ oversees the collection and organization of criminal records for individuals in Wisconsin by gathering data from multiple law enforcement agencies in the state.

To obtain an arrest record, individuals must fill out the Wisconsin Criminal History DJ-LE–250 forms, ensuring that all details requested, like full name, gender, race, and date of birth, are accurate and complete. Extra identifying information such as maiden name, social security number, or other names can assist in the search procedure. For a general record request, individuals should select "General information" as the request purpose and "Non-profit" as the requestor type. The completed form, along with a $12 fee and a self-addressed stamped envelope, should be mailed to:

WI Division of Law Enforcement Services
Crime Information Bureau, Record Check Unit
P.O. Box 2688
Madison WI 53701–2688
Phone: 608/266–5764

Typically, processing times for such requests range from 7 to 10 days.

To obtain a criminal history record based on fingerprints, individuals must submit a set of fingerprints along with the DJ-LE-250 form from either a Sauk County sheriff's office or a local police department. There is a charge of $20 associated with this kind of request.

Interested person can also obtain arrest records by using the alternative option provided through the Wisconsin Online Record Check System (WORCS) portal managed by the Department of Justice. There is a charge of $7 for each search requested via this website.

Free Arrest Record Search in Sauk County

Arrest records and other public records can be easily obtained from various third-party websites for free. These websites gather information from various sources, such as official government databases. It is important to keep in mind that the content found on these websites may not be reliable all the time, so it is recommended to verify important information with official sources

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

The statute of limitations for an individual's arrest records varies based on the crime committed. This statute outlines how long arrest records are valid and accessible. Once a statute of limitations expires, corresponding arrest records are destroyed. Previously, all arrest records documented in the Consolidated Court Action Programs (CCAP) remained indefinitely. However, as of March 30, 2018, the Director of State Courts and the WCCA (Wisconsin Circuit Court Access) Oversight Committee agreed to remove records of criminal cases that ended in dismissal or acquittal from CCAP after two years. This policy update also applies to certain non-criminal cases.

According to Supreme Court Rule Chapter 72, physical court documents must be retained for certain mandated timeframes depending on the type of case. Civil cases, not including small claims, must be kept for 20 years after the final decision, while there is no set limit for retaining judgment and order records because of the 1983 Wisconsin Act 303. Judgment dockets are maintained for 20 years after the final docket entry. Criminal traffic (CT) cases require 20 years of retention, family (FA) cases 30 years, Class A felony (CF) cases 75 years, and Class B-I felony (CF) cases 50 years. Forfeiture (FO) cases have a retention period of 5 years, as do traffic forfeiture (TR) cases, while misdemeanor (CM) cases require a 20-year retention period.

Expunge Sauk County Arrest Records

According to Wisconsin Statutes § 973.015, it may be possible to have some or all of a person's arrest information expunged from the Wisconsin Criminal History Repository if:

• A person was detained but no charges were filed, or if existing charges were dropped or dismissed.
• An individual was under 25 years old when the crime was committed.
• The maximum potential prison sentence for the crime was six years or less.
• The individual has fully completed all sentencing requirements and requested expungement at the time of sentencing.
• An individual was convicted of prostitution offenses as a result of human trafficking.

To initiate an expungement, individuals must complete the CR-266 form. Similarly, to request the removal of fingerprints from the database, a separate fingerprint removal request form needs to be filled out.

Sauk County Arrest Warrants

Per Wisconsin Statutes Section 968.04 an arrest warrant is an official document provided by a judge permitting law enforcement officers to apprehend a particular person. In Sauk County, like in other parts of Wisconsin, arrest warrants are authorized following a complaint filed by either a police officer or a civilian.

A warrant for arrest in Sauk County is issued after a complaint is submitted to a judge or district attorney. The complaint, a written statement outlining the alleged offense, is required to demonstrate probable cause, indicating a rational belief that a crime has occurred and the accused is implicated. If there is sufficient evidence, the judge will grant a warrant for the arrest of the person. Arrest warrants can be issued for a range of reasons, from serious crimes like murder or robbery to less severe offenses like theft or assault, as well as for violating court orders or fleeing from justice.

A typical arrest warrant contains the following details:

• Name of the judge who approved the warrant.
• Name of the individual who is to be apprehended.
• Physical traits of the individual include height, weight, hair color, and eye color.
• The particular unlawful actions the individual is claimed to have carried out.
• The day the judge signed the warrant.
• The expiration date of the warrant

Do Sauk County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Unlike most legal documents, arrest warrants in Sauk County usually do not contain a specific expiration date. After being issued, a warrant stays in effect until it is enforced, revoked by the court that issued it, or the charges are dismissed. Law enforcement has the authority to apprehend the person mentioned in the warrant whenever necessary, regardless of when it was initially issued.

Although arrest warrants in Sauk County do not have specific expiration dates, various factors can impact their validity. These factors include the time limit for the original crime, court orders annulling or canceling the warrant, and the accused person's death. When the time limit for prosecution runs out, or the court revokes the warrant, it becomes ineffective. In the same way, if the person accused passes away, the warrant becomes void right away.