Shorewood Arrest Records
Are Arrest Records Public in Shorewood, Wisconsin?
Arrest records are public in Shorewood, Wisconsin, pursuant to the Wisconsin Public Records Law (Wis. Stat. §§ 19.31-19.39). This statute establishes that records produced or maintained by government entities, including law enforcement agencies, shall be accessible to the public unless specifically exempted by law. The Wisconsin Public Records Law operates under the presumption that government records are open to inspection and copying by any requester. This framework ensures transparency in governmental operations and provides citizens with the right to access information regarding law enforcement activities, including arrests made within the jurisdiction of Shorewood.
Members of the public should note that while arrest records are generally public, certain information may be redacted to protect privacy interests, ongoing investigations, or in accordance with other statutory exemptions. The custodian of records must balance the public interest in disclosure against any potential harm that might result from release of specific information.
How to Look Up Shorewood Arrest Records in 2025
The Shorewood Police Department maintains arrest records for incidents occurring within its jurisdiction. Interested parties seeking to obtain these records may utilize several authorized methods:
In-person requests may be submitted at the Shorewood Police Department located at 3936 N. Murray Avenue, Shorewood, WI 53211. The Records Division is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, excluding holidays.
Written requests may be mailed to: Records Division, Shorewood Police Department, 3936 N. Murray Avenue, Shorewood, WI 53211.
Telephone inquiries can be directed to the Records Division at (414) 847-2610 during regular business hours.
Electronic requests may be submitted through the official Shorewood Police Department website, though requesters should verify current online submission procedures as digital systems are subject to updates.
Pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 19.35(1), the department must respond to record requests "as soon as practicable and without delay." Requesters should be prepared to provide specific information to facilitate the search, including the name of the individual, approximate date of arrest, and any other relevant identifiers. Fees for copying and processing may apply in accordance with Wis. Stat. § 19.35(3).
For arrests resulting in court proceedings, supplementary records may be available through the Milwaukee County Circuit Court, located at 901 N. 9th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53233. Court records can be accessed via the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access portal, which provides public access to certain court records.
Contents of a Shorewood Arrest Record
Standard arrest records maintained by the Shorewood Police Department typically contain the following categories of information:
Biographical data of the arrested individual, including full legal name, known aliases, date of birth, physical description, and residential address at the time of arrest.
Temporal and spatial details of the arrest, including the date, time, and specific location where the apprehension occurred.
Comprehensive information regarding the alleged offense(s), including the Wisconsin statute or municipal ordinance violated and a brief narrative of the incident.
Identification of the arresting agency and the name or badge number of the arresting officer(s).
Booking information, which may include mugshot photographs, fingerprint records, and personal property inventory.
Case disposition information, if available, indicating whether charges were filed, dismissed, or resulted in conviction.
Bail or bond information, including amount set and conditions of release.
In accordance with Wis. Stat. § 19.36, certain information may be redacted from public arrest records, including but not limited to confidential informant identities, juvenile information (unless subject to adult court jurisdiction), and information that would compromise ongoing investigations if disclosed.
Expungement of Arrest Records in Shorewood
The expungement of arrest records in Shorewood follows Wisconsin state law as outlined in Wis. Stat. § 973.015. Individuals seeking expungement must meet specific statutory criteria:
The offense must be a misdemeanor or a Class H or I felony.
The individual must have been under the age of 25 at the time of the commission of the offense.
The maximum period of imprisonment for the offense must not exceed 6 years.
The court must have determined at the time of sentencing that expungement would benefit the person and society would not be harmed.
The individual must have successfully completed their sentence, including any probationary period.
The expungement process requires filing a petition with the court that handled the original case. The petition must include:
- Case number and offense information
- Date of conviction
- Verification of sentence completion
- Statement addressing rehabilitation and reasons for seeking expungement
It should be noted that expungement in Wisconsin does not physically destroy records but rather seals them from public view. Law enforcement agencies and the courts may still access expunged records for specific purposes authorized by law.
Individuals with arrests that did not result in charges or convictions may have additional remedies available under Wis. Stat. § 165.84(1), which provides for the return or destruction of fingerprint records under certain circumstances.
The Wisconsin Department of Justice, located at 17 West Main Street, Madison, WI 53703, can provide additional guidance on the state's expungement policies. Their Crime Information Bureau can be reached at (608) 266-7314.
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