>Green Lake County Arrest Records Online

Green Lake County, Wisconsin Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Green Lake County, Wisconsin?

Arrest records are public in Green Lake County, Wisconsin, pursuant to 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. The law operates under the presumption that the public has a right to the greatest possible information regarding the affairs of government and the official acts of government officers and employees. Green Lake County adheres to these transparency requirements by making arrest records available through various channels.

Members of the public seeking arrest records should be aware that certain information may be redacted in accordance with privacy protections established under Wisconsin law. Such redactions typically include confidential informant information, juvenile records (except under specific circumstances outlined in Wis. Stat. § 938.396), and ongoing investigation details that could compromise law enforcement activities if disclosed.

Can Arrest Records be Found Online in Green Lake County?

Green Lake County arrest records can be accessed online through several official channels. The Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (CCAP) system, accessible through the Green Lake County Circuit Court website, provides public access to court records for cases filed in Wisconsin circuit courts. This database includes information on criminal cases resulting from arrests in Green Lake County.

Additionally, the Green Lake County Sheriff's Department maintains certain arrest information on their official website, including recent booking information and inmate status. Users should note that online records may not be comprehensive and might not include older records that have not been digitized. Furthermore, pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 19.35(1)(a), certain sensitive information may be redacted from online records to protect privacy interests while still maintaining public access to essential arrest information.

The online availability of these records is subject to periodic system maintenance and updates, which may temporarily affect accessibility. Users experiencing difficulties accessing online records may contact the relevant county offices directly for assistance.

How to Look Up Green Lake County Arrest Records in 2025

Members of the public seeking Green Lake County arrest records have multiple methods available for conducting searches:

Online Database Access: The Wisconsin Circuit Court Access system provides searchable access to court records related to arrests. Users may search by name, case number, or citation number.
In-Person Requests: Individuals may visit the following offices to request arrest records in person:

Green Lake County Clerk of Courts
571 County Road A, Green Lake, WI 54941
Phone: (920) 294-4142
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Official Website

Green Lake County Sheriff's Department
571 County Road A, Green Lake, WI 54941
Phone: (920) 294-4000
Hours: 24 hours daily (administrative office: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM, Monday-Friday)
Official Website
Written Requests: Pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 19.35(1)(h), written requests for arrest records may be submitted to either the Clerk of Courts or Sheriff's Department at the addresses listed above. Requests should include:
- Full name of the subject
- Date of birth (if known)
- Approximate date of arrest (if known)
- Requestor's contact information
- Specific records being requested
Wisconsin State Law Library Resources: The Wisconsin State Law Library maintains resources specific to Green Lake County that may assist in locating arrest record information.

Fees for copies of arrest records are established pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 19.35(3) and may vary based on the number of pages requested and whether certification is required. As of 2025, standard copy fees are $1.25 per page for the first 25 pages and $0.25 for each additional page.

Contents of a Green Lake County Arrest Record

Green Lake County arrest records typically contain comprehensive information about the arrest event and the individual taken into custody. Standard arrest records include:

Subject's full legal name and any documented aliases
Demographic information including date of birth, gender, and physical description
Date, time, and location of the arrest
Statutory charges and offense descriptions
Arresting agency and officer identification
Booking photographs ("mugshots")
Fingerprint information and identification numbers
Custody status and bail/bond information
Case disposition information (if available)
Court docket numbers for associated cases

The Green Lake County Sheriff's Corrections Division maintains these records in accordance with Wisconsin Administrative Code DOC § 350, which establishes standards for record-keeping in county jails and detention facilities.

Pursuant to Wisconsin law, certain information may be redacted from publicly available arrest records, including but not limited to social security numbers, driver's license numbers, and information related to confidential informants or ongoing investigations. Additionally, juvenile arrest records are subject to special confidentiality provisions under Wis. Stat. § 938.396 and may not be publicly accessible except under specific circumstances.

Expungement of Arrest Records in Green Lake County

Expungement of arrest records in Green Lake County follows Wisconsin state law provisions outlined in Wis. Stat. § 973.015. Eligible individuals may petition to have certain arrest and conviction records expunged from public access. The expungement process effectively seals the records from public view, though they remain accessible to law enforcement agencies.

Eligibility criteria for expungement in Green Lake County include:

The offense must be a misdemeanor or a Class H or I felony
The offender must have been under the age of 25 at the time of the offense
The maximum period of imprisonment for the offense must not exceed 6 years
The court must have determined at sentencing that expungement would benefit the offender and not harm society
The offender must have successfully completed their sentence

Individuals seeking expungement must file a petition with the Green Lake County Circuit Court. The appropriate forms can be obtained from the Wisconsin Court System website or the Green Lake County Clerk of Courts office. The petition must include:

Case number and offense information
Date of conviction
Verification of sentence completion
Statement addressing how expungement would benefit the petitioner

The court reviews each petition individually and may schedule a hearing to determine whether expungement is appropriate. If granted, the court will issue an order directing all relevant agencies to seal the records from public access. The expungement process typically takes 60-90 days from filing to completion.

Individuals with questions about the expungement process may contact:

Green Lake County Clerk of Courts
571 County Road A, Green Lake, WI 54941
Phone: (920) 294-4142
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Official Website

Legal Restrictions on Arrest Record Access in Green Lake County

Access to arrest records in Green Lake County is subject to certain legal restrictions established by Wisconsin state law. While the Wisconsin Public Records Law creates a presumption of accessibility, several statutory exemptions limit public access to specific types of arrest information.

Key restrictions include:

Juvenile Records: Pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 938.396, records pertaining to juveniles are generally confidential and not available for public inspection, with limited exceptions for certain serious offenses.
Ongoing Investigations: Under Wis. Stat. § 19.36(2), records related to ongoing law enforcement investigations may be withheld if disclosure would compromise the investigation.
Privacy Protections: Personal identifying information such as social security numbers, driver's license numbers, and financial account information must be redacted before records are released, in accordance with Wis. Stat. § 19.36(10).
Expunged Records: Records that have been expunged by court order pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 973.015 are removed from public access, though they remain available to law enforcement agencies.
Domestic Abuse Victims: Information that would reveal the location of domestic abuse victims is protected under Wis. Stat. § 19.36(5).

The Green Lake County Sheriff's Department and Clerk of Courts are responsible for ensuring that these restrictions are properly applied when responding to requests for arrest records. Individuals who believe their records are subject to these restrictions may contact these offices directly to discuss their concerns.

Using Green Lake County Arrest Records for Background Checks

Green Lake County arrest records serve as valuable resources for background verification processes, though their use is governed by specific regulations. Employers, landlords, and other entities conducting background checks should be aware of the following guidelines:

The Wisconsin Fair Employment Act (Wis. Stat. § 111.31-111.395) prohibits discrimination against job applicants based solely on arrest records that did not result in conviction. Employers may consider conviction records only if the offenses are substantially related to the particular job. Additionally, the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq.) imposes requirements on third-party background check companies, including obtaining consent before conducting checks and providing copies of reports to individuals.

Organizations conducting background checks using Green Lake County arrest records should:

Obtain written consent from the individual before accessing their records
Consider only conviction records or pending charges, not arrests that did not lead to conviction
Evaluate the relevance of any criminal history to the specific position or housing situation
Provide individuals an opportunity to explain their record or demonstrate rehabilitation
Maintain confidentiality of obtained information
Comply with adverse action procedures if denying employment or housing based on record findings

For comprehensive background checks, organizations may need to supplement Green Lake County records with searches in other jurisdictions where the individual has resided. The Green Lake County Documents and Forms page provides additional resources for conducting proper background checks in compliance with applicable laws.