>Douglas County Arrest Records Online

Douglas County, Wisconsin Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Douglas County, Wisconsin?

Arrest records are public in Douglas County, Wisconsin, pursuant to the Wisconsin Public Records Law (Wis. Stat. §§ 19.31-19.39). This legislation establishes that records produced or maintained by government entities shall be accessible to the public unless specifically exempted by statute, common law, or overriding public interest considerations. The Wisconsin Supreme Court has consistently upheld the presumption of complete public access to government records, including those pertaining to arrests.

Douglas County law enforcement agencies maintain arrest records as part of their official duties. These records typically contain information regarding an individual's detention or apprehension by law enforcement authorities, including the circumstances of the arrest, identifying information of the arrestee, and the charges filed. Members of the public may inspect these records by submitting a request to the appropriate agency, such as the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.

Certain portions of arrest records may be redacted or withheld if they contain information that falls under statutory exemptions, such as ongoing investigations, juvenile records, or information that would compromise public safety if disclosed. The custodian of records must specifically cite the applicable exemption when denying access to any portion of an arrest record.

Can Arrest Records be Found Online in Douglas County?

Arrest records can be found online through various official Douglas County government portals and affiliated law enforcement websites. The Wisconsin Circuit Court Access Program (CCAP) provides public access to court records, including those related to arrests that have resulted in formal charges. This system is maintained by the Wisconsin Court System pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 72.

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office maintains an online database of current inmates and recent arrests. This information is updated regularly but may not include comprehensive historical data. The database is accessible through the Douglas County Jail website.

Additionally, the Wisconsin Court System provides a centralized case search function that allows users to access court records from across the state, including Douglas County. This resource includes information on criminal cases that originated from arrests.

It should be noted that while many arrest records are available online, the completeness and currency of these records may vary. Some records may only be available through direct request to the custodian agency, particularly for older cases or those with special handling requirements.

How to Look Up Douglas County Arrest Records in 2025

Members of the public seeking Douglas County arrest records in 2025 have multiple methods available to them, as prescribed by Wisconsin Statute § 19.35 regarding access to records:

In-person requests can be submitted at the Douglas County Sheriff's Office located at 1316 N. 14th St., Suite 100, Superior, WI 54880. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Requestors should be prepared to complete a public records request form and may be required to present identification.
Online access is available through the Douglas County Sheriff's Office website, which provides current inmate information and recent arrest data. For court case information resulting from arrests, the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access portal offers searchable records.
Public access terminals are available at the Douglas County Courthouse, located at 1313 Belknap St., Superior, WI 54880. These terminals provide access to the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access system and are available during regular courthouse hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
Written requests may be submitted by mail to the Records Division, Douglas County Sheriff's Office, 1316 N. 14th St., Suite 100, Superior, WI 54880. Requests should include the requestor's contact information, specific information sought, and any known details about the arrest (date, name of arrestee, case number).
The Douglas County Clerk of Courts maintains records of all court proceedings, including those stemming from arrests. Their office is located at 1313 Belknap St., Room 309, Superior, WI 54880, and can be reached at (715) 395-1203.

Pursuant to Wisconsin Statute § 19.35(3), fees may be charged for locating and copying records. These fees are limited to the actual, necessary, and direct costs of location, reproduction, and mailing.

Contents of a Douglas County Arrest Record

Douglas County arrest records contain standardized information as mandated by Wisconsin Administrative Code DOJ § 1.03 and Wisconsin Statute § 165.83 regarding criminal identification, records, and statistics. A typical arrest record includes:

Biographical information of the arrested individual, including full legal name, any known aliases or nicknames, date of birth, gender, race, height, weight, eye and hair color, and any distinguishing physical characteristics or identifying marks such as tattoos or scars.
A booking photograph (mugshot) taken at the time of processing into the Douglas County Jail facility.
Detailed information regarding the arrest, including the date, time, and specific location where the apprehension occurred.
The arresting agency (e.g., Douglas County Sheriff's Office, Superior Police Department) and the name and badge number of the arresting officer(s).
A complete list of all charges filed against the individual, including the Wisconsin Statute number for each alleged violation and the classification of each offense (felony, misdemeanor, or civil violation).
Information regarding the arrestee's custody status, including bail or bond amount if applicable, conditions of release, and scheduled court appearances.
Fingerprint records and other biometric data collected during the booking process, though these may not be included in publicly accessible versions of the record.
Prior arrest history within Douglas County, if applicable.

It should be noted that pursuant to Wisconsin Statute § 19.36(8), certain information may be redacted from publicly available arrest records, including information related to ongoing investigations or information that could compromise public safety if disclosed.

Expungement of Arrest Records in Douglas County

Douglas County follows Wisconsin state law regarding the expungement of arrest records, as codified in Wisconsin Statute § 973.015. Expungement removes the record from public access, though it may remain accessible to law enforcement agencies for official purposes. The process for expungement in Douglas County is as follows:

Eligibility criteria for expungement include:

The offense must be a misdemeanor or a Class H or I felony.
The individual must have been under the age of 25 at the time of the commission of the offense.
The maximum period of imprisonment for the offense must not exceed 6 years.
The court must have determined at the time of sentencing that expungement would benefit the person and society would not be harmed.
The individual must have successfully completed their sentence, including any probationary period.

The expungement process requires the filing of a petition with the Douglas County Circuit Court, located at 1313 Belknap St., Superior, WI 54880. The petition must include:

The case number and offense details
Documentation showing completion of all sentencing requirements
A statement explaining why expungement would be beneficial

Upon receipt of a petition, the court will schedule a hearing where the petitioner may present their case for expungement. The district attorney's office has the right to object to the petition. The judge will consider factors such as:

The nature and severity of the original offense
The petitioner's behavior since the conviction
The petitioner's employment and educational history
The potential impact of the record on the petitioner's future opportunities
Any victim impact statements

If granted, the expungement order directs all county and state agencies to seal the records related to the arrest and conviction. However, certain agencies may retain access to these records for specific purposes, such as law enforcement investigations or employment screening for sensitive positions.