Wisconsin Inmate Search

Inmate searches in Wisconsin are essential for locating persons within the state's correctional system. Wisconsin State Prison is home to 22,981 inmates. Similarly, the county jails accommodate 10,799 incarcerated individuals across the state. With over 3,200 of its population inmates locked up. Oshkosh Correctional Institution has the highest number of persons locked up in its facility, with 2,073 inmates. Similarly, Stanley and Racine correctional facilities, ranking close, have inmate populations of 1,811 and 1,388, respectively.

Conducting inmate searches benefits individuals, family members, and legal counsel seeking information about incarcerated persons. The inmate search tool offers insight into an inmate's status, including their status, charges, and release date. This ensures transparency in the criminal justice system. Likewise, attorneys and legal professionals can track case progress. Family members can stay informed about the location and condition of their loved ones, after an inmate search in Wisconsin.

What is Wisconsin Inmate Lookup?

Wisconsin inmate lookup is a process that allows individuals to look up inmate information through official databases and online resources. The Wisconsin Department of Correct makes available the Inmate and Offender Search tool to look up information on incarcerated persons. Furthermore, interested persons may also conduct an inmate search using VINELink.

The inmate lookup process ensures users get accurate information on the inmate's current status, facility location, and legal standing. It ensures that the correctional process is open and fair. Families and friends also benefit when they utilize the lookup tool as they stay connected and informed about their incarcerated loved ones.

What Information Can You Find in a Wisconsin Inmate Search?

When you conduct an inmate search in Wisconsin, several pieces of information become available. Inmate record searches provide details such as:

• Inmate's full name, date of birth, and other personal identifiers
• Facility information
• The charges and convictions
• The custody status
• Inmate's ID number

How Are Inmate Records in Wisconsin Created and Stored?

Wisconsin inmate records are created by different types of law enforcement from federal agents to local police. The process begins when someone is arrested. The arresting officer fills out a RAP sheet to enter the suspect into the system. This form includes the offender's name, address, phone number, mugshots, and details of his or her crime. Then they are held in jail until a hearing. After that, if they are sentenced to prison or attend any court proceedings, everything is entered in the file.

The Wisconsin Department of Corrections is the government agency in charge of keeping, storing, and maintaining inmate records. They keep them online in a database and searchable so that the public can perform an inmate lookup of incarcerated persons at any time of day or night.

What Does Wisconsin's Prison System Look Like?

The Wisconsin prison system consists of various correctional facilities designed to house and rehabilitate offenders at various levels. The state prisons, managed by the DOC, manage correctional facilities, rehabilitate offenders, and maintain public safety. It operates by trying to balance punishment with rehabilitation to avoid reoffense after inmate release.

Over 7,205 employees are working across Wisconsin's 36 state-run prisons as of June 2024. Wisconsin prisons have an average daily population of 22,981 inmates, with up to 690 inmates released from incarceration monthly. Likewise Up to 634 individuals are admitted into the state prisons system monthly.

The 22 correctional facilities are categorized into minimum, medium, and maximum security levels -6 minimum, 10 medium, and 6 maximum institutions. The minimum security facilities accommodate non-violent offenders with shorter sentences who pose little risk to society. Medium security level correctional institutions have more security measures than minimum security and accommodate persons with a history of violence. Maximum security facilities are designed with the highest level of security with strict controls for dangerous offenders with a history of escape or violence.

The DOC maintains prison records of all facilities under its control. These records are publicly available. You may access Wisconsin prison records online by contacting the DOC or using VINELink. You may also contact the specific correctional facility to access Wisconsin prison records.

Types of Correctional Facilities in Wisconsin

Wisconsin has only a few limited types of prisons and correctional facilities. They do have a good number of state prisons managed and overseen by the State of Wisconsin Department of Corrections and Secretary, Jared Hoy. State prisons hold felons guilty of breaking state laws. Then the federal government has one federal prison in Wisconsin, and that is managed by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. The state has five juvenile detention centers that house youth offenders up to 18 years old. Wisconsin has various local county jails holding pretrial detainees and recently arrested individuals. These jails are managed by local law enforcement.

Wisconsin State Prisons

The state of Wisconsin has twenty-two state prisons. Each one has a different focus. Some are geared towards treatment, and others secure confinement. Three of them are for women prisoners only. Each has units with differing levels of custody. All state-run facilities are managed and overseen by the State of Wisconsin Department of Corrections. The list of state prisons in Wisconsin includes:

• Chippewa Valley Correctional Treatment Facility.
• Columbia Correctional Institution.
• Dodge Correctional Institution.
• Fox Lake Correctional Institution.
• Green Bay Correctional Institution.
• Jackson Correctional Institution.
• Kettle Moraine Correctional Institution.
• Milwaukee Secure Detention Facility.
• New Lisbon Correctional Institution.
• Oakhill Correctional Institution.
• Oshkosh Correctional Institution.
• Prairie du Chien Correctional Institution.
• Racine Correctional Institution.
• Racine Youthful Offender Correctional Facility.
• Redgranite Correctional Institution.
• Stanley Correctional Institution.
• Sturtevant Transitional Facility.
• Waupun Correctional Institution.
• Wisconsin Secure Program Facility.
• Taycheedah Correctional Institution.
• Milwaukee Women's Correctional Center.
• Robert E. Ellsworth Correctional Center.

Wisconsin County Jails

The state of Wisconsin has 72 counties with 71 of them having county jails. Many of them have local jails managed by police or Sheriff's Offices. These county jails are where suspects are taken and held until his or her hearing or trial. In some cases, they hold inmates who have been sentenced to short stays in jail instead of prison. Most often jails hold pretrial detainees.

The police department or sheriff's office is responsible for managing the jail records. Wisconsin jail records are publicly available. Some police departments and sheriff's offices provide online tools to conduct jail inmate searches while others permit mail or in-person requests of jail records.

Wisconsin Juvenile Detention Centers

Wisconsin has five juvenile detention centers that house its youth offenders. All of these facilities are run by the State of Wisconsin Department of Corrections and the Division of Juvenile Corrections. Their mission states: "The mission of DJC is to promote a juvenile justice system that balances protection of the community, youth accountability, and competency building for responsible and productive community living". The list of juvenile detention centers in Wisconsin includes:

• Copper Lake School.
• Lincoln Hills School.
• Grow Academy.
• Northwest Regional Offices.
• Southeast Regional Office.

Wisconsin Community Correctional Facilities

Community correction facilities in Wisconsin are designed to help individuals transition from incarceration back into society. They provide supervision and support to persons on probation, parole, or extended supervision, with the sole aim of helping them reintegrate successfully into society while ensuring public safety.

The Division of Community Corrections (DCC) under the Wisconsin Department of Corrections oversees community correction facilities. They are more structured and less restrictive than traditional prisons and offer rehabilitation programs, employment and education support, and housing assistance.

Wisconsin has 14 community correctional facilities located across the state. These facilities serve different populations and provide specialized programs based on inmates' needs. Community correction centers in Wisconsin include

• Black River Correctional Center.
• Drug Abuse Correctional Center.
• Felmers O. Chaney Correctional Center.
• Flambeau Correctional Center.
• Gordon Correctional Center.
• John C. Burke Correctional Center.
• Kenosha Correctional Center.
• Marshall E. Sherrer Correctional Center.
• McNaughton Correctional Center.
• Oregon Correctional Center.
• Sanger B. Powers Correctional Center.
• St. Croix Correctional Center.
• Thompson Correctional Center.
• Winnebago Correctional Center.

Why are People Incarcerated in Wisconsin?

In Wisconsin, people are incarcerated for several reasons. Generally, these reasons usually fall under two types of offenses -violent and nonviolent crimes. Violent crimes involve the threat to harm another or causing harm to an individual. Violent offenses make up 66% of persons incarcerated in the state. The common violent crime reported in Wisconsin, includes robbery, aggravated assault, domestic violence, homicide, rape, manslaughter, and hate crimes.

Nonviolent crimes are offenses that do not cause physical harm to others but still have legal and monetary implications. Common nonviolent crimes in Wisconsin include white-collar crimes such as embezzlement, money laundering, tax evasion, and bribery. Other nonviolent crimes include shoplifting, driving under the influence of a controlled substance, and drug possession and distribution.

Wisconsin emphasizes rehabilitating nonviolent offenders by offering programs aimed at reducing the tendency for individuals to recommit the same crime -recidivism. The Wisconsin DOC provides programs such as substance abuse treatment, educational and vocational training, and mental health support. However, for persons convicted of violent crimes, incarceration remains necessary to protect public safety. Wisconsin DOC still offers rehabilitation programs to incarcerated individuals.

Families and members of the public can access information about incarcerated individuals in the state through the Wisconsin inmate search tool provided by the DOC. The inmate search tool provides information on inmates current location, charges, sentencing, and expected release dates.

Wisconsin's Incarceration Rate and Statistics

Over the last seven years, Wisconsin's incarceration rate has been on a steady decline. 2016 saw Wisconsin's incarceration rate at an all-time high of 406 incarcerations per 100,000 residents. Wisconsin's efforts to reduce the prison population through alternative sentencing and rehabilitation paid off. Therefore, as of December 2022, Wisconsin had an all-time low incarceration rate of 311 inmates per 100,000 people.

The table below shows Wisconsin's incarceration rate and total number of incarcerated individuals over a 7-year period.

Life After Incarceration in Wisconsin

Formerly incarcerated individuals face numerous challenges when re-integrating into society, from the inability to secure housing, jobs, or even access to health care. These challenges stem from the negative perceptions of employers, landlords, and the community.

Wisconsin DOC has developed the Reentry Programs and Initiatives to support former inmates to prevent reoffending. For instance, the Windows to Work Program provides job training, financial literacy, and soft skills development to ex-inmates. Likewise, Opening Avenues to Reentry Success (OARS) provides mental health support and case management for high-risk individuals. Similarly, the Technical Assistance and Treatment Alternative program offers diversion programs focusing on substance abuse treatment for persons exiting Wisconsin prisons. However, despite the state's best efforts, it ranks 19th in recidivism rate, with at least 38% of released inmates returning to prison.

How Does Parole Work in Wisconsin?

Parole is a supervisory program in Wisconsin that works when the parole board feels that an inmate has served enough time and no longer poses a threat to society. They are released early but with specific stipulations like regular check-ins with a parole officer and other items. If the inmate violates any of the terms of his or her parole, they will be returned to prison. The state had 22,510 inmates under parole as of December 2022.

Wisconsin Parole Population in 2022

How Does Someone Get Probation in Wisconsin?

Sometimes a judge in Wisconsin will order probation instead of a prison sentence upon conviction. This happens most often with low-risk and first-time offenders. Probation is also a supervisory program, and the probationer must follow strict rules. If they fail to check in with their probation officer or violate any of the other court-ordered rules, they will go to prison. As of December 2022, there were 39,750 inmates on probation in Wisconsin.

Wisconsin Probation Population in 2022