Wisconsin Criminal Records

This guide explains how to find Wisconsin criminal records, arrest records, court records, inmate information, and the public sex offender registry, and how Wisconsin's background-check and record-clearing laws work. It was last reviewed in June 2026 using official Wisconsin sources, and it points you to the state and county agencies that hold each type of record. You can also start a name search using the tool on this page.

How do I look up a criminal record in Wisconsin?

There are two main official ways to look up a Wisconsin criminal record:

• Wisconsin Online Record Check System (WORCS). The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Crime Information Bureau (CIB) runs WORCS, the state's online criminal history database. Anyone can submit a name-based search as a "public access" guest for a fee of $10 per search (or $15 if submitted by mail). The result shows a subject's Wisconsin criminal history maintained by the DOJ. Note: a name-based search can return false matches - a fingerprint-based check is the only way to confirm a record truly belongs to a specific person.
• Court records through WCCA. The Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) system provides free online access to circuit court case records statewide. You can search by name or case number to find criminal case information from all 72 Wisconsin counties. Records are updated hourly.

An online people-search tool like the one on this page compiles public-record data from many sources into one report. These tools are for personal knowledge only and are not a substitute for an official DOJ check or an FCRA-compliant background check.

Are Wisconsin criminal records public?

Adult criminal conviction and court records are generally public under Wisconsin's Open Records Law (Wis. Stat. Chapter 19). The WCCA system makes circuit court records freely searchable online. However, the DOJ's statewide criminal history database - which aggregates records from all agencies - requires a paid name search through WORCS. Juvenile records are confidential by statute. Records can also be restricted or expunged in limited circumstances (see below).

Where can I look up arrest records in Wisconsin?

Arrest records in Wisconsin are kept by the arresting agency - a city police department, county sheriff, or the Wisconsin State Patrol. Many county sheriffs publish an online jail roster showing recent bookings. Remember that an arrest record is not the same as a criminal conviction: it shows a person was taken into custody, not that they were found guilty. Under the Wisconsin Fair Employment Act, employers generally cannot use arrest records alone (without a conviction) to make employment decisions unless the charge is pending and substantially relates to the job.

How do I find court records in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin has a centralized statewide court records system, which makes searching easier than in many states:

• WCCA (circuit courts). The Wisconsin Circuit Court Access system is the free public portal for all 72 Wisconsin circuit courts. Search by party name, case number, or attorney. It covers criminal, civil, family, small claims, probate, and traffic cases. Case information is uploaded hourly.
• Appellate courts. The Wisconsin Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Access (WSCCA) system covers appeals court and Supreme Court cases.
• In-person or by mail. To get certified copies of case documents, contact the Clerk of Circuit Court in the county where the case was filed. The court can provide paper copies for a fee.

How do I look up warrants in Wisconsin?

Warrants are issued by the courts but are typically executed by the county sheriff or local police. The WCCA case search will often show an open warrant status attached to a case. You can also contact the county sheriff's office or the Clerk of Circuit Court in the relevant county directly. Some county sheriffs publish warrant information on their websites. Active warrants may also appear on third-party background reports, but the court or county is the authoritative source.

Do arrests show up on background checks in Wisconsin?

For employment, tenant, and credit screening run through a consumer reporting agency, the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) applies. Under the FCRA, non-conviction arrest records more than seven years old generally cannot be reported. Wisconsin does not add a separate state-level cap shorter than the federal rule. However, the Wisconsin Fair Employment Act (Wis. Stat. § 111.31 et seq.) provides significant protections: employers may not discriminate against job applicants solely because of an arrest record, and may only use a pending charge if it substantially relates to the specific job. Conviction records can be reported, but similarly, employers must assess whether the conviction substantially relates to the job before disqualifying a candidate.

How far back does a criminal background check go in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin does not have a state law that limits how far back a background check can report criminal convictions - unlike states such as California that cap reporting at seven years. The federal FCRA controls: convictions can generally be reported indefinitely, while non-conviction arrest records older than seven years typically cannot be reported. Key points:

• Convictions with no expungement can be reported without a time limit under federal law.
• Arrests that did not lead to conviction are generally not reportable after seven years under the FCRA.
• Under the Wisconsin Fair Employment Act, employers must show that a conviction substantially relates to the job before denying employment.
• Wisconsin has no "ban the box" law at the state level (as of June 2026), though some municipalities, including Madison, have their own ordinances.

How do I find someone in jail or prison in Wisconsin?

It depends on where the person is held:

• State prison or community supervision. Use the Wisconsin Department of Corrections Offender Search to find a person serving a state sentence. The tool covers people in DOC custody and those on parole or extended supervision in the community.
• County jail. People awaiting trial or serving shorter sentences (under one year) are held in a county jail. Check the relevant county sheriff's online inmate roster or contact the jail directly.
• Federal custody. Use the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator for federally sentenced individuals.

How do I find out if someone is on probation or parole in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin uses the term "extended supervision" (similar to parole) for people released from state prison. Both extended supervision and probation are managed by the Wisconsin Department of Corrections Division of Community Corrections. A person's supervision status may appear in the DOC offender search. Probation is handled through local DOC offices and the sentencing court, so the court's records are also a useful source. Probation lets a person serve a sentence in the community under court-imposed conditions instead of being incarcerated.

What crimes are felonies in Wisconsin?

A felony in Wisconsin is any crime punishable by more than one year in state prison. Wisconsin classifies felonies into nine classes (A through I), with Class A being the most serious:

• Class A felony: life in prison (e.g., first-degree intentional homicide).
• Class B felony: up to 60 years in prison.
• Class C felony: up to 40 years and/or a fine up to $100,000.
• Class D felony: up to 25 years and/or a fine up to $100,000.
• Class E felony: up to 15 years and/or a fine up to $50,000.
• Class F felony: up to 12.5 years and/or a fine up to $25,000.
• Class G felony: up to 10 years and/or a fine up to $25,000.
• Class H felony: up to 6 years and/or a fine up to $10,000.
• Class I felony: up to 3.5 years and/or a fine up to $10,000.

These ranges are set by Wis. Stat. § 939.50. Actual sentences depend on the specific offense, prior history, and other factors.

What crimes are misdemeanors in Wisconsin?

Misdemeanors in Wisconsin are less serious than felonies and are punishable by county jail time rather than state prison. Wisconsin has three misdemeanor classes:

• Class A misdemeanor: up to 9 months in jail and/or a fine up to $10,000 (e.g., battery, theft under $2,500, OWI first offense).
• Class B misdemeanor: up to 90 days in jail and/or a fine up to $1,000.
• Class C misdemeanor: up to 30 days in jail and/or a fine up to $500.

These ranges are set by Wis. Stat. § 939.51. Some offenses are unclassified misdemeanors with specific penalties stated in the charging statute itself.

Are traffic violations crimes in Wisconsin?

Most routine traffic violations in Wisconsin are civil forfeiture offenses - they result in a fine only and are not classified as crimes. They do not carry jail time and generally do not appear on a criminal background check. More serious driving offenses are different: an OWI (Operating While Intoxicated) first offense is typically a civil forfeiture in Wisconsin, but a second OWI and above are criminal misdemeanors or felonies. Reckless driving and hit-and-run offenses are also classified as crimes.

Is the Wisconsin sex offender registry public?

Yes. Wisconsin's Sex Offender Registry, established by Wis. Stat. § 301.45 and operated by the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, is publicly searchable at no cost. You can search by name or geographic area at the official Wisconsin Sex Offender Registry (SORT) website. The registry shows an offender's name, photo, address, and conviction information. A toll-free automated phone line (1-800-398-2403) also provides 24-hour access to registry information.

Can someone be removed from the Wisconsin sex offender registry?

Wisconsin's registration periods are set by Wis. Stat. § 301.45(5). For most registrants, registration ends automatically - no court petition is required - once 15 years have passed from discharge from probation, supervision, parole, or extended supervision (or 15 years from release if the person served the full sentence without supervision). There is no 25-year tier in the statute.

Lifetime registration applies to registrants who fall into any of these categories under § 301.45(5)(b):

• Two or more convictions or acquittals for qualifying sex offenses;
• A conviction for a specific serious sexual offense enumerated in the statute (including first- and second-degree sexual assault of an adult or child, § 940.225; sexual assault of a child, §§ 948.02 and 948.025; and sexual assault of a child placed in substitute care, § 948.085);
• A finding that the person is a sexually violent person under Chapter 980; or
• A court order imposing lifetime compliance at sentencing.

A separate, narrow category of offenders subject to lifetime supervision under § 939.615 may petition the court of conviction to be relieved of registration. For everyone else, the 15-year period ends automatically by operation of the statute; the DOC Sex Offender Registry unit cannot remove someone from the registry early. Eligibility and timing are fact-specific, and an attorney can confirm where a particular registrant stands.

How do I expunge or seal my criminal record in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin's expungement law, Wis. Stat. § 973.015, is narrower than in many other states. The key requirements are:

• You must have been under age 25 at the time of the offense.
• The offense must have a maximum possible sentence of 6 years or less (this includes Class H and Class I felonies, and all misdemeanors).
• The judge must have ordered expungement at the time of sentencing - this is critical. Wisconsin courts generally cannot grant expungement after the fact if the judge did not include it in the original sentence.
• You must successfully complete your sentence (probation, fines, and all conditions) without a revocation or additional convictions.

Certain offenses - including Class A through G felonies and sex offenses - are not eligible. A proposed 2024 law that would have created automatic sealing for some misdemeanors did not pass as of June 2026. Consult the text of Wis. Stat. § 973.015 and consider speaking with an attorney about your specific case.

Do I need a lawyer to expunge my criminal record in Wisconsin?

You are not legally required to hire a lawyer, but it is highly advisable. Wisconsin's expungement rules are strict - if expungement was not ordered at sentencing, there is typically no way to obtain it later. An attorney can assess eligibility, ensure the petition and completion documents are filed correctly, and appear at any hearing. Many legal-aid organizations in Wisconsin offer free or low-cost help for eligible individuals.

How long does a felony stay on your record in Wisconsin?

A Wisconsin felony conviction stays on your record permanently unless expungement is granted under Wis. Stat. § 973.015. There is no automatic time-based deletion of a felony. The FCRA's seven-year rule limits what a background-check company may report for certain non-conviction records, but it does not erase the conviction itself. Class H and Class I felonies (up to 6 years) are the only felony classes eligible for expungement, and only when all other conditions are met (under age 25, ordered at sentencing, sentence completed).

Are juvenile criminal records private in Wisconsin?

Yes. Juvenile records in Wisconsin are confidential under Wis. Stat. § 938.78 and are generally not available to the public or to ordinary background checks. Law enforcement, the courts, and certain agencies can still access them. Under Wis. Stat. § 938.355(4m), a juvenile adjudication may be expunged after the juvenile turns 17 if the court finds the individual has satisfactorily completed the dispositional order and that expungement benefits the person without harming society. It is advisable to work with an attorney on juvenile record expungement.

Milwaukee County criminal records

Milwaukee County is Wisconsin's most populous county, home to roughly 950,000 residents and the state's largest city. Criminal cases in Milwaukee County are handled by the Milwaukee County Circuit Court. Case records are searchable for free through Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) by name or case number. To obtain certified copies of case documents, contact the Milwaukee County Clerk of Circuit Court at 901 N. 9th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53233 (phone: 414-278-5362); copies cost $1.25 per page. The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office also maintains booking and jail information for people in county custody.

Official Wisconsin criminal record sources

• Wisconsin DOJ WORCS - Online Record Check System - name-based criminal history search ($10 online); operated by the Wisconsin Department of Justice Crime Information Bureau.
• Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) - free statewide circuit court case search covering all 72 counties; includes criminal, civil, traffic, and family cases.
• Wisconsin Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Access (WSCCA) - searchable appellate court records.
• Wisconsin DOC Offender Information - find people in state prison or on community supervision (parole/extended supervision).
• Wisconsin Sex Offender Registry (SORT) - free public name and geographic search; operated by the Wisconsin Department of Corrections.
• Wis. Stat. § 973.015 - Expungement statute - the official text of Wisconsin's record-expungement law.
• Wis. Stat. § 111.335 - Employment discrimination based on arrest or conviction record - the Wisconsin Fair Employment Act provision that limits how employers may use arrest and conviction records in hiring decisions.

Disclosure: criminal.com may earn a commission when you use the people-search tool on this page, which is powered by a third-party background-check service. Results from such tools are for your personal knowledge only and may not be used to make decisions about employment, housing, credit, tenant screening, or any other purpose covered by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). An arrest record or mugshot is not proof of guilt. This page is general information about Wisconsin public records, not legal advice; for advice about your situation, consult an attorney. Information was last reviewed in June 2026 and laws may change.