Chippewa County Criminal Records
What Is Chippewa County Criminal Records
Criminal records in Chippewa County are official government documents that chronicle an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system, from initial law enforcement contact through final court disposition. These records are maintained by multiple agencies across the county and state, each responsible for a distinct segment of the criminal justice process.
Under Wis. Stat. § 19.32, criminal history record information is broadly defined to include data identifying individuals who have been arrested, cited, indicted, or subject to criminal proceedings, along with the outcomes of those proceedings.
Key distinctions within Chippewa County criminal records include:
- Arrest vs. Conviction Records: An arrest record documents law enforcement contact and booking, while a conviction record reflects a formal finding of guilt by a court. An arrest does not constitute a conviction.
- Felony vs. Misdemeanor: Felonies are serious offenses carrying potential imprisonment of more than one year; misdemeanors carry lesser penalties. Both categories appear in county criminal records.
- Adult vs. Juvenile Records: Adult criminal records are generally accessible to the public. Juvenile records are routinely sealed under Wisconsin law and are not available for public inspection except under specific statutory exceptions.
- Active Warrants vs. Historical Records: Active warrants reflect current outstanding orders for arrest, while historical records document past charges, proceedings, and dispositions.
The principal agencies maintaining Chippewa County criminal records include:
- Chippewa County Sheriff's Office — maintains arrest records, booking data, and jail records
- Chippewa County Circuit Court — maintains case filings, arraignments, pleas, trial records, sentencing orders, and probation or parole documentation
- Wisconsin Department of Justice — maintains the statewide Criminal History Record Information (CHRI) repository
- Local municipal police departments — maintain incident and arrest reports within their respective jurisdictions
Records maintained by these agencies collectively document charges filed, arraignment proceedings, pleas entered, trial outcomes, sentencing details, and any subsequent probation or parole conditions.
Chippewa County Sheriff's Office 727 W. Central St., Chippewa Falls, WI 54729 (715) 726-7700 Chippewa County Sheriff's Office
Chippewa County Circuit Court 711 N. Bridge St., Chippewa Falls, WI 54729 (715) 726-7758 Chippewa County Circuit Court
Are Criminal Records Public In Chippewa County
Criminal records in Chippewa County are presumptively public under Wisconsin's open records law. Pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 19.35, any person has the right to inspect or copy any record maintained by a government authority, subject to specific statutory exceptions. This statute establishes a strong public policy in favor of transparency and government accountability.
Records that are currently open to public inspection include:
- Adult conviction records and court dispositions
- Court case filings, hearing schedules, and sentencing orders
- Arrest logs and booking information maintained by the Sheriff's Office
- Sex offender registration data published by the Wisconsin Department of Justice
Records that are restricted from public access include:
- Juvenile court records, which are sealed by operation of law
- Records pertaining to ongoing criminal investigations, where disclosure would compromise law enforcement operations
- Expunged records that have been ordered sealed by a court pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 973.015
- Certain victim information protected under state confidentiality statutes
- Mental health and treatment records incorporated into criminal proceedings
Members of the public seeking to determine whether a specific record is subject to disclosure may submit a written open records request to the custodial agency, which is required by law to respond within a reasonable time and to provide a written explanation for any denial.
How To Look Up Criminal Records In Chippewa County in 2026
Members of the public may access Chippewa County criminal records through several official channels, depending on the type of record sought and the level of detail required.
Step 1 — Identify the Appropriate Agency Determine which agency holds the record of interest. Court case records are maintained by the Chippewa County Circuit Court Clerk of Courts. Arrest and booking records are held by the Chippewa County Sheriff's Office or the relevant municipal police department.
Step 2 — Search Online Portals First The Wisconsin Court System provides a statewide case search tool that allows members of the public to search circuit court records by name, case number, or citation number. The Wisconsin Department of Justice maintains a separate portal for criminal background check requests.
Step 3 — Submit an In-Person or Written Request For records not available online, members of the public may appear in person at the Clerk of Courts office during public counter hours or submit a written open records request by mail or email. Requesters should provide the subject's full legal name, date of birth, and any known case numbers to facilitate an accurate search.
Chippewa County Clerk of Courts 711 N. Bridge St., Chippewa Falls, WI 54729 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (715) 726-7758 Chippewa County Clerk of Courts
Step 4 — Pay Applicable Fees Certified copies of court records are subject to fees established by the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Standard copy fees are currently set at $1.25 per page for paper copies, with additional fees for certification.
Step 5 — Request Background Checks Through the Wisconsin DOJ For comprehensive statewide criminal history, members of the public and authorized entities may submit a background check request through the Wisconsin Department of Justice, which maintains the central CHRI repository.
How To Find Criminal Records in Chippewa County Online?
Several official online portals currently provide access to Chippewa County criminal records without requiring an in-person visit.
Wisconsin Court System Case Search The Wisconsin Court System case search portal provides public access to circuit court records statewide, including Chippewa County. Users may search by party name, case number, or citation number. The portal returns case type, filing date, charges, court dates, and disposition information. No registration is required to conduct a basic name search. Records of expunged or sealed cases do not appear in public search results.
Wisconsin Department of Justice — Criminal Background Checks The Wisconsin DOJ criminal background check portal allows individuals and authorized organizations to request official criminal history records from the state's central CHRI repository. Self-requesters may obtain their own record; third-party requests require written consent or statutory authorization. Online submissions are processed electronically, and results are typically returned within a few business days.
Chippewa County Sheriff's Office — Jail Roster The Chippewa County Sheriff's Office publishes a current jail roster on its official website, listing individuals currently held in the county jail. This roster includes the detainee's name, booking date, and charges. The roster reflects current custody status only and does not constitute a comprehensive criminal history.
Wisconsin Sex Offender Registry The Wisconsin Department of Corrections maintains a publicly searchable sex offender registry, which includes individuals registered in Chippewa County. Searches may be conducted by name or geographic area.
Can You Search Chippewa County Criminal Records for Free?
Wisconsin law currently mandates that members of the public have the right to inspect public records at no charge. Under Wis. Stat. § 19.35(1), inspection of records must be permitted without the imposition of a fee, though fees may be charged for copies or for the staff time required to locate, retrieve, and redact records.
The following resources are available at no cost:
- Wisconsin Court System Case Search — Free name-based searches of circuit court records, including Chippewa County cases, are available through the statewide portal with no registration required
- Chippewa County Jail Roster — The current inmate roster published by the Sheriff's Office is freely accessible online
- Wisconsin Sex Offender Registry — Public searches of registered sex offenders are available at no charge through the Department of Corrections
- In-Person Record Inspection — Members of the public may inspect original records at the Clerk of Courts office during public counter hours without paying a fee; charges apply only when copies are requested
Fees are currently assessed for certified copies, paper reproductions, and background check reports generated by the Wisconsin Department of Justice. The standard copy fee is $1.25 per page, and certification fees vary by document type.
What's Included in a Chippewa County Criminal Record?
A complete Chippewa County criminal record may contain information drawn from multiple agencies and stages of the criminal justice process.
Identifying Information
- Full legal name and known aliases
- Date of birth and physical description (height, weight, eye and hair color)
- Photograph (mugshot) taken at booking
- Last known address
- State Identification Number (SID) assigned by the Wisconsin DOJ
- FBI Number, where applicable
Arrest Information
- Date, time, and location of arrest
- Arresting agency (Sheriff's Office, municipal police, or state agency)
- Booking number and jail facility
- Charges filed at the time of arrest
- Bail or bond amount set and conditions imposed
Court Case Information
- Case number and court jurisdiction (Chippewa County Circuit Court)
- Filing date and assigned judge
- Charges as filed, including applicable Wisconsin statutes and felony or misdemeanor classification
- Plea entered (guilty, not guilty, or no contest)
- Attorney of record for the defense and prosecution
Disposition Information
- Verdict (guilty, not guilty, or dismissed)
- Conviction date, if applicable
- Sentencing details, including type and length of incarceration, fines, restitution ordered, and conditions of supervision
- Probation or parole terms
- Appeals filed and outcomes
Additional Record Elements
- Active or recalled warrants
- Protective or restraining orders
- Sex offender registration status
- OWI/DUI convictions and related traffic violations
- Pending charges not yet adjudicated
How Long Does Chippewa County Keep Criminal Records?
Chippewa County and the State of Wisconsin maintain criminal records according to retention schedules established under state law and administrative rule. The Wisconsin Public Records Board sets mandatory minimum retention periods for government records, and criminal justice records are subject to specific schedules under those guidelines.
Current retention periods for principal record categories include:
- Felony conviction records — Retained permanently by the Wisconsin DOJ and the Circuit Court
- Misdemeanor conviction records — Retained for a minimum of 75 years from the date of disposition
- Arrest records without conviction — Retained for a minimum of seven years, subject to expungement orders
- Juvenile records — Retained until the subject reaches age 25 or for five years from the date of the last entry, whichever is later, unless sealed earlier by court order
- Jail booking records — Retained by the Sheriff's Office for a minimum of seven years
- Court case files (felony) — Retained permanently pursuant to Wisconsin Supreme Court record retention rules
- Court case files (misdemeanor and civil) — Retained for a minimum of 20 years from the date of final disposition
Records subject to an expungement order under Wis. Stat. § 973.015 are removed from public access upon court order, though law enforcement agencies may retain internal copies in accordance with applicable retention schedules. The Wisconsin Public Records Board's retention schedules are published and available through the Wisconsin Historical Society.