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Waupaca Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Waupaca, Wisconsin?

Arrest records are public in Waupaca, Wisconsin, pursuant to Wisconsin Public Records Law (Wis. Stat. §§ 19.31-19.39). This legislation establishes that records produced or maintained by government entities shall be accessible to the public unless specifically exempted by statute. The law operates under the principle that providing citizens with complete information regarding the affairs of government is essential to the functioning of a democratic society.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has consistently upheld that public records laws "shall be construed in every instance with a presumption of complete public access, consistent with the conduct of governmental business" (Wis. Stat. § 19.31). Law enforcement agencies in Waupaca County, including the Waupaca Police Department and the Waupaca County Sheriff's Department, maintain arrest records that are subject to this presumption of accessibility.

Members of the public should note that while arrest records are generally public, certain information may be redacted to protect ongoing investigations, confidential informants, or juvenile records as specified under Wis. Stat. § 938.396. Additionally, records related to victims of sensitive crimes may have restricted access in accordance with victims' rights provisions under Wisconsin law.

How to Look Up Waupaca Arrest Records in 2025

The Waupaca County Sheriff's Department and other local law enforcement agencies provide multiple methods for accessing arrest records. Individuals seeking such information may utilize the following official channels:

Visit the Waupaca County Sheriff's Department Records Division in person to request arrest records. The division maintains official documentation of arrests within county jurisdiction.
Submit a written request for records to the appropriate law enforcement agency. Pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 19.35(1), requests need not be made in person and may be fulfilled through mail or electronic means.
Access the Waupaca County Clerk of Courts for court records related to arrests that have proceeded to formal charges.
Utilize public access terminals available at the Waupaca County Courthouse for searching court records related to arrests.
Contact the Waupaca Police Department directly for arrests occurring within city limits.

Waupaca County Sheriff's Department
1402 E. Royalton Street
Waupaca, WI 54981
Phone: (715) 258-4466
Official Website

Waupaca Police Department
124 S. Washington Street
Waupaca, WI 54981
Phone: (715) 258-4400
Official Website

Requestors should be prepared to provide specific information to facilitate record searches, including the full name of the individual, approximate date of arrest, and any other identifying information. Agencies may charge reasonable fees for searching, copying, and certifying records in accordance with Wis. Stat. § 19.35(3).

Contents of a Waupaca Arrest Record

Arrest records maintained by Waupaca County law enforcement agencies typically contain comprehensive information about the arrest event and the individual taken into custody. Standard arrest records include the following elements as mandated by Wisconsin Administrative Code:

Full legal name of the arrested individual and any known aliases or alternative identities
Demographic information including date of birth, gender, race, and physical descriptors
Date, time, and specific location of the arrest
Statutory citations for alleged violations of Wisconsin state law or local ordinances
Narrative description of the circumstances leading to the arrest
Identity of the arresting officer(s) and their badge numbers
Booking information including fingerprints and mugshot photographs
Property inventory of items in possession of the arrested individual at time of booking
Detention status information, including bail determinations and court appearance dates
Prior arrest history within the jurisdiction, if applicable

The Waupaca County Sheriff's Corrections Division maintains booking records as part of their statutory responsibilities. These records become part of the individual's criminal history file and are subject to retention schedules established by the Wisconsin Public Records Board.

Certain sensitive information may be redacted from public arrest records, including Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, and information related to confidential informants or ongoing investigations. Juvenile arrest records are subject to different confidentiality standards under Wis. Stat. § 938.396 and may not be publicly accessible.

Expungement of Arrest Records in Waupaca

Wisconsin law provides limited pathways for the expungement of arrest records in Waupaca County. Pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 973.015, expungement is available under specific circumstances:

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 offense
The maximum period of imprisonment for the offense must not exceed 6 years
The court must determine at sentencing that expungement would benefit the person and not harm society
The individual must successfully complete their sentence

The expungement process requires filing a petition with the Waupaca County Circuit Court. The petition must include:

Case number and offense information
Date of conviction and sentence imposed
Documentation showing successful completion of sentence
Statement explaining why expungement would benefit the petitioner and not harm society

If the court ordered expungement at the time of sentencing, the record will be automatically expunged upon successful completion of the sentence. If expungement was not ordered at sentencing, individuals have limited options for seeking expungement retroactively.

Individuals with arrest records that did not result in charges or convictions may petition for removal of these records from the Crime Information Bureau database maintained by the Wisconsin Department of Justice. This process is separate from court-ordered expungement and is governed by different administrative procedures.

The Northern Waupaca County Joint Municipal Court handles certain ordinance violations that may be subject to different expungement provisions than those processed through the circuit court system.

Legal Implications of Arrest Records in Waupaca

Arrest records in Waupaca County carry significant legal implications for affected individuals. These records, maintained pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 165.83, create a permanent documentation of law enforcement interactions that may impact various aspects of a person's life:

Employment opportunities may be affected as Wisconsin employers are permitted to consider arrest and conviction records in hiring decisions, subject to limitations under the Wisconsin Fair Employment Act (Wis. Stat. § 111.31-111.395)
Professional licensing boards may review arrest records when evaluating applications for licenses in fields such as healthcare, education, and financial services
Housing applications may be subject to background checks that reveal arrest records, potentially affecting housing opportunities
Educational institutions may consider criminal history in admissions decisions for certain programs
Immigration status can be significantly impacted by arrest records, potentially affecting visa renewals, naturalization applications, or triggering removal proceedings

The Waupaca County Clerk of Courts maintains court records related to arrests that proceed to formal charges. These records become part of the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) system, commonly known as CCAP, which provides public online access to court records.

Individuals with arrest records should be aware that Wisconsin's arrest record disclosure laws differ from those in some other states. Under Wisconsin law, arrests that did not lead to convictions remain publicly accessible unless specifically expunged or sealed by court order. This contrasts with states that automatically restrict access to non-conviction records after a certain period.

The Wisconsin State Law Library provides resources for understanding the legal implications of arrest records and navigating the criminal justice system in Waupaca County.