Waushara County Arrest Records

Law enforcement officers in Waushara County may make valid arrests if there is a warrant commanding that a person be arrested or reasonable grounds to believe that the person is committing a crime (Wisconsin Statutes, § 968.07). After an officer makes an arrest in the county, inmates are taken to the Waushara County Jail.

The Waushara County Sheriff's Department creates all Waushara County arrest records showing details of a person's encounter with the criminal justice system in the county. This includes information on the arrest, temporary detention, or investigation of an individual charged with or tried for an offense violating the Wisconsin criminal code.

Arrest records also comprise details from the beginning of criminal proceedings and may provide insight into a person's criminal history. For example, certain arrest information, including background checks and criminal history managed through the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ), specifically the Crime Information Bureau (CIB), is accessible through Waushara County Court Records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Waushara County?

Yes. Chapter 6 of the Wisconsin Public Records Law (PRL) ensures that arrest records are made available to the public and accessible through counties in Wisconsin, including Waushara County. However, certain arrest information is exempt from public disclosure, particularly when sealed, can endanger public safety, or compromise an ongoing investigation.

The following are arrest information specifically exempted from disclosure by the public record law in Wisconsin (W.S § 19.36):

• The identities of law enforcement informants which include names and addresses.
• Information relating to the current investigation of a possible criminal offense or misconduct for law enforcement purposes.
• Identifiable information that contains an individual's account or customer number with a financial institution.
• Information containing specific references to an incarcerated or mentally committed person or their minor children.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

In Waushara County, an arrest record details the events preceding and immediately after an arrest, which may serve as evidence in a court of law during a hearing. The information in an arrest record includes:

• Biographical information of the alleged criminal: Full name, suspected aliases, age, birthplace, race, date of birth, height, race, sex, weight, hair color, scars/marks/tattoos, eye color, and social security number, etc.
• Arrest and booking information: Mugshot, fingerprints, booking number, time and date of the booking, date and time of arrest, incident area, type of arrest, arresting agency, the amount for bail, date of hearing (if any), outstanding warrants (if any), etc.
• Crime information: This section shows the classification of the crime (juvenile, misdemeanor, felony, etc.) and a description of the criminal incident (supported by data from witnesses and victims).
• Details about the police interrogation.

Waushara County Arrest Statistics

The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) publishes statistical information collated through the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program. The UCR arrest data dashboard displays UCR arrests statewide and by agency for the last five years. Arrest counts are based on the most serious charge reported to the UCR program. In Waushara County, total arrests were recorded across agencies such as Redgranite PD (23), Wautoma PD (59), Wild Rose PD (3), and Waushara Sheriff's Office (519), which had the highest arrest rate.

Crime rate includes seven different categories, including property crimes like burglary, larceny, and motor vehicle theft, and violent crimes like robbery, rape, murder, and aggravated assault. Among violent crimes reported from the Sheriff's Office in 2023, aggravated assault had the highest rate with 9 arrests, followed by murder & nonnegligent manslaughter with 1 arrest. Statistics for property crimes show that vandalism has the highest rate with 17 arrests, followed by larceny-theft with 8 arrests, and burglary with 3 arrests.

Furthermore, there is an 'arrests over time by agencies' data provided by the DOJ to quickly find arrest numbers across various years and agencies in the county.

Find Waushara County Arrest Records

Individuals can visit the Waushara County Sheriff's Office, which oversees the Waushara County Jail, to find information on inmates in the county. Alternatively, one can access Waushara County Arrest Records on inmates by filling out an Open Records Request Form and submitting it to the Sheriff's Office through mail or fax. However, note that the requested information may be protected by confidentiality laws prohibiting the document's disclosure under Wisconsin Statutes (including but not limited to W.S. § 19.39). The requester will have to provide specific information and a fee of $1.00 to facilitate the request for each document available.

The Wisconsin Department of Corrections has a General Public Offender Search tool that allows individuals to find information about offenders in their care. This database provides public record information of convicted offenders sentenced to incarceration, supervision, or both with the DOC. The database, however, does not provide information on offenders sentenced to county jail or juvenile offenders. The requester will have to provide specific information to perform a search and may limit the search to registered sex offenders and offender status.

Free Arrest Record Search in Waushara County

Individuals can search for Waushara County arrest records for free using the Wisconsin Court System's case search tool. The Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) makes certain public records of the Wisconsin circuit courts available to interested persons, including arrest information. Requesters will have to provide information such as name, case number, and county to perform a search.

Alternatively, individuals can submit a New Background Request through the Wisconsin Online Record Check System (WORCS) for arrest information that appears in criminal background checks in Wisconsin. Requesters can register as a user or make a public access request to conduct a search for free. A background check provides details like arrest date, charges, and disposition of cases.

Some third-party online sites allow users to access arrest records across Wisconsin, including Waushara County, for free. These are not government-owned sites and may be more convenient for requesters in locations outside the county. Moreover, users may only need to provide less information to complete a search for arrest information. Conversely, results from third-party websites may not be complete or accurate and will require further research for certainty.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

It depends. The nature of the crime committed will determine the applicable statute of limitations on an individual's arrest records. A statute of limitations is a legal document dictating when arrest records are valid and accessible. At the end of a particular statute of limitation on an arrest record, the record must be destroyed.

Expunge Waushara County Arrest Records

According to W.S § 973.015, it may be possible to have all or a part of a person's arrest record removed from the Wisconsin Criminal History Repository if:

• A person was detained and released without any criminal charges or if the charges against them were dropped or dismissed
• The person was under 25 years old at the time of committing the crime
• The crime carried a maximum period of imprisonment of six years or less
• A person has successfully fulfilled the terms of sentencing. However, they must request an expungement at the time of their sentencing, and the court will decide whether or not to grant the request
• A person is a victim of human trafficking who has been convicted of a prostitution offense. In such cases, the victim may petition to have those convictions expunged at any time.

To petition for expungement of arrest records in Waushara County, requestors can complete and submit the CR-266 form to the court and the district attorney. However, the requester must meet the requirements to remove fingerprints from the database by completing the printable fingerprint removal request form (DJ LE 250B). Note that there is no fee for removing arrest information from a person's record in Waushara County.

Waushara County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is an official, notarized document issued to law enforcement agencies with the authority to apprehend the suspect listed on the warrant. After an investigation under oath of the complainant or witnesses and the judge determines probable cause to believe that an offense has been committed and that the accused has committed it, the judge will issue a warrant for the arrest (W.S § 968.04). The warrant can be executed anywhere, bringing the suspect into custody to face the necessary charges. An arrest warrant in Waushara County contains the name or description of the person to be arrested, the judge's name, signature, and date, and a statement that the named person be brought before a judge.

Do Waushara County Arrest Warrants Expire?

An arrest warrant in Waushara County has no expiration date. However, it can remain active until the arrest is made or the judge recalls the warrant before execution.