Arrest records in New Lisbon, Wisconsin are classified as public documents under Wisconsin Public Records Law (Wis. Stat. §§ 19.31-19.39). This legislation establishes the framework for public access to government-held information, including records of arrests made by law enforcement agencies. The statute specifically affirms that providing citizens with access to information about governmental affairs is "an essential function of a representative government and an integral part of the routine duties of officers and employees."
The Juneau County Sheriff's Office maintains arrest records for New Lisbon and surrounding areas. These records document instances where individuals have been taken into custody by law enforcement on suspicion of criminal activity. Public access to these records serves multiple governmental purposes:
Wisconsin courts have consistently upheld the presumption of openness regarding arrest records, with limited exceptions for ongoing investigations or cases involving juvenile offenders as outlined in Wis. Stat. § 938.396.
Members of the public seeking arrest records in New Lisbon have multiple channels through which to obtain this information. The Wisconsin Department of Justice has implemented enhanced digital access protocols pursuant to Executive Directive 189, which mandates improved public accessibility to government records. The following methods are available for conducting arrest record searches:
In-person requests at the Juneau County Sheriff's Office:
Online access through the Juneau County Sheriff's Office portal:
Written requests submitted via postal mail:
Requests through the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access Program (CCAP):
Juneau County Sheriff's Office
200 Oak Street
Mauston, WI 53948
Phone: (608) 847-5649
Official Website: Juneau County Sheriff's Office
Public Counter Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Arrest records maintained by New Lisbon law enforcement agencies contain standardized information as prescribed by Wisconsin Administrative Code DOJ § 1.03. These records serve as official documentation of an individual's interaction with law enforcement and typically include the following elements:
Biographical information of the arrested individual:
Arrest-specific information:
Procedural documentation:
The Wisconsin Department of Justice maintains standards for record-keeping through its Crime Information Bureau, ensuring consistency across jurisdictions in compliance with Wis. Stat. § 165.83. Certain information may be redacted from public versions of arrest records, particularly details that would compromise ongoing investigations or violate privacy protections established under Wis. Stat. § 19.36(10).
The expungement process in New Lisbon follows Wisconsin state law under Wis. Stat. § 973.015, which provides a legal pathway for the sealing of certain arrest and conviction records. Expungement renders records inaccessible through standard public records searches, though they remain available to law enforcement agencies and certain governmental entities.
Eligibility criteria for expungement in Wisconsin include:
The procedural requirements for seeking expungement include:
Juneau County Circuit Court
200 Oak Street, Room 245
Mauston, WI 53948
Phone: (608) 847-9372
Official Website: Juneau County Circuit Court
Public Counter Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Wisconsin law differs from many other states in that expungement decisions must be made at the time of sentencing rather than after completion of a sentence. This provision, established in State v. Hemp, 2014 WI 129, limits the availability of expungement for many individuals with older convictions.
For arrests that did not result in charges or convictions, individuals may petition for removal from public databases under Wis. Stat. § 165.84(1), which provides that "any person arrested or taken into custody and subsequently released without charge, or cleared of the offense through court proceedings, shall have all arrest records pertaining to the person returned."
The Wisconsin Department of Justice processes these requests through its Crime Information Bureau. Successful expungement does not eliminate all records of an arrest but rather restricts their accessibility to the general public while maintaining them for law enforcement purposes.