>Milwaukee County Arrest Records Online

Milwaukee County, Wisconsin Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin?

Arrest records are public in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, pursuant to the Wisconsin Public Records Law (Wis. Stat. §§ 19.31-19.39). This statute establishes that records produced or maintained by government agencies must be accessible to the public unless specifically exempted by law. The Wisconsin Supreme Court has consistently upheld the principle that public records laws shall be construed in favor of disclosure, reinforcing transparency in governmental operations.

Members of the public may access arrest records through various governmental agencies in Milwaukee County. The Wisconsin Public Records Law stipulates that custodians of records must respond to requests "as soon as practicable and without delay." Requestors are not required to identify themselves or state the purpose of their request, though certain records may be redacted to protect privacy interests as determined by the balancing test outlined in Wis. Stat. § 19.35(1)(a).

Certain exceptions to disclosure exist under Wisconsin law, including ongoing investigations where disclosure would impede law enforcement proceedings, juvenile records protected under Wis. Stat. § 938.396, and records containing information that would endanger public safety if released.

Can Arrest Records be Found Online in Milwaukee County?

Milwaukee County arrest records are available through several online platforms maintained by county and state agencies. The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office In Custody Locator provides real-time information about individuals currently in custody, including arrest date, charges, and bail information. This database is updated regularly to reflect current incarcerations within the county jail system.

The Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA), commonly known as CCAP, offers a comprehensive database of court records, including criminal cases resulting from arrests. This platform allows users to search by name, case number, or citation number to access public court records throughout Wisconsin, including Milwaukee County.

For municipal violations, the Milwaukee Municipal Court Case Information System provides searchable access to citation and case information. This resource is particularly useful for locating records related to municipal ordinance violations that resulted in arrest.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice's Online Record Check System (WORCS) offers criminal history information for a nominal fee. This system provides official criminal history information maintained by the state, including arrest data that has been reported to the state repository.

How to Look Up Milwaukee County Arrest Records in 2025

Individuals seeking Milwaukee County arrest records in 2025 have multiple avenues available for conducting searches. The following methods are authorized under Wisconsin Public Records Law:

Visit the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office Records Division in person: Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office 821 W. State Street Milwaukee, WI 53233 Phone: (414) 278-4766 Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Official Website
Submit a written request to the Milwaukee Police Department Records Section: Milwaukee Police Department Records Section 749 W. State Street Milwaukee, WI 53233 Phone: (414) 935-7360 Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM Official Website
Access the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access portal for court records related to arrests: Wisconsin Court System Wisconsin Circuit Court Access Available 24/7 except during scheduled maintenance
Utilize the Milwaukee County Jail Inmate Locator for current custody information: Milwaukee County Jail In Custody Locator Available 24/7
Request criminal history information through the Wisconsin Department of Justice: Wisconsin Department of Justice Crime Information Bureau P.O. Box 2688 Madison, WI 53701-2688 Phone: (608) 266-7314 Wisconsin Online Record Check System

Pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 19.35(3), agencies may charge fees for locating and copying records. These fees must reflect the actual, necessary, and direct costs of fulfilling the request. Current fee schedules are available from each agency and may include per-page copying charges and staff time for extensive searches.

Contents of a Milwaukee County Arrest Record

Milwaukee County arrest records contain standardized information as mandated by Wisconsin Administrative Code § DOJ 1.04, which establishes requirements for law enforcement recordkeeping. A typical arrest record includes:

Full legal name of the arrested individual and any documented aliases
Date of birth and demographic information (age, gender, race)
Physical descriptors including height, weight, eye color, hair color, and identifying marks
Date, time, and location of the arrest
Statutory charges filed at the time of arrest, including Wisconsin Statute citations
Arresting agency and officer identification
Booking information including fingerprints and booking photographs
Case or incident number assigned by the arresting agency
Custody status and bail information if applicable
Property inventory of items in possession at time of arrest

Fingerprint records are maintained in accordance with Wis. Stat. § 165.84, which requires fingerprinting of all persons arrested for felonies and certain misdemeanors. These fingerprints are submitted to the Wisconsin Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for identification purposes.

Arrest records may also contain supplementary information such as witness statements, officer narratives, and evidence inventories, though access to these materials may be restricted during ongoing investigations pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 19.36(2).

Expungement of Arrest Records in Milwaukee County

Wisconsin law provides limited pathways for the expungement of arrest records under specific circumstances. Pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 973.015, expungement may be available for certain offenses committed by persons under the age of 25. The statute authorizes courts to order expungement upon successful completion of the sentence if the court determines that the person will benefit and society will not be harmed.

The expungement process in Milwaukee County requires filing a petition with the court that handled the original case. Petitioners must demonstrate:

Successful completion of all conditions of sentencing
Payment of all fines, restitution, and court costs
No subsequent criminal convictions
Satisfaction of any waiting periods required by statute

For arrests that did not result in charges or convictions, individuals may petition for removal from the Wisconsin Department of Justice criminal history database under Wis. Admin. Code § JUS 10.05. This administrative process requires submission of documentation proving the case was dismissed or resulted in acquittal.

It is important to note that expungement in Wisconsin does not completely destroy records but rather seals them from public view. Law enforcement agencies and courts retain access to expunged records for official purposes. Additionally, expungement of court records does not automatically remove information from third-party databases that may have previously collected the information.

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