An estimated 195,000 arrests take place annually across Wisconsin, with Washington County recording at least 4,200. The records of these arrests, unless subject to legal exemptions, are made available to the public for examination and reproduction under the Wisconsin Public Records Law (WPRL).
Furthermore, the law allows the custodian of arrest records to deny access when the interest in confidentiality outweighs the need for disclosure. Such instances include records involving juveniles or those that reveal the identities of victims or witnesses.
However, the subject of the record, designated court officials, law enforcement personnel, and the Washington County District Attorney may still access restricted records. The cost of obtaining an arrest record is typically based on reproduction expenses, ranging from $0.15 to $50.
Various entities, such as the County Sheriff, Police Departments, the Wisconsin Department of Justice, and local courthouses, are responsible for maintaining arrest records in Washington County.
Individuals seeking arrest records from the Washington County Sheriff's Office may obtain them in person during business hours, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Alternatively, requests may be submitted by mail to:
Washington County Sheriff's Office Attention: Records PO Box 1986 West Bend, WI 53095
To check record availability and confirm any fees, individuals may call 262-335-4378 before submitting a request. The Sheriff's Office typically processes requests within 10 business days.
Police arrest records in Washington County may be accessed by submitting a request in person at the arresting Police Department or by mailing a completed request form. Additionally, some Departments offer the option to submit record requests through an online web form.
Law enforcement in Washington County is managed by several Police Departments, including:
The Washington Department of Justice (DOJ) maintains the state's Criminal History Records Information, which includes details on arrests, charges, and final case dispositions.
Washington County residents may access adult criminal history records through the Wisconsin Online Records Check System (WORCS). Background checks may be conducted online with or without a user account.
Additionally, criminal background checks may be requested by mail. A DJ-LE-250 form is required for a single-name inquiry, while a DJ-LE-250A form is needed for multiple individuals. The completed form must be submitted along with a self-addressed, postage-paid envelope to:
Criminal Information Bureau Attn: Record Check Unit PO Box 2688 Madison, WI 53701-2688
The Washington County Circuit Court maintains arrest records for cases that led to formal charges. These records are included in criminal case files managed by the Clerk of the Circuit Court. Additionally, the public may access criminal case information through the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) portal.
Copies of criminal case documents are available for $1.25 per page at the Clerk's Office, located at:
Washington County Justice Center 484 Rolfs Avenue, Room 3151 West Bend, WI 53090
For faster access and convenience, third-party websites such as InfoTracer may also provide arrest record searches.
Approximately 4,209 arrests are reported in Washington County, based on the Wisconsin Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Arrest Data. The table below presents an analysis of the number of arrests recorded for various offenses:
| OFFENSE | NUMBER OF ARRESTS |
|---|---|
| Rape | 15 |
| Murder & Non-negligence Manslaughter | 0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 116 |
| Robbery | 13 |
| Burglary | 15 |
| Larceny | 628 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 29 |
Source: Wisconsin Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Arrest Data
It is situated in Washington county, Wisconsin with a total number of 167 employees - 3 female, 69 male officers and 95 civilians. Washington County SO ORI (Originated Agency Identifier) number is WI0670000, it belongs to the East North Central division in the Midwest region with a region code of Region II.
| Department | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Germantown Police Department | N112W16877 Mequon Rd | (262)253-7780 |
| Hartford Police Department | 109 N Main Street | (262) 673-2600 |
| Jackson Police Department | PO Box 637 N168W20733 Main St | (262)677-4949 |
| Kewaskum Police Department | 204 First St | (262) 626-2323 |
| Slinger Police Department | 300 Slinger Rd | (262)644-6441 |
| West Bend Police Department | 350 Vine St | 262-335-5000 |
| Name | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Washington County WI Juvenile Detention | 500 North Schmidt Road | 262-306-2247 |