Altoona Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Altoona, Wisconsin?

Arrest records in Altoona, Wisconsin are considered public documents pursuant to the Wisconsin Public Records Law (Wis. Stat. §§ 19.31-19.39). This statute establishes that records produced, collected, or maintained by government entities, including law enforcement agencies, shall be accessible to the public unless specifically exempted by law. The Wisconsin Supreme Court has consistently upheld the presumption of complete public access to public records, reflecting the state's commitment to governmental transparency and accountability.

Members of the public may access arrest records maintained by the Altoona Police Department and other local law enforcement agencies. These records serve multiple public interests, including:

• Enabling citizens to monitor the activities and effectiveness of law enforcement agencies
• Providing information about potential public safety concerns
• Supporting journalistic and research endeavors related to criminal justice
• Allowing individuals to verify information that may appear in background checks

Certain exceptions to disclosure may apply in cases involving ongoing investigations, juvenile records, or where disclosure would endanger public safety or compromise personal privacy beyond the public interest in disclosure, as determined by the custodian of records pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 19.35(1)(a).

How to Look Up Altoona Arrest Records in 2025

The Altoona Police Department maintains arrest records for incidents occurring within city limits. Pursuant to Wisconsin's commitment to governmental transparency, multiple methods exist for accessing these records. Individuals seeking arrest information may utilize the following official channels:

• In-Person Requests: Citizens may visit the Altoona Police Department to submit records requests during regular business hours. Staff will assist with completing the necessary request forms and identifying available records.

  Altoona Police Department
  1904 Spooner Avenue
  Altoona, WI 54720
  (715) 839-6090
  Altoona Police Department website
  Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

• Online Requests: The Altoona Police Department has implemented a digital records request system through their public records portal. Requestors must complete the electronic form specifying the information sought and provide contact information for response delivery.

• Written Requests: Formal written requests may be submitted via mail or email to the Records Division. Pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 19.35(1)(h), requests must reasonably describe the records sought. Requests should be addressed to:

  Records Custodian
  Altoona Police Department
  1904 Spooner Avenue
  Altoona, WI 54720
  Email: khamm@altoona-wi.gov

• Eau Claire County Sheriff's Office: For arrests made by county deputies within Altoona city limits, records may be available through:

  Eau Claire County Sheriff's Office
  721 Oxford Avenue
  Eau Claire, WI 54703
  (715) 839-4709
  Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Processing times typically range from 5-10 business days, depending on request volume and complexity. Pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 19.35(3), fees may be assessed for search, retrieval, and copying of records, with current rates set at $0.25 per page for photocopies and $15.00 per hour for records location and preparation exceeding $50.00 in cost.

Contents of an Altoona Arrest Record

Arrest records maintained by the Altoona Police Department typically contain standardized information as required by Wisconsin Administrative Code § LES 9.04. These official documents serve as the factual account of an individual's interaction with law enforcement resulting in arrest. Standard arrest records include the following categories of information:

• Biographical Data: Full legal name of the arrested individual, known aliases or alternative spellings, date of birth, gender, race, height, weight, eye and hair color, and residential address at time of arrest.

• Arrest Details: Date, time, and specific location of the arrest; statutory authority under which the arrest was made; whether the arrest was made pursuant to a warrant or probable cause determination.

• Criminal Allegations: Wisconsin Statute violations alleged; classification of offenses as misdemeanors or felonies; brief narrative description of the alleged criminal activity.

• Procedural Information: Arresting agency and officer identification; booking location and procedures followed; case or incident number assigned for administrative tracking.

• Identification Records: Fingerprint classifications and identification numbers; booking photographs (commonly referred to as "mugshots"); any distinguishing physical characteristics or identifying marks.

• Custody Status: Initial bail determination; court appearance information; detention facility assignment if applicable.

• Prior Record References: Notations regarding previous law enforcement contacts or criminal history if immediately available and relevant to the current arrest.

Pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 19.36(8), certain information may be redacted from publicly available arrest records, including but not limited to confidential informant identities, juvenile information, and details that would compromise ongoing investigations or endanger public safety if disclosed.

Expungement of Arrest Records in Altoona

Wisconsin law provides limited pathways for the expungement of arrest records in Altoona through Wis. Stat. § 973.015. Expungement refers to the legal process by which arrest and conviction records are removed from public access, though they may remain accessible to law enforcement agencies for official purposes. The eligibility criteria and procedural requirements are established by state statute rather than local ordinance.

Individuals may qualify for expungement under the following circumstances:

• The arrest did not lead to formal charges within the applicable statute of limitations
• Charges were dismissed or the individual was acquitted at trial
• The individual was under 25 years of age at the time of the offense
• The offense was a misdemeanor or a Class H or I felony
• The court ordered expungement at the time of sentencing
• The individual has successfully completed their sentence, including any probationary period

The expungement process requires petitioners to:

1. File a Petition for Expungement with the Eau Claire County Circuit Court Eau Claire County Courthouse 721 Oxford Avenue Eau Claire, WI 54703 (715) 839-4816

2. Provide certified copies of relevant case dispositions and evidence of eligibility

3. Pay the required filing fee of $164.50 (as of January 2025)

4. Attend any scheduled court hearings regarding the petition

5. If granted, ensure the expungement order is properly distributed to all agencies maintaining the records

Pursuant to Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling in State v. Hemp, 2014 WI 129, expungement orders require the actual destruction or deletion of court records, not merely their sealing. However, certain databases maintained by private companies may continue to display expunged records if they were lawfully obtained prior to expungement. The Wisconsin Department of Justice maintains separate procedures for the removal of arrest information from the Crime Information Bureau database following expungement orders.

Individuals seeking expungement are advised that the process is discretionary rather than an automatic right, and courts consider factors including the nature of the offense, the individual's criminal and employment history, and the public interest in maintaining or expunging the record.

Search Arrest Records in Altoona

• Eau Claire County Crime Map
• Altoona Police Department Records
• Public Records Request Portal
• Law Enforcement Services