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New Richmond Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in New Richmond, Wisconsin?

Yes, arrest records are public in New Richmond, Wisconsin. This accessibility is governed by the Wisconsin Public Records Law (Wis. Stat. §§ 19.31-19.39), which mandates the disclosure of government documents to the public. The law operates under the presumption that all government records are accessible to the public unless specifically exempted by statute. This framework ensures transparency in governmental operations, allowing citizens to stay informed about the activities of public officials, including law enforcement agencies. The Wisconsin Supreme Court has consistently upheld the public's right to access these records, emphasizing that open government is essential to a functioning democracy.

Pursuant to Wisconsin Statute § 19.35(1)(a), "any requester has a right to inspect any record." This includes arrest records maintained by the New Richmond Police Department and other law enforcement agencies within St. Croix County. While certain information may be redacted to protect ongoing investigations or personal privacy in specific circumstances, the general rule favors disclosure.

How to Look Up New Richmond Arrest Records in 2025

To obtain information on arrest records in New Richmond, several methods are available to members of the public. While specific procedures may vary depending on the nature of the request, generally, individuals can access these records through the following means:

Visiting the New Richmond Police Department: Citizens may request arrest records directly from the New Richmond Police Department by submitting a public records request either in writing or in person.

New Richmond Police Department
1443 Campus Drive
New Richmond, WI 54017
(715) 246-6667
Official Website

St. Croix County Sheriff's Office: For arrests made by county deputies or for individuals held in the county jail, records may be accessed through the Sheriff's Office.

St. Croix County Sheriff's Office
1101 Carmichael Road
Hudson, WI 54016
(715) 381-4320
Official Website

St. Croix County Clerk of Courts: Court records related to arrests, including charging documents and case dispositions, are available through the Clerk of Courts office.

St. Croix County Clerk of Courts
1101 Carmichael Road
Hudson, WI 54016
(715) 386-4630
Official Website

Online Access: The St. Croix County Sheriff's Office maintains an online inmate roster that provides information about current inmates and recent arrests. Additionally, court records may be searched through the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) system, commonly known as CCAP.

Requesters should note that pursuant to the New Richmond Police Department's Public Records Access Policy, certain fees may apply for record searches, copies, and other services. These fees are established in accordance with Wis. Stat. § 19.35(3).

Contents of a New Richmond Arrest Record

A New Richmond arrest record typically contains comprehensive information about the arrest event and the individual taken into custody. These records serve as official documentation of law enforcement actions and typically include the following elements:

Full legal name of the arrested individual and any known aliases
Date of birth and demographic information
Date, time, and specific location of the arrest
Detailed narrative of the alleged offense and circumstances leading to arrest
Identity of the arresting agency and officer(s)
Booking information, including photographs (mugshots) and fingerprint records
Specific charges filed, with reference to applicable Wisconsin statutes or local ordinances
Bail or bond information, including amount set and conditions of release
Case number and court assignment information
Prior arrest history, if applicable and relevant to the current case

It should be noted that pursuant to Wisconsin's public records law, certain sensitive information may be redacted from publicly available arrest records. This includes information related to ongoing investigations, confidential informants, juvenile records (unless specified exceptions apply under Wis. Stat. § 938.396), and certain personal identifiers such as social security numbers.

Legal Framework for Public Access to Arrest Records

Wisconsin's commitment to government transparency is codified in Wis. Stat. § 19.31, which states that the public records law "shall be construed in every instance with a presumption of complete public access, consistent with the conduct of governmental business." This presumption extends to arrest records maintained by the New Richmond Police Department and other law enforcement agencies.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice has issued guidance stating that arrest records are generally subject to disclosure under the public records law. However, custodians of these records must balance the public interest in disclosure against potential harm that might result from release in specific cases. This balancing test, established by the Wisconsin Supreme Court in Woznicki v. Erickson, 202 Wis. 2d 178 (1996), guides officials in determining when limited redactions may be appropriate.

Local ordinances in New Richmond align with state law regarding public access to government records. The City of New Richmond has established procedures for requesting public records through the City Clerk's office and specific departments, including the police department.

Restrictions on Access to Certain Arrest Information

While the presumption favors disclosure, certain categories of arrest information may be subject to restricted access under Wisconsin law. These restrictions serve to protect legitimate privacy interests, ongoing investigations, and other compelling public interests. Restricted information may include:

Records related to juveniles, except as specifically permitted under Wis. Stat. § 938.396
Information that would compromise an ongoing investigation if released
Details that would reveal the identity of confidential informants
Information where the harm to reputation or privacy outweighs the public interest in disclosure, as determined by the balancing test
Records sealed by court order or expunged pursuant to statutory authority
Information specifically exempted by federal law, such as certain health information protected under HIPAA

The New Richmond Police Department and St. Croix County law enforcement agencies are required to review requests for arrest records on a case-by-case basis to determine if any statutory or common law exceptions apply. When portions of a record are exempt from disclosure, the remaining portions must still be released with appropriate redactions.

Expungement of Arrest Records in New Richmond

In New Richmond and throughout Wisconsin, individuals may have the option to expunge their arrest records under certain conditions as provided by Wis. Stat. § 973.015. Expungement removes an arrest from a person's public criminal history, effectively sealing it from public view. The Wisconsin expungement statute is primarily focused on providing relief to younger offenders who have committed less serious offenses.

Eligibility for expungement in Wisconsin typically requires:

The offense must be a misdemeanor or a non-violent Class H or I felony
The offender must have been under the age of 25 at the time 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 offender and not harm society
The offender must have successfully completed their sentence

The expungement process requires filing a petition with the court that handled the original case. It should be noted that under current Wisconsin law, expungement must be ordered at the time of sentencing rather than after sentence completion, which differs from many other states. However, legislative proposals to modify this requirement have been introduced in recent sessions of the Wisconsin Legislature.

Even when records are expunged from public access, they may still be available to law enforcement agencies and may be considered in subsequent criminal proceedings. Additionally, expungement under Wisconsin law does not automatically remove records from all databases, particularly those maintained by private companies.