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West Allis Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in West Allis, Wisconsin?

Arrest records are public documents in West Allis, Wisconsin, pursuant to the Wisconsin Public Records Law (Wis. Stat. §§ 19.31-19.39). This legislation establishes that records produced or maintained by government agencies shall be accessible to the public unless specifically exempted by statute. The law promotes governmental transparency and accountability by ensuring citizens can access arrest records and other public documents maintained by local law enforcement agencies.

The West Allis Police Department maintains arrest records as part of its official duties to document law enforcement activities within the jurisdiction. These records become part of the public record upon creation, though certain information may be redacted to protect ongoing investigations or personal privacy in accordance with Wisconsin Statute § 19.36.

Members of the public seeking arrest records should be aware that certain records may be exempt from disclosure if they:

Pertain to ongoing investigations
Contain confidential informant information
Include juvenile records (subject to restrictions under Wis. Stat. § 938.396)
Contain information that would endanger public safety if released
Are specifically exempted by other Wisconsin statutes

How to Look Up West Allis Arrest Records in 2025

The City of West Allis provides multiple methods for obtaining arrest records in 2025. Individuals seeking such information may utilize the following official channels:

In-Person Requests

Members of the public may submit requests in person at the West Allis Police Department Records Unit:

West Allis Police Department Records Unit
11301 W. Lincoln Avenue
West Allis, WI 53227
Phone: (414) 302-8080
Official Records Unit Website

Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., excluding holidays

When making an in-person request, requestors should:

Provide specific information about the record sought
Present valid identification
Be prepared to complete a formal records request form
Pay applicable fees for document reproduction

Online Requests

The West Allis Police Department offers an online portal for submitting public records requests. This system allows users to:

Submit detailed requests for specific arrest records
Track the status of pending requests
Receive electronic copies of approved documents
Pay processing fees through a secure payment system

Mail or Email Requests

Written requests may be submitted via postal mail or email to:

West Allis Police Department Records Unit
11301 W. Lincoln Avenue
West Allis, WI 53227
Email: records@westalliswi.gov
Fax: (414) 302-8099

All open records requests should include:

Requestor's full name and contact information
Detailed description of the records sought
Date range for the requested records
Preferred method of record delivery

Contents of a West Allis Arrest Record

Standard arrest records maintained by the West Allis Police Department typically contain the following information:

Subject's full legal name and aliases
Date of birth and demographic information
Date, time, and location of arrest
Statutory charges and offense descriptions
Arresting officer's name and badge number
Booking photographs (mugshots)
Fingerprint records
Detention facility information
Bail or bond information
Case disposition (if available)
Incident report number

Pursuant to Wisconsin Statute § 19.35(1)(a), certain information may be redacted from arrest records prior to public release, including:

Social Security numbers
Driver's license numbers
Victim information in sensitive cases
Medical information protected under HIPAA
Information that would compromise an ongoing investigation
Confidential informant identities

The West Allis Municipal Court maintains separate records regarding case proceedings, judgments, and dispositions for municipal violations. These records may be accessed through the court clerk's office:

West Allis Municipal Court
11301 W. Lincoln Avenue
West Allis, WI 53227
Phone: (414) 302-8200

Fees for Obtaining Arrest Records in West Allis

The West Allis Police Department assesses fees for copying and processing arrest records in accordance with Wisconsin Statute § 19.35(3). Current fee schedules for record retrieval include:

Standard police reports: $0.25 per page
Certified copies: $5.00 per document
Photographs: $10.00 per CD
Audio/video recordings: $25.00 per disc
Research and retrieval fees: $15.00 per hour (first hour waived)

Payment methods accepted include cash, credit card, money order, or personal check made payable to "City of West Allis." The Records Unit may require prepayment for requests exceeding $5.00 in estimated costs.

Fee waivers may be available in limited circumstances where the request serves the public interest. Such determinations are made on a case-by-case basis by the records custodian.

Legal Restrictions on Arrest Record Access

While arrest records are generally public in West Allis, several legal restrictions limit access to certain information:

Juvenile records (under age 17) are confidential pursuant to Wisconsin Statute § 938.396, with limited exceptions for victims and authorized agencies
Records pertaining to domestic violence victims may have personal information redacted under Wisconsin Statute § 165.68
Mental health detention records are subject to confidentiality provisions under Wisconsin Statute § 51.30
Sexual assault victim information is protected under Wisconsin Statute § 940.22(2)
Records sealed by court order are not accessible to the public

The West Allis City Clerk's Office serves as the primary records custodian for the municipality and can provide guidance regarding specific record accessibility:

West Allis City Clerk's Office
7525 W. Greenfield Avenue
West Allis, WI 53214
Phone: (414) 302-8220

Expungement of Arrest Records in West Allis

Under Wisconsin law, certain arrest records may be eligible for expungement under specific circumstances. Wisconsin Statute § 973.015 governs the expungement process, which removes records from public access but does not physically destroy them.

Eligibility criteria for expungement in West Allis include:

The offense was committed before the individual turned 25 years old
The maximum penalty for the offense does not exceed 6 years imprisonment
The court ordered expungement at the time of sentencing
The individual has successfully completed their sentence
The offense was not a violent felony as defined by statute

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

Complete the appropriate expungement petition form
File the petition with the West Allis Municipal Court for municipal violations or the Milwaukee County Circuit Court for state charges
Pay applicable filing fees
Attend any scheduled hearings regarding the petition
Provide documentation of sentence completion and rehabilitation efforts

If granted, expungement removes the record from public databases, though law enforcement agencies may retain access to the information for official purposes.