Taylor County Arrest Records

Taylor County arrest records refer to details from the archives of law enforcement agencies that provide information about arrests and detainees within the county. This refers to arrest reports that contain details like the arrest date, arrest location, arrest time, arresting officer or agency, alleged offense, and the offender’s details like name, age, sex, mugshot, address, and race.

Arrest records are limited to the information about the arrest and detainee without any details of convictions or court verdicts. They are records of allegations and not definitive proof of guilt or liability. They are created when peace officers with a valid warrant execute it by detaining the named individual. This warrant is issued by a judge or magistrate to peace officers with a directive to arrest the named individual for the offense stated therein. Arrests can also be executed without a warrant where the offender committed the act in the peace officer’s view or presence, or there is a reasonable belief that they are guilty of a felony.

Taylor County arrest records are generated and maintained by the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office. The local police departments, such as the Medford Police Department, can also contribute, as they also make arrests within the county. They can also be obtained through Taylor County Court records, which provide access to arraignment records. This refers to documents from the first court appearance, where the details of the arrest and charge will be read. Individuals who are arrested and detained are usually held at the Taylor County Jail after booking. This is the county’s holding facility for detainees awaiting trial or sentencing. It also holds offenders who are serving sentences of less than a year or intermittent sentences.

Are Arrest Records Public in Taylor County?

Yes, arrest records in Taylor County are publicly accessible, as per the provisions of the Wisconsin Public Records Law. Arrest records are maintained by government agencies like the courts and the sheriff’s office, and are required to make them publicly accessible in person, via mail, or online. Requesters can access public details like the arrestee’s basic description, the location and time of the arrest, and the alleged charges. There is usually an initial incident report that contains basic facts about the arrest, which is also publicly accessible. The law also provides for restrictions, which contain details that are protected due to sensitivity and privacy violations. These restrictions include details from active investigations, details risking exposure of confidential informants, juvenile records, personally identifiable information, and victim details in cases of sexual assault or sensitive crimes. The sheriff’s office can be located at:

Taylor County Sheriff’s Office
224 S 2nd Street
Medford, Wisconsin 54451
(715) 748-2200 - Phone

Taylor County Arrest Statistics

Taylor County arrest statistics can be accessed online through the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer website. According to the platform, there were 951 arrests recorded by the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office in 2024. From this total, there were 353 arrests for all other offenses, 98 simple assault arrests, 30 aggravated assault arrests, and 18 arrests for burglary. The county recorded 13 arrests for larceny, five arrests for homicide offenses, motor vehicle theft, and sex offenses, respectively, as well as one arrest for arson and robbery.

Find Taylor County Arrest Records

Taylor County arrest records are publicly accessible through the sheriff’s office or the relevant court clerk in the county. The public can submit or mail requests to these agencies for access to specific arrest details. The sheriff’s office also maintains a Record Request website where the public can fill out the request form and submit it electronically. The state’s Department of Justice also maintains the Online Record Check System, which provides the public with access to a statewide criminal background check platform. Taylor County court records containing arrest information can be accessed and obtained through the state's Case Search website. This webpage provides statewide access to court cases, which can be filtered for Taylor County records.

Taylor County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Taylor County arrest records refer to a part of criminal records, while criminal records represent an individual's full profile with criminal justice agencies. Arrest records provide details of how a suspect was detained and the alleged crimes against the suspect. These records are restricted to details about the arrest, such as the date, time, location, alleged offenses, violated laws, as well as the suspect’s description and booking information. They do not contain court documents and will not provide any details on whether the suspect is actually guilty of the offense. Criminal records contain all crimes and convictions an individual has had in their entire life. These records contain details about arrests, criminal charges, court trial documents, convictions, sentencing records, and incarceration records. They can be used to prove an individual’s guilt for an offense if the criminal records show there was a conviction and sentence served for the offense. Criminal records are detailed and extensive, while arrest records are restricted to the arrest situation and allegations.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

The duration an arrest will stay on your record depends on the outcome of the case and the individual’s age when the arrest took place. Arrest records in Taylor County are generally permanent except in situations where legal steps are taken to seal or remove them from public access. Arrests with convictions will remain permanently if a petition for removal is not filed and granted. Individuals who wish to remove or seal arrest records can do so through the Wisconsin Department of Justice. This process is available to persons whose arrest did not lead to a guilty charge, their case was dismissed, or the charges were not filed. Arrests that led to convictions can also be removed if the offender was under the age of 25 when the arrest took place, the offense is a misdemeanor and non-violent/low-level felony, and the sentence for the offense has been completed.

Taylor County Arrest Warrants

Taylor County arrest warrants refer to legal documents that authorize peace officers to arrest and detain a named individual. This document is issued by a judge or magistrate in situations where there is probable cause or the named individual is reasonably believed to be guilty of an offense. Arrest warrants are used to make arrests within the judicial system and to protect the rights of citizens from unlawful detention. They are issued when the prosecution or law enforcement officers have enough evidence to show probable cause. After the evidence is reviewed, the judge may sign the warrant, which gives it legal authority and makes it executable. Arrest warrants may be issued for a fresh arrest before arraignment, or to produce offenders who abscond from trial after being granted bail. These documents generally contain details like the alleged offenses, the arresting or investigating agency, the name of the suspect or alleged offender, the judge’s signature, the jurisdiction where the warrant was issued, and more.

Do Taylor County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, arrest warrants in Taylor County are not issued with an automatic term or expiry rule. They will remain active forever after they are signed and issued to law enforcement agencies. Arrest warrants can be recalled and quashed by a judge or become automatically inactive after the suspect is deceased. They also become inactive after the suspect has been arrested and detained by peace officers. Arrest warrants in Taylor County will also remain active, but will not be executed after the time allowed to charge the suspect to court passes. This is when the statute of limitations applies to a criminal case, and in such situations, the warrant may be executed when new evidence is found or an extension of time is granted by the court. Otherwise, the warrant may be active but not executable.

Expunge Taylor County Arrest Records

Arrest records can be cleared using two processes in Taylor County. Individuals whose arrests did not lead to a conviction can apply for removal of the records, while individuals who were convicted can apply for expungement of the arrest records. Removal is easier and only requires that the charges were not filed, they were dismissed, or the court gave a not guilty judgment, according to Wisconsin Statutes § 165.84(1). This is done using the Form DJ-LE-250B (Fingerprint Record Removal Request from the Department of Justice’s website. Expungement has more requirements according to Wisconsin Statutes § 973.015. The offender must have been less than 25 years old at the time, the offense must be a misdemeanor or a low-level felony, the offender must have no prior felony convictions, and a judge must have ordered that the record is eligible for expungement at the time of sentencing. To apply for expungement, obtain your Certificate of Discharge from your probation agent and submit it to the Taylor County Clerk of Circuit Court. Proceed to file Form CR-266 (Petition to Expunge), and the record will be removed from public access. According to Wisconsin Statutes § 801.21, offenders can also file a Motion to Seal the court records resulting from the arrest.