>Juneau County Arrest Records Online

Juneau County, Wisconsin Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Juneau County, Wisconsin?

Arrest records are public documents in Juneau County, Wisconsin, pursuant to the Wisconsin Public Records Law (Wis. Stat. §§ 19.31-19.39). This legislation establishes that records produced or maintained by governmental bodies must be accessible to the public unless specifically exempted by statute. The law operates under the principle that providing citizens with the greatest possible information regarding governmental affairs and official acts is essential to representative government. Law enforcement records, including arrest documentation, fall under this mandate for transparency.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has consistently upheld the public's right to access arrest records, recognizing their importance in maintaining accountability in the criminal justice system. Members of the public may inspect these records during normal business hours at the appropriate government office, or request copies for a reasonable fee as prescribed by Wis. Stat. § 19.35(3).

Certain information within arrest records may be redacted if disclosure would compromise ongoing investigations, reveal confidential informants, or infringe upon privacy rights protected by state or federal law. Juvenile arrest records are subject to additional confidentiality protections under Wis. Stat. § 938.396.

Can Arrest Records be Found Online in Juneau County?

Juneau County arrest records are accessible through several online platforms, enhancing public access in accordance with Wisconsin's commitment to governmental transparency. The Juneau County Sheriff's Office Records Division maintains an online database of arrest records that is regularly updated. Additionally, the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) system, commonly known as CCAP, provides electronic access to court records, including information related to arrests that have resulted in formal charges.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice offers the Wisconsin Online Record Check System (WORCS) through which individuals may conduct criminal background checks that include arrest information. This system requires registration and payment of statutory fees for each search conducted.

Digital access to these records is governed by the same statutory provisions that apply to physical records, with similar restrictions regarding confidential information. The electronic availability of arrest records serves to enhance governmental efficiency while providing convenient access for citizens, employers, and other stakeholders requiring this information.

How to Look Up Juneau County Arrest Records in 2025

Members of the public seeking Juneau County arrest records in 2025 may utilize multiple official channels to obtain this information:

Sheriff's Office Records Request: The primary source for comprehensive arrest records is the Juneau County Sheriff's Office Records Division. Requestors may submit applications in person, by mail, or through the online portal.

Juneau County Sheriff's Office
200 Oak Street, Room 1110
Mauston, WI 53948
Tel: (608) 847-5649
Official Website
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Clerk of Courts Office: For arrest records that have proceeded to court action, the Juneau County Clerk of Courts maintains official documentation.

Juneau County Clerk of Courts
200 Oak Street
Mauston, WI 53948
Tel: (608) 847-9356
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Wisconsin Court System: The Wisconsin Circuit Court Access portal provides 24-hour online access to public court records, including cases stemming from arrests in Juneau County.
Wisconsin Department of Justice: The DOJ maintains the Wisconsin Online Record Check System for criminal history searches, which includes arrest data from all Wisconsin counties including Juneau.

Pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 19.35(1), requestors are not required to identify themselves or state the purpose of their request unless specifically required by law. However, certain records may require verification of identity if they contain confidential information or are subject to restricted access.

Contents of a Juneau County Arrest Record

Juneau County arrest records contain standardized information as mandated by Wisconsin Administrative Code § JUS 9.04. These official documents typically include:

Complete demographic information of the arrested individual, including full legal name, known aliases, date of birth, physical description, and address
Date, time, and specific location of the arrest
Statutory citations and descriptions of alleged offenses
Identity of the arresting agency and officer(s)
Booking information, including fingerprints and mugshot photographs
Custody status and bail/bond determination
Case disposition information, if available
Warrant information, if applicable

The level of detail contained in publicly accessible versions of these records may vary based on the status of any related investigation, court orders regarding confidentiality, and statutory protections for certain types of information. Records related to sexual assault victims, confidential informants, and certain medical information may be redacted prior to public disclosure in accordance with Wis. Stat. § 19.36.

For complete arrest records, requestors may need to submit applications to multiple agencies, as information may be distributed across the Sheriff's Office Records Division, the Juneau County Jail, and the Clerk of Courts, depending on the stage of the criminal justice process.

Expungement of Arrest Records in Juneau County

Wisconsin law provides limited pathways for the expungement of arrest records in Juneau County. Expungement refers to the legal process through which arrest and conviction records are removed from public access or sealed from view. The authority for expungement is established under Wis. Stat. § 973.015, which permits the expungement of records for certain offenses committed by individuals under the age of 25.

Eligibility criteria for expungement in Juneau County include:

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

The expungement process requires filing a petition with the Juneau County Circuit Court where the case was adjudicated. Petitioners must provide documentation demonstrating compliance with all sentencing requirements and may need to appear at a hearing where a judge will make the final determination.

It is important to note that under Wisconsin law, expungement does not completely destroy records but rather seals them from public view. Law enforcement agencies and the courts retain access to expunged records. Additionally, expungement in Wisconsin applies only to court records and does not automatically extend to records maintained by other agencies such as the Sheriff's Office or the Department of Justice.

For arrests that did not result in charges or convictions, individuals may petition for removal from the Wisconsin Criminal History Database under Wis. Admin. Code § JUS 10.04, which provides a process for challenging the accuracy or completeness of criminal history record information.

Legal Restrictions on Accessing Juneau County Arrest Records

While Wisconsin law generally favors public access to government records, several statutory provisions limit access to certain arrest record information in Juneau County. These restrictions serve to balance transparency with privacy concerns and the integrity of the criminal justice system.

Key limitations include:

Juvenile Records: Pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 938.396, records of juveniles (under age 17) are generally confidential and not available for public inspection unless specifically authorized by court order or statutory exception.
Ongoing Investigations: Under Wis. Stat. § 19.36(4), records related to ongoing law enforcement investigations may be withheld if disclosure would compromise the effectiveness of the investigation.
Victim Information: Wisconsin's Marsy's Law (Art. I, § 9m of the Wisconsin Constitution) provides victims with the right to privacy, which may result in redaction of victim-identifying information from publicly accessible arrest records.
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.
Restricted Information: Certain categories of information, including medical records, financial information, and information that would endanger public safety if disclosed, may be redacted from arrest records before public release.

The Juneau County Sheriff's Office and Clerk of Courts are required to review records prior to disclosure to ensure compliance with these statutory restrictions. Requestors seeking access to restricted information may need to demonstrate legal authority or obtain a court order authorizing disclosure.

Using Juneau County Arrest Records for Background Checks

Employers, landlords, and other entities in Juneau County may utilize arrest records as part of background screening processes, subject to specific legal constraints. The Wisconsin Fair Employment Act (Wis. Stat. § 111.31-111.395) regulates the use of arrest and conviction records in employment decisions.

Under Wisconsin law:

Employers may not discriminate against applicants based solely on arrest records that did not result in conviction unless the charges are still pending.
Employers may consider conviction records only if the offenses are substantially related to the particular job, or if the individual has not been bondable due to conviction record when bondability is required by state or federal law.
Housing providers are subject to similar restrictions under the Wisconsin Open Housing Law (Wis. Stat. § 106.50) and federal Fair Housing Act regulations.

Organizations conducting background checks using Juneau County arrest records must ensure compliance with the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq.) if using third-party consumer reporting agencies to obtain this information. This includes obtaining written consent from the subject and providing appropriate notices regarding adverse actions based on record information.

The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development enforces state laws regarding the use of arrest records in employment, while the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection oversees compliance in housing contexts.

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