Ladysmith Arrest Records
Are Arrest Records Public in Ladysmith, Wisconsin?
Arrest records in Ladysmith, Wisconsin are considered public information pursuant to Wisconsin Public Records Law (Wis. Stat. §§ 19.31-19.39). This legislation establishes the presumption that government records, including those pertaining to arrests, shall be accessible to the public unless specifically exempted by statute. The Wisconsin Supreme Court has consistently upheld the public's right to access such records to ensure transparency in governmental operations and accountability within the criminal justice system.
Members of the public may inspect, copy, or receive copies of arrest records maintained by the Ladysmith Police Department and the Rusk County Sheriff's Office. However, certain information may be redacted in accordance with Wis. Stat. § 19.36, which protects sensitive information such as ongoing investigations, juvenile records, and certain personal identifiers.
The Ladysmith Municipal Court, located at 120 Miner Avenue East, Ladysmith, Wisconsin 54848, maintains records of municipal ordinance violations, while more serious criminal cases are processed through the Rusk County Circuit Court system.
How to Look Up Ladysmith Arrest Records in 2025
The Wisconsin Department of Justice has implemented several methods through which members of the public may access arrest records in Ladysmith. These methods include:
In-person requests at the Ladysmith Police Department, located at 120 Miner Avenue East, Ladysmith, WI 54848. Office hours: Monday-Thursday 7:30am - 5:00pm, Friday 8:00am - Noon. Telephone: 715-532-2186.
Written requests submitted to the Records Division of the Ladysmith Police Department. Pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 19.35(1)(h), agencies may require that requests be made in writing. The request should include the full name of the subject, date of birth (if known), and approximate date of arrest.
Online access through the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) portal, which provides information about cases filed in Wisconsin circuit courts. This resource includes information about criminal cases but may not include all arrest records if charges were not filed.
Requests to the Rusk County Sheriff's Office, located at 311 Miner Avenue East, Ladysmith, WI 54848. Telephone: 715-532-2200.
Requestors should be prepared to pay applicable fees for record searches and copies as authorized under Wis. Stat. § 19.35(3). The fee schedule is established by the custodian of records and is intended to reflect the actual, necessary, and direct costs of location, reproduction, and mailing of the requested records.
Contents of a Ladysmith Arrest Record
Arrest records maintained by law enforcement agencies in Ladysmith typically contain comprehensive information about the arrest event and the individual taken into custody. Standard components of these records include:
Biographical information of the arrested individual, including full legal name, known aliases, date of birth, physical description, and address of residence
Date, time, and specific location of the arrest
Statutory citations and descriptions of the alleged offenses
Identity of the arresting agency and officer(s)
Booking information, including fingerprints and photographs (mugshots)
Detention status, including bail or bond information if applicable
Case disposition information, if available
Prior arrest history, if relevant to the current case
It should be noted that pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 19.36(8), certain information may be withheld if disclosure would endanger public safety, compromise an ongoing investigation, or reveal the identity of a confidential informant. Additionally, information regarding juveniles is subject to stricter confidentiality requirements under Wis. Stat. § 938.396.
Expungement of Arrest Records in Ladysmith
Wisconsin law provides limited opportunities for the expungement of arrest records under specific circumstances. Pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 973.015, expungement may be available for certain offenses committed by individuals who were under the age of 25 at the time of the offense, provided the offense carried a maximum period of imprisonment of 6 years or less.
The expungement process in Ladysmith requires:
Filing a petition with the court that handled the original case
Demonstrating that the petitioner has satisfied all conditions of their sentence
Establishing that expungement will not present an unreasonable risk to public safety
Showing that the petitioner will benefit from expungement and society will not be harmed
The Rusk County Circuit Court, located at 311 Miner Avenue East, Ladysmith, WI 54848, processes expungement petitions for cases within its jurisdiction. Telephone: 715-532-2155.
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 the courts may still access expunged records for certain purposes. Additionally, expungement of records from state repositories does not guarantee removal from private databases that may have previously obtained the information.
The Wisconsin Department of Justice has established guidelines for the implementation of expungement orders, requiring notification to all agencies that may maintain copies of the records subject to expungement. This includes local law enforcement agencies, the Crime Information Bureau, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Wisconsin Public Records Law and Limitations
The Wisconsin Public Records Law establishes a presumption of complete public access to government records, including arrest records. However, this presumption is subject to certain statutory exceptions and common law limitations. Pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 19.35(1)(a), any requester has the right to inspect any record, except as otherwise provided by law.
Limitations on access to arrest records may include:
Records pertaining to ongoing investigations (Wis. Stat. § 19.36(2))
Information that would identify confidential informants (Wis. Stat. § 19.36(8))
Records related to juveniles (Wis. Stat. § 938.396)
Information that would endanger public safety if disclosed
Records where the public interest in nondisclosure outweighs the public interest in disclosure
The City of Ladysmith maintains policies regarding public records requests in accordance with state law. These policies establish procedures for requesting records, timeframes for agency responses, and fee schedules for record production.
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