Wisconsin has two primary tools for searching criminal history: WORCS (Wisconsin Online Record Check System) at recordcheck.doj.wi.gov for criminal history background checks, and CCAP (Wisconsin Circuit Court Access) at wcca.wicourts.gov for free public court case records. Wisconsin's expungement law under Wis. Stat. 973.015 is widely described as one of the most restrictive in the country. Three conditions must all be met at the time of sentencing: the offense was committed before age 25, the offense carries a maximum sentence of 6 years or less, and -- critically -- the judge must order expungement at the time of sentencing. If the judge does not order it at sentencing, the opportunity is permanently lost. Even when expungement is granted, it removes the case from CCAP but does not require the DOJ Crime Information Bureau, law enforcement, or prosecutors to destroy their records. Reform efforts, including a 2025 budget proposal, have repeatedly stalled. This guide covers the full system.
What Makes Wisconsin Arrest Records Public
Wisconsin's public records framework is governed by the Open Records Law at Wis. Stat. 19.31-19.39. Government records, including arrest records, are presumptively open to the public.
The Wisconsin Department of Justice Crime Information Bureau (CIB) manages the Centralized Criminal History (CCH) database, which is the state's central fingerprint-based repository for arrest, prosecution, court findings, sentences, and DOC records. Criminal history record information is available to the public through WORCS.
Exemptions from public access include juvenile records (generally confidential and not publicly displayed on CCAP), expunged records (removed from CCAP), active investigation materials, and specifically protected personal information.
What a Wisconsin Arrest Record Contains
An arrest record is a booking document. It reflects the facts of an arrest at the time of booking and carries no presumption of guilt.
A Wisconsin CCH criminal history record (accessible through WORCS) includes personal identifying information, arrest data for fingerprinted arrests, prosecution information, court findings and dispositions, sentence information, DNA registration data, and DOC admissions and release data.
The CCAP court case portal displays case-level information including charges filed, case status, and dispositions for circuit court cases. CCAP is publicly accessible online at no cost and is the most-used tool for Wisconsin case lookups.
Local law enforcement records at county sheriff offices and police departments include full booking information: name, DOB, date and time of arrest, location, arresting agency, charges, bail, court date, and booking photograph. Many counties publish online jail rosters or booking logs.
How to Search Wisconsin Arrest Records
WORCS (Wisconsin Online Record Check System) at recordcheck.doj.wi.gov is the primary public online tool for criminal history background checks. The public may access adult criminal history record information through WORCS for a fee. Select "Public Access" when logging in. Results include arrest and conviction data from the CCH database.
CIB contact information for mail or in-person requests: Wisconsin Department of Justice, Crime Information Bureau, P.O. Box 2688, Madison, WI 53701-2688. Phone: 608-266-7314.
CCAP (Wisconsin Circuit Court Access) at wcca.wicourts.gov provides free public access to circuit court case records. This is the most widely used free tool for Wisconsin court case lookups. Search by name, case number, or citation. Results include charges, case status, hearings, and dispositions. Expunged cases are removed from the CCAP public display; they no longer appear in public searches.
County sheriff offices maintain booking records for recent arrests. Wisconsin has 72 counties and each county sheriff manages the local jail. Most sheriff offices publish online jail rosters or booking logs.
For broader multi-source searches that aggregate public record data across Wisconsin's 72 counties and other jurisdictions, TruthFinder is a practical option.
VINELink at vinelink.com connects to the WDOC system and many county facilities and provides free real-time custody status and notification registration.
County Jail Records in Wisconsin
Wisconsin has 72 counties and each county sheriff manages the local jail. County jails hold people recently arrested, those awaiting trial, and individuals serving shorter sentences. Most county sheriff offices publish online jail rosters or booking logs.
When someone is convicted and sentenced to state prison, they enter the Wisconsin Department of Corrections (WDOC) system. WDOC provides a free online Offender Locator at doc.wi.gov. Search by name or DOC number to locate current and recent DOC-supervised individuals and get facility, offense, and supervision status.
Federal Arrests in Wisconsin
Federal arrests in Wisconsin are made by agencies including the FBI, the DEA, U.S. Marshals, the ATF, and Homeland Security Investigations. Wisconsin is home to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin (Milwaukee, Green Bay) and the Western District of Wisconsin (Madison).
The BOP Inmate Locator at bop.gov/inmateloc is the official free tool for locating anyone serving a federal sentence. Search by name or BOP register number. Federal court records are available through the PACER system at pacer.gov.
Federal arrests and convictions are not part of the CIB criminal history system.
Arrest Records Versus Conviction Records
An arrest record documents that law enforcement took someone into custody. A conviction record documents a court's finding of guilt. Wisconsin's CCH and WORCS system includes both arrest and conviction data. Dismissed charges and non-conviction outcomes appear in the CCH database and may appear in CCAP court records until the case is resolved.
Wisconsin does not have a Clean Slate automatic sealing mechanism for non-conviction records. Dismissed cases remain visible on CCAP and in the CCH system unless addressed through the limited expungement pathway.
Wisconsin Expungement Under Wis. Stat. 973.015
Wisconsin's expungement law is widely regarded as one of the most restrictive in the country. Under Wis. Stat. 973.015, all three of the following conditions must be met -- and the window to obtain expungement is largely limited to the sentencing proceeding itself.
Condition 1 -- Age at time of offense: The person must have committed the offense before turning 25 years old. Anyone who commits a crime at age 25 or older is permanently ineligible for expungement of that conviction, regardless of the nature of the offense or subsequent rehabilitation.
Condition 2 -- Maximum sentence length: The offense must carry a maximum period of imprisonment of 6 years or less. This covers all misdemeanors and Class H and Class I felonies. Class A through G felonies, which carry longer maximum sentences, are not eligible.
Condition 3 -- Court must order expungement at sentencing: This is the most critical and often most limiting requirement. The judge must order expungement at the time of sentencing -- not afterward. If the judge does not order it at sentencing, the opportunity is generally gone. Post-sentencing petitions are not available under current law (confirmed by the Wisconsin Supreme Court in State v. Arberry, 2018).
What expungement does in Wisconsin: When expungement is ordered at sentencing and the person successfully completes the sentence (no subsequent conviction, probation not revoked, conditions satisfied), the detaining or probationary authority issues a certificate of discharge that triggers the self-executing expungement process. The case is removed from CCAP and no longer appears in public searches.
What expungement does not do: Expungement under Wis. Stat. 973.015 does not require the CIB, the Department of Corrections, district attorney offices, or law enforcement agencies to destroy their records. Employers conducting background checks through the CIB may still discover an expunged conviction through those channels. Courts may also consider the facts underlying an expunged conviction when sentencing in a future case (State v. Leitner, 2002).
Certain additional categories of expungement exist for specific circumstances: juvenile adjudications under Wis. Stat. 938.355, trafficking victims seeking expungement of prostitution convictions, and first-time invasion of privacy violations.
Wisconsin's expungement reform efforts have stalled repeatedly. Governor Evers included expungement reform in his 2025 executive budget proposal, but the Legislature stripped it from the final deal.
InmateAid's guides on expungement cover Wisconsin's framework in more detail. Mugshot removal from third-party sites is addressed in InmateAid's resources on that topic.
Frequently asked questions
Are Wisconsin arrest records public?
Yes, under the Wisconsin Open Records Law (Wis. Stat. 19.31-19.39). Arrest records are presumptively public. The CIB manages the central CCH database and the public may access adult criminal history information through WORCS. Expunged cases are removed from CCAP. Juvenile records are generally confidential and not publicly displayed.
How do I search Wisconsin arrest records?
WORCS at recordcheck.doj.wi.gov provides public criminal history background checks for a fee. Contact CIB by mail at P.O. Box 2688, Madison, WI 53701-2688, phone 608-266-7314. For free court case records, use Wisconsin CCAP at wcca.wicourts.gov. For recent arrests, check the relevant county sheriff's jail roster. For multi-source results, TruthFinder aggregates public record data. For custody notifications, VINELink at vinelink.com is free. For WDOC state inmates, search at doc.wi.gov.
What does a Wisconsin arrest record contain?
The CCH database (accessible through WORCS) includes personal identifying information, arrest data, prosecution information, court findings and dispositions, sentence data, DNA registration, and DOC records. CCAP shows case-level charges, case status, and dispositions. Local law enforcement records include name, DOB, arrest date/time/location, charges, bail, and court date.
Is an arrest the same as a conviction in Wisconsin?
No. An arrest documents that someone was taken into custody. A conviction reflects a court's finding of guilt. Wisconsin's CCH and CCAP include both arrest and conviction data. Dismissed charges remain visible in CCH and CCAP. Wisconsin does not have automatic sealing for non-conviction records -- dismissed cases stay in the system absent the narrow expungement pathway.
How do I find someone in a Wisconsin county jail?
Check the county sheriff's website where the arrest occurred. Wisconsin's 72 counties each operate county jails and most publish online jail rosters or booking logs. VINELink at vinelink.com connects to many Wisconsin facilities and provides free notification registration. For someone in state prison or under DOC supervision, use the WDOC Offender Locator at doc.wi.gov.
Can I search federal arrest records in Wisconsin?
Federal court records are available through PACER at pacer.gov. For someone serving a federal sentence, the BOP Inmate Locator at bop.gov/inmateloc is the free official tool. Federal arrests and convictions are not part of the CIB criminal history system.
How long does an arrest stay on record in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin arrest and conviction records remain in the CCH database and CCAP indefinitely unless expunged. Expungement removes the case from CCAP but does not require the CIB or law enforcement to destroy their records. Cases where the judge did not order expungement at sentencing cannot generally be expunged post-sentencing under current law.
Who qualifies for expungement in Wisconsin?
Under Wis. Stat. 973.015, all three conditions must be met: (1) the offense was committed before age 25; (2) the offense carries a maximum sentence of 6 years or less (misdemeanors and Class H/I felonies); and (3) the judge ordered expungement at the time of sentencing. If the judge did not order it at sentencing, the opportunity is generally lost permanently. Violent offenses, Class H and I felonies involving prior felony convictions, and sexual/stalking/child abuse offenses are not eligible even if the other criteria are met.
Does Wisconsin expungement clear all records?
No. Wisconsin expungement under Wis. Stat. 973.015 removes the case from CCAP (the public court case portal) so it no longer appears in public searches. However, it does not require the DOJ Crime Information Bureau, law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, or DOC to destroy their records. Employers running background checks through the CIB may still discover an expunged conviction. Courts may also consider the underlying facts of an expunged conviction in future sentencing proceedings.
Why does my record show an arrest but no conviction?
Wisconsin's CCAP displays circuit court case records including dismissed cases. Dismissed charges remain on CCAP and in the CCH database without a separate sealing mechanism. Wisconsin does not have a Clean Slate law or automatic removal of non-conviction records. The only pathway to CCAP removal is through the narrow expungement provision under Wis. Stat. 973.015, which requires the offense to have been committed before age 25 and the judge to have ordered expungement at sentencing. ---
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