Search Wisconsin Criminal Records Without Confusing Arrest, Jail, Court and Prison Data
Wisconsin does not have one public database that answers every arrest-record question. Current county jail custody, fingerprint-supported state criminal history, circuit court cases, municipal citations and state-prison custody are maintained in different systems.
This guide explains what each Wisconsin system includes, what it can miss, how much a DOJ search costs, how to request the underlying police report, how to correct a false match and when expungement or fingerprint-record removal may be possible.
Live arrest custody is primarily county-based.
$7 for a public WORCS name search.
$12, including the paper surcharge.
WCCA covers public circuit court cases.
Official information checked August 3, 2026.
Which Wisconsin search answers your actual question?
Search the sheriff or jail website for the county of arrest. Use WI VINE when the county participates and you need custody-status notifications.
Best for: Current custody, booking number, bond, release and county-jail location.
Use WORCS for fingerprint-supported adult Wisconsin arrest, prosecution, court-disposition and correctional information submitted to the state repository.
Best for: State criminal-history checks, employment review and personal record verification.
Use WCCA for circuit court charges, appearances, docket entries, orders and dispositions. Obtain actual documents from the county clerk.
Best for: Filed charges, dismissal, conviction, sentence and case status.
Use Wisconsin DOC’s Inmate and Offender Search. County jails are administered separately.
Check the municipal court that handled the citation. Municipal cases are not the same as statewide circuit court criminal cases.
How to search Wisconsin county jail records
Wisconsin’s county sheriffs operate county jails independently. There is no statewide county-jail page that replaces each sheriff’s live booking system.
Why the person may not appear
How Wisconsin VINE county-jail alerts work
WI VINE County Jails is an anonymous custody-information and notification service operated through the Wisconsin Department of Corrections Office of Victim Services and Programs in partnership with local law-enforcement agencies.
Free to use.
1-888-944-8463.
English, Spanish and Hmong.
Registration is anonymous.
Participating Wisconsin county jails.
How to run a Wisconsin DOJ background check through WORCS
The Wisconsin Department of Justice Crime Information Bureau maintains the Centralized Criminal History database. WORCS is the public system used to request adult Wisconsin criminal-history information.
| Request | Fee | Delivery | Important requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online public name search | $7 | WORCS electronic result | Accurate name, birth date and identifying details. |
| Paper single-name request | $12 | Postal mail | Form DJ-LE-250 and a postage-paid return envelope. |
| Police certificate | $20 | Certified paper processing | Fingerprint card; commonly used for immigration or adoption. |
| Record challenge | No DOJ challenge fee | CIB review response | Form DJ-LE-247 and supporting evidence; fingerprints for identity disputes. |
Madison, WI 53701-2688
Phone: 608-266-7314
Email: cibrecordcheck@doj.state.wi.us
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
How to read a Wisconsin criminal-history response
| Section | What it means | Verification step |
|---|---|---|
| Search information | The identifying details entered by the requester. | Confirm that the spelling and birth date were entered correctly. |
| Master name | The name used when the fingerprinted person was first entered into CIB. | Do not assume it is the person’s legal or current name. |
| Alias names | Other names associated with the fingerprint-supported record. | A similar alias can cause another person’s record to be returned as a candidate. |
| Wisconsin SID | A Wisconsin state identification number associated with the criminal-history record. | Use it when communicating with CIB about a correction or challenge. |
| Arrest cycle | A fingerprint-supported arrest event submitted by a Wisconsin law-enforcement agency. | Compare the date, agency and original arrest charge. |
| Prosecutor section | Charging or disposition information submitted from the prosecuting process. | The prosecutor charge may differ from the arresting agency’s allegation. |
| Court section | Court findings, judgments, dismissals or sentencing information reported to CIB. | Obtain the certified judgment or dismissal order when accuracy matters. |
| DOC notice | Wisconsin correctional admission, release or supervision information submitted to the repository. | Use the DOC locator for current correctional status. |
| No record found | No public candidate was returned using the submitted search information. | It does not prove the person has never been arrested or charged. |
Why an arrest may be absent from Wisconsin DOJ records
Wisconsin’s Centralized Criminal History repository is fingerprint-based. This makes a fingerprint-supported identity more reliable, but it also means the database is not a copy of every local police contact or court case.
How to search Wisconsin Circuit Court Access
WCCA provides public information from Wisconsin’s statewide circuit court case-management system. It is commonly called CCAP, although CCAP is the court technology program that operates multiple services.
How to interpret a Wisconsin criminal court case
| Field or term | What it shows | What to do next |
|---|---|---|
| Case number | The county, filing year, case type and sequence assigned to the case. | Use the complete number when requesting documents. |
| Filing date | When the court case was opened. | Do not assume it is the same as the arrest or offense date. |
| Case status | Whether the case is open, closed or otherwise classified. | Find the final docket entry or judgment for the actual outcome. |
| Charge | The offense formally filed in circuit court. | Compare it with the original arrest charge and later amendments. |
| Amended charge | A count was changed during prosecution. | Use the final charge and disposition rather than the first allegation. |
| Dismissed | The court or prosecution ended the identified count without a conviction on that count. | Check whether it was dismissed outright or dismissed and read in. |
| Dismissed and read in | The charge was dismissed but considered for sentencing on another conviction. | Do not describe it as a conviction, but do not treat it like an unrelated dismissal. |
| Not guilty | The defendant was acquitted of the identified charge. | Confirm whether every count received the same result. |
| Guilty or no contest | A plea or finding may support entry of a judgment of conviction. | Review the judgment and sentencing entries. |
| Sentence | The court-ordered confinement, supervision, fine, costs or conditions. | Check later modification, revocation and discharge entries. |
| Warrant | The docket reflects issuance or other warrant activity. | Confirm current status with the clerk or issuing law-enforcement agency. |
| Expunged | A qualifying court record was processed under Wisconsin’s expungement law. | Do not assume every police, DOJ or third-party record was deleted. |
Circuit court versus municipal court
Handles felony, misdemeanor, criminal traffic and many forfeiture matters. Public case information is generally searched through WCCA.
Handles local ordinance violations, many traffic matters and first-offense OWI cases in municipalities that operate a municipal court. Contact that court directly for its record.
How to obtain the actual Wisconsin court documents
WCCA shows parties, court dates, filings and orders, but generally does not display or sell the complete circuit court documents. The clerk of circuit court in the filing county is the legal custodian.
Documents to request by purpose
Use it to read the allegations formally presented when the case began. It is not proof that every allegation was established.
Use it to determine the charges the prosecutor formally filed or later changed.
Use it as formal proof of convicted counts, sentence and judgment information.
Use it to establish that the identified charge or case was dismissed.
Request it from the appropriate court reporter when the exact oral ruling or expungement decision matters.
Request certification when an employer, licensing body, immigration authority or court requires official proof.
How to request a Wisconsin police or sheriff arrest report
The agency that created an incident or arrest report usually remains the record custodian. A county clerk controls court documents, not the arresting officer’s investigative file.
| Record needed | Likely custodian | Information to provide |
|---|---|---|
| City police incident report | The municipal police department | Report number, date, location and involved name. |
| Sheriff arrest report | The county sheriff’s records division | Arrest date, booking number, deputy or report number. |
| County jail booking record | Sheriff or county jail records custodian | Inmate number, booking number and custody dates. |
| State Patrol report | Wisconsin State Patrol or responsible state agency | Incident number, date, highway and location. |
| Criminal complaint | County clerk of circuit court | County and full court case number. |
| Prosecutor charging decision | District attorney or court file | Case number, defendant and filing date. |
Information that prevents delay
Why information may be withheld or redacted
- An active investigation or prosecution may be harmed by release.
- The record may identify a confidential informant or protected witness.
- Victim, juvenile, medical or protected personal information may require removal.
- Release could create a safety, privacy or fair-trial concern.
- Body-camera, audio and photographic records may require extensive review.
- The balancing test may favor withholding some information while releasing the remainder.
What requesters should know before ordering arrest records
A Wisconsin public-record request can generally be oral or written and does not require a specific statutory form.
Wisconsin law does not create a universal seven-day, 10-day or 30-day response deadline. The authority must respond as soon as practicable and without delay.
The custodian provides existing responsive records and generally does not have to create a new explanation, report or custom legal analysis.
| Charge | General rule | Cost-control action |
|---|---|---|
| Electronic copy | Authorities commonly provide existing electronic records at little or no reproduction cost. | Request email or another existing electronic format. |
| Paper reproduction | The authority may charge the actual, necessary and direct reproduction cost. | Avoid paper unless an original or certification is needed. |
| Record location | A location fee may be imposed only when the total cost of locating records is $50 or more. | Narrow the request to one incident, date range and person. |
| Redaction review | The authority may not charge the requester for time spent redacting confidential information. | Question an estimate that separately bills ordinary redaction time. |
| Mailing or media | Actual mailing, shipping or physical-media costs may be charged. | Choose electronic delivery. |
| Prepayment | An authority may require prepayment when total costs exceed $5. | Set a written approval ceiling in the original request. |
When the response is delayed or denied
When to use the Wisconsin DOC offender locator
Wisconsin DOC’s Inmate and Offender Search is different from county jail searches. Use it for people sentenced to the Wisconsin prison system or otherwise represented in the DOC locator.
State prison location, DOC identity information and correctional status displayed by the locator.
A person held only in a city or county jail before trial, bond or transfer.
Search the county jail, WI VINE and the county of conviction before assuming the person is not in custody.
How to check a Wisconsin warrant without relying on a people-search site
Wisconsin does not provide one public statewide warrant page that reliably replaces each county sheriff, court and law-enforcement agency.
Use this Wisconsin record-match test
How to challenge an inaccurate Wisconsin criminal history
Use Wisconsin Criminal History Challenge form DJ-LE-247 when a DOJ response belongs to another person, contains incorrect charge information, lacks a disposition or contains another supported error.
| Problem | Evidence to include | Important rule |
|---|---|---|
| Incorrect charge | Certified judgment, charging document or other authentic court record. | A prosecutor filing a different charge does not automatically erase the original arrest charge. |
| Missing disposition | Judgment of conviction, dismissal order or prosecutor letter stating that no case was prosecuted. | Obtain the document from the court or prosecutor that handled the matter. |
| Incorrect disposition | Certified court documentation showing the correct result. | WCCA information alone may not replace the certified document. |
| Mistaken identity | DJ-LE-247, FD-258 fingerprint card and requested identifying details. | Fingerprints are compared with CIB fingerprints to establish identity. |
| Identity theft | Fingerprint card, identification and supporting police or court records. | A successful challenge may result in assignment of a WiUPIN. |
P.O. Box 2718
Madison, WI 53701-2718
No Wisconsin DOJ challenge fee.
How to correct a Wisconsin court record or false identity
DOJ cannot correct information entered by a circuit court. Direct WCCA and court-file corrections to the clerk or court with jurisdiction over that case.
Request to Correct Court Records. Use it when a court or WCCA entry contains a clerical or record error.
Petition and declaration to seal a defendant’s name because of identity theft or mistaken identity.
Prosecuting-agency certification verifying identity theft or mistaken identity.
When Wisconsin DOJ may remove arrest information
Wisconsin DOJ distinguishes correction, court expungement and removal of fingerprint-supported arrest information. They are not interchangeable.
| Outcome | Potential treatment | What to submit |
|---|---|---|
| Released without charges | May qualify for fingerprint-record removal after review. | DJ-LE-250B and documentation showing no charges were filed. |
| Not prosecuted | May qualify after individual review. | Prosecutor letter or official nonprosecution documentation. |
| Dismissed by court | May qualify depending on the complete arrest event. | Certified dismissal order and removal request. |
| Acquitted | May qualify after case-by-case review. | Certified judgment or verdict documentation. |
| One charge convicted | Charges in the arrest event generally do not qualify for removal. | Use a correction challenge only if specific information is inaccurate. |
| Dismissed and read in | Generally not treated like an arrest event ending without charges. | Seek legal advice before assuming eligibility. |
| Reduced charge with conviction | The original arrest charge generally is not removed solely because the conviction was for a lesser offense. | Correct only inaccurate disposition information. |
| Court expungement or pardon | Does not by itself make fingerprint information eligible for removal. | Follow the separate court, DOJ notation or legal process. |
What Wisconsin expungement can—and cannot—do
Core eligibility conditions
Successful completion generally requires
- No subsequent conviction during the sentence.
- No revocation of probation.
- Completion of the court and DOC conditions that apply.
- Proper discharge documentation reaching the court.
How the record is processed
| Process | Primary purpose | Important limit |
|---|---|---|
| Court expungement | Expunges a qualifying conviction court record under §973.015. | Requires narrow statutory eligibility and sentencing-time approval. |
| DOJ challenge | Corrects inaccurate or mismatched criminal-history information. | Does not remove an accurate record merely because it is harmful. |
| Fingerprint removal | Removes a qualifying fingerprint-supported arrest event after no charge, nonprosecution, dismissal or acquittal review. | A connected conviction can prevent removal. |
| Identity-theft sealing | Protects a person falsely identified as the defendant. | Requires evidence and a court process. |
| Pardon | Executive clemency for a conviction. | A pardon is distinct from expungement and does not automatically erase all records. |
How employers may use arrest and conviction records
Wisconsin Fair Employment Law protects applicants and workers from arrest- and conviction-record discrimination in many employment decisions.
| Situation | General rule | Practical response |
|---|---|---|
| Past arrest without conviction | An employer generally may not reject a person because of an arrest that did not lead to conviction. | Provide the dismissal or acquittal and challenge an inaccurate report. |
| Pending criminal charge | An employer may consider or suspend for a pending charge in limited circumstances when it is substantially related to the job. | Compare the circumstances of the charge with the actual job duties. |
| Conviction | An employer may consider a conviction when the circumstances are substantially related to the position. | A blanket rule rejecting every conviction is not the proper individualized analysis. |
| Employer asks about arrests | The employer generally may ask about pending charges, not arrests that are no longer pending and did not result in conviction. | Answer lawful application questions truthfully and distinguish arrest from conviction. |
| False application answer | An employer may act because an applicant provided false or misleading information. | Read the question carefully and explain the disposition accurately. |
| Complaint deadline | The Wisconsin Equal Rights Division states that an employment-discrimination complaint generally must be filed within 300 days. | Preserve the report, job posting, messages and adverse-action date. |
Before making an adverse background decision
Use this order for the most reliable criminal-record search
Wisconsin criminal-record offices and final actions
| Office or system | Use it for | Contact or final action |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin DOJ WORCS | Adult fingerprint-supported Wisconsin criminal-history searches. | Online public request; CIB 608-266-7314. |
| Crime Information Bureau | Paper record checks, criminal-history challenges and fingerprint-removal questions. | Record Check: P.O. Box 2688; Challenge: P.O. Box 2718, Madison. |
| WCCA | Public Wisconsin circuit court case information. | Search online; contact the filing county clerk for documents. |
| County clerk of circuit court | Complaints, judgments, dismissal orders, certifications and court-record corrections. | Use the statewide clerk directory to find the filing county. |
| County sheriff or jail | Current custody, booking, bond, jail reports and release questions. | Use the official county website for the county of arrest. |
| WI VINE County Jails | Anonymous county-jail custody checks and automated status alerts. | 1-888-944-8463 or VINELink. |
| Wisconsin DOC | State prison and correctional status represented in the DOC locator. | Use Inmate and Offender Search. |
| Municipal court | Local ordinance, parking, traffic and qualifying first-offense OWI cases. | Find the city, village or joint municipal court that issued the citation. |
| Wisconsin DWD Equal Rights Division | Arrest- or conviction-record employment-discrimination information and complaints. | Use DWD’s arrest and conviction record page. |
Wisconsin Department of Justice Crime Information Bureau
Criminal-history paper requests and challenges use separate Crime Information Bureau post-office boxes in Madison. Do not mail a challenge to the ordinary record-check address.
Attn: Record Check Unit
P.O. Box 2688
Madison, WI 53701-2688
P.O. Box 2718
Madison, WI 53701-2718
What readers can solve without opening another guide
County jail, WI VINE, DOJ, WCCA, municipal court and DOC responsibilities are separated.
Fingerprint requirements, missing arrests, exact matching and false-match risks are explained.
The $7 online, $12 paper and $20 police-certificate charges are included.
Dismissed, read-in, acquitted, convicted, closed and warrant entries are distinguished.
The correct custodian, request fields, cost controls and copy-ready language are provided.
DOJ challenge, WCCA correction, identity theft, fingerprint removal and expungement are separated.
Wisconsin arrest and criminal record questions answered
Is there one free statewide Wisconsin arrest search?
No. Current jail custody is primarily maintained by county sheriffs. WI VINE can search participating county jails, WCCA searches circuit court cases, Wisconsin DOJ provides paid criminal-history checks, and DOC maintains a separate offender locator.
Is WCCA the same as a Wisconsin DOJ background check?
No. WCCA contains public circuit court case information. DOJ’s CCH database is a fingerprint-supported criminal-history repository containing submitted arrest, prosecution, court-disposition and correctional information.
Why does WCCA show a case that is missing from DOJ?
The arrest may not have been supported by fingerprints submitted to CIB, or the court case may have begun without a fingerprint-supported arrest event. DOJ and court systems receive information through different processes.
Why does DOJ show an arrest charge different from the conviction?
The arresting agency records the original suspected offense. The district attorney may file another charge, and the court may convict, dismiss or amend different counts. The original arrest charge is not automatically removed because prosecution changed it.
How long can I view a WORCS result?
WORCS results are available through the system for six months after submission. Save the receipt, order-reference number and complete report securely.
Can I get a police report from the county clerk?
Usually not. Request the incident or arrest report from the police department or sheriff that created it. Request the criminal complaint, judgment or dismissal order from the county clerk of circuit court.
Can Wisconsin DOJ remove an arrest after dismissal?
Some fingerprint-supported arrests may qualify for removal after nonprosecution, dismissal or acquittal, but CIB reviews each arrest event individually. A connected conviction, read-in charge or reduced-charge conviction can prevent removal.
Does Wisconsin expungement delete the police and DOJ records?
Not necessarily. Court expungement affects the qualifying court record under Wisconsin law. DOJ explains that court expungement does not automatically make fingerprint information eligible for removal, although the criminal history may receive an expungement notation.
What should I do when another person’s Wisconsin record appears under my name?
Submit form DJ-LE-247 with a properly completed FD-258 fingerprint card and supporting identity documents. For a false court case, review Wisconsin forms GF-182A, GF-182B and GF-185 with the filing county.
Can a Wisconsin employer consider a dismissed arrest?
Wisconsin generally prohibits an employer from refusing employment because of an arrest that did not result in conviction. Pending charges and convictions have separate substantially-related standards. A complaint generally must be filed with the Equal Rights Division within 300 days.