Waupaca County Arrest Records

Waupaca County arrest records are official documents created by law enforcement agencies that provide details about an arrest, the arrestee, and the alleged crime. If there is probable cause that the person perpetrated a crime, an officer can arrest them with a warrant or take them into custody without one. According to state and federal laws, these individuals may be detained with or without charges, released, or transported to court.

Arrested suspects are often held at the Waupaca County Jail. As a result, while the arresting body generates and files arrest records, relevant arrest information may be found in materials such as inmate or jail records, criminal records, and warrant details in Waupaca County court records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Waupaca County?

According to the Wisconsin Open Records Law (WORL), as codified in Wisconsin Statute 19.21 et seq, the general public can access records generated and stored by government agencies while carrying out the "people's business". Consequently, the law ensures the right of the public to access, inspect, or copy arrest records and information domiciled with law enforcement agencies in the state unless otherwise stated by the WORL and other statutes.

Nonetheless, WORL restricts the disclosure of specific Waupaca County arrest records. The general public is typically prohibited from accessing records in situations where the public interest in nondisclosure of such records outweighs public disclosure or records containing personally identifiable details generated from a complaint, investigation, or other circumstances that may result in court proceedings. The law also restricts the disclosure of personally identifying information that, if revealed, may endanger a person's life or safety.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Typically, Waupaca County arrest records comprise the following information:

• An arrestee's complete name, age, and sex
• An arrestee's physical features (ethnicity, gender, height, weight, eye color, hair color, scars/tattoos/marks)
• The arresting agency
• Arrest date and time
• Charge(s) and crime classification (e.g., whether an offense is a felony or misdemeanor)
• Bond information (type and amount)
• Warrant information, if any

Waupaca County Arrest Statistics

According to a 5-year analysis of figures from the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS), the Waupaca County Sheriff’s Office recorded 3,238 arrests between 2019 and 2023. The gender distribution of the arrest figures indicated that males were the commonest offenders, with 75.98% (2,408), while females constituted 24.02% (762) of all arrests.

An analysis of the racial composition of all arrests in the period under review showed that Whites were the prevalent racial group arrested for various offenses, with 90.60%. Blacks or African Americans, Native Hawaiians or Other Pacific Islanders, and American Indians or Alaska Natives accounted for 4.89% (155), 1.99% (63), and 0.57% (18) of all arrests, respectively. The racial identity of 1.96% (62) of those arrested was unknown.

A breakdown of the type of offenses law enforcement officers detained offenders for between 2019 and 2023 showed that all other offenses aside from traffic were the most prevalent, with 46.37% (1,470), followed by driving under the influence at 20.76% (658) and disorderly conduct at 9.62% (305). Offenders arrested for possession of Marijuana accounted for 4.76% (151), while possession of other nonnarcotic drugs made up 2.59% (82).

Find Waupaca County Arrest Records

Requesters of Waupaca County arrest records should explore the Wisconsin Department of Corrections’s Offenders Locator tool. The database contains records on convicted offenders sentenced to prison, supervision, or both in the state's correctional facilities. Visitors can search by offender's first and last name, Wisconsin Department of Corrections (MDOC) Number, sex, age range, ethnicity, and offender's status.

The search application returns results on active and inactive offenders, including demographics and incarceration details comprising current and prior sentences and imprisonment history.

For individuals looking for federal inmates held in Waupaca County holding facilities or inmates arrested by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Federal Inmate Locator and the Online Detainee Locator System, respectively, are valuable search tools to adopt.

Free Arrest Record Search in Waupaca County

Individuals seeking a free record search in Waupaca County should visit the Sheriff's Office website to view the jailhouse's Inmate List. This is a list of all offenders currently detained at the County Jail. Inmate records available on the list include:

• Inmate ID
• Name
• Sex
• Time of Incarceration
• Offender's Location with the jail facility
• Classification (minimum, medium, and maximum)

Record searchers looking for free inmate arrest records may also contact the Sheriff's Office at the following address:

Waupaca Sheriff's Office

Law Enforcement Center
1402 E. Royalton St. Waupaca, WI
Phone: (715) 258-4466
Jail: (715) 256-4545

While searching and viewing inmate records is free, fees are usually associated with producing copies or scanning these records.

Waupaca County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

In Waupaca County, like in other parts of Wisconsin, the contrast between arrest records and criminal records lies in the scope and details they contain.

An arrest record is a legal document that provides complete information about an individual’s arrests but not their convictions. They usually contain the following:

• Arrestee's Details: Name, date of birth, and physical characteristics.
• Arrest Information: Date and location of the arrest, arresting agency.
• Charges: Specific claims or reasons for the arrest.

Criminal Records, on the other hand, are comprehensive records that may include arrest records and additional legal information. They comprise:

• Convictions: Final judgments from the court, including sentences.
• Court Proceedings: Documentation of court appearances and their results.
• Incarceration Records: Information regarding any detention or prison time that has been served.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Until March 2018, all arrest records remained on the Consolidated Court Automation Programs (CCAP) forever. Wisconsin CCAP is a portal that permits anyone to search statewide civil and criminal records.

After March 2018, the following cases are removed from an offender's record after 2 years:

• Dismissed small claims cases
• Dismissed criminal cases (felony and misdemeanor)
• Acquitted criminal cases (felony and misdemeanor)
• Injunctions for domestic and child abuse, and individuals at risk,
• or harassment that resulted in a dismissal or denial.

Convictions for different offenses will remain on offenders' records for varying timeframes as listed below:

• Civil cases that are not small claims – 20 years
• Criminal traffic cases – 20 years
• Family cases – 30 years
• Class A felony cases – 75 years
• Class B – I felony cases – 50 years
• Forfeiture cases – 5 years
• Traffic forfeiture cases – 5 years
• Misdemeanor cases – 20 years

Expunge Waupaca County Arrest Records

Wisconsin Statute 973.015 allows eligible individuals to apply for expungement provided they meet the following requirements:

1. Individuals under 25 years old may seek expungement of their records for crimes with maximum punishments of 6 years or less. However, the court must ascertain that the expungement benefits such a person and that society will not be harmed.
2. The records of minors will be expunged if they have attained 17 years of age and satisfactorily completed the requirements of their dispositional order.
3. Individuals who partake in a commercial sex act while being a victim of human trafficking may also be eligible for expungement.

Process for Expungement

1. The application must file a petition with the court using the relevant forms: Circuit Court Form CR-266 for adult convictions, and JD-1780 for juvenile records.
2. A judge will oversee a hearing to assess the worthiness of the petition and establish eligibility in line with the conditions above.
3. The applicant must have successfully completed their sentence, should not have any successive offenses, and must fulfill all conditions of probation or other court orders.
4. Individuals on probation or serving jail time must ensure that a certificate of discharge is sent to the court by the probation agent or correctional institution.
5. If the judge grants the expungement request, the record will be expunged and sealed, restricting access to the file. Expunged records will not appear in public searches on the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) website.

Waupaca County Arrest Warrants

A Waupaca County arrest warrant is a legal instrument granted by a judge that gives law enforcement officers the power to arrest an individual suspected of committing a crime. An arrest warrant is typically issued when there is reasonable ground to believe a suspect has engaged in an unlawful act. A justifiable reason for issuing an arrest warrant, commonly known as probable cause, may be established through complaints, affidavits, or testimonies by the complainant or witnesses under oath.

Waupaca County arrest warrants may be issued under the following circumstances:

1. If a judge believes there is probable cause based on the complaint or affidavits.
2. If law enforcement officers arrest an accused person without a warrant and are in custody or appear voluntarily before a judge.
3. A judge in another county may issue the warrant due to the unavailability of a local judge.

In Waupaca County, arrest warrants must be written, signed by the judge, and include specific information such as:

• The name of the crime and the portion of the law breached.
• A copy of the complaint.
• The name or description of the individual being arrested.
• The date of issuance and the judge’s name and title.
• A command to arrest and present the accused before the issuing judge or another judge in the same county.

Do Waupaca County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Waupaca County arrest warrants do not expire. If they did, offenders may be encouraged to avoid arrest or prosecution. The only way an arrest warrant can expire is if the wanted person appears in front of a judge, dies, or the judge decides to cancel the warrant.