Columbia County, WI Arrests & Jail Records
Table of Contents
How To Search Columbia County Arrest Records
Columbia County law enforcement agencies record approximately 2,000 arrests out of Wisconsin's over 190,000 arrests annually. Arrest records are available to the public upon request under the Wisconsin Public Records Law. The cost for obtaining arrest records in the County ranges from $0.25 to $15, depending on the agency.
Certain records, such as sealed, juvenile, and medical records, are exempt from public disclosure due to security and privacy reasons. Authorized entities can access restricted records, including the individual named in the records, law enforcement agencies, courts, and the County District Attorney's Office.
How To Look Up Columbia County Arrest Records
The County's arrest records are maintained by various agencies, including local Police Departments, the County Sheriff's Office, and the Wisconsin Department of Justice.
Sheriff Arrest Records
Arrest records can be obtained from the Columbia County Sheriff's Office. Requesters seeking copies of arrest records must first download and complete the Sheriff's Office Records Request Form. Once completed, the form can be submitted by mail, fax, or in person at the Sheriff's Office at:
The County Sheriff's Office
Law Enforcement Center
711 East Cook Street
Portage, WI 53901
Phone: (608) 742-4166
Fax: (608) 742-0598
Certain details are required before obtaining arrest records, such as the arrestee's name, location of the arrest, and date of the arrest. Copies of arrest records cost $0.25 per page. And requests may take up to 10 days for processing. Requesters can also view details of persons booked into the County Jail through the Jail Booking portal provided by the Sheriff's Office.
Police Arrest Records
The local Police Departments responsible for making arrests can provide access to the arrest records. Since most departments have online options on their official portals, it is possible to seek arrest records remotely. For a cost, copies of arrest records can be obtained by visiting the Police Department in person or by mailing written requests. The County's principal Police Departments are as follows:
Wisconsin Department of Justice
Criminal records for Columbia County are available through the Wisconsin Department of Justice (WDOJ). The WDOJ's portal offers an online form for requesting criminal records. Copies of these records may be obtained by requesters by sending written requests to:
Office of Open Government
Wisconsin Department of Justice
P.O. Box 7857
Madison, WI 53707-785
Additionally, the Wisconsin Department of Justice provides public access to criminal history records through the Wisconsin Online Record Check System (WORCS). Record seekers can contact the Office of Open Government by phone at (608) 267-2220 for more information about obtaining the County's criminal records.
Criminal Court Records
The County's criminal court records, containing arrest records, may be obtained from the Columbia County Circuit Court. The Office of the Columbia County Clerk of Courts maintains these records and provides access to them. Requesters can obtain copies by mail or in person during business hours at:
The County Clerk of Circuit Court's Office
400 DeWitt Street
Portage, WI 53901
Phone: (608) 742-2191
Fax: (608) 742-9601
In addition, the County's criminal court records can be searched through the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) by the defendant's name or case number. Alternatively, reliable third-party websites such as InfoTracer offer faster access to the County's arrest records.
Arrest Statistics
Columbia County's arrest rate is 3,530.6 per 100,000 people. Below is a breakdown of the County's arrest statistics:
| Arrest Type | Number of Arrests |
|---|---|
| Murder and Non-negligent Manslaughter | 1 |
| Sexual Assault | 16 |
| Robbery | 3 |
| Assault | 68 |
| Burglary | 8 |
| Larceny Theft | 24 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 15 |
| Fraud | 8 |
| Total Number of Arrests | 2,065 |
Source: Wisconsin Department of Justice.
Columbia County Sheriff’s Office
It is situated in Columbia county, Wisconsin with a total number of 109 employees - 3 female, 38 male officers and 68 civilians. Columbia County SO ORI (Originated Agency Identifier) number is WI0110000, it belongs to the East North Central division in the Midwest region with a region code of Region II.
- Agency Name: Columbia County Sheriff's Office
- State: Wisconsin
- City: Portage
- Type: County
- Address: 711 E Cook St
- Phone Number: 608-742-4166
- Email: wayne.smith@co.columbia.wi.us
- Website: http://www.co.columbia.wi.us/columbiacounty/sheriff/SheriffsOfficeHome/tabid/551/Default.aspx
Police Departments in Columbia County
| Department | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Columbus Police Department | 159 S Ludington St | (920)623-5919 |
| Fall River Police Department | 641 S Main St PO Box 37 | (920)484-3707 |
| Lodi Police Department | 113 S Main St | (608)592-5401 |
| Portage Police Department | 117 W Pleasant St | (608)742-2171 |
| Poynette Police Department | 106 S Main St | (608)635-2588 |
| Rio Police Department | 207 Lincoln Ave | (920)992-5454 |
Columbia County Jail
- Agency Name: Columbia County WI Jail & Huber Center
- State: WI
- City: Portage
- Type: County
- Address: 403 Jackson Street
- Phone Number: 608-742-6476
- Fax: 608-745-4809
- Email: human.resource@co.columbia.wi.us
- Website: http://www.co.columbia.wi.us/columbiacounty/sheriff/Divisons/CountyJail/tabid/578/Default.aspx
Prisons and Jails in Columbia County
| Name | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia Correctional Institution | 2925 Columbia Drive | 608-742-9100 |
| Columbia County WI Juvenile Detention | 626 East Slifer Street, Po Box 564 | 608-745-5494 |