Kenosha County, Wisconsin Arrest Records
Kenosha County arrest records are summary entries about arrest incidents. They are created by law enforcement officers at the agency that made the arrest. The maintenance of these records is also a responsibility of the arresting law enforcement agency, although records are typically transferred between various agencies, including the courts and state law enforcement agencies. Kenosha County arrest records are public information under the Wisconsin Public Records Law.
They serve public interest by promoting accountability and transparency in the criminal justice system. Note that the maintenance, purpose, and release of criminal offender record information are subject to a different law, set forth in Wisconsin Statute § 165.83. While the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office is the biggest law enforcement agency in the county and is tasked with the bulk of law enforcement duties, other smaller police departments like the Pleasant Prairie Police Department and the UW-Parkside Police Department often maintain their individual records.
Are Arrest Records Public Information in Kenosha, Wisconsin?
Kenosha County arrest records are public under the Wisconsin Public Record Law, Wisconsin Statute §§ 19.31–19.39. However, access to arrest records is subject to a “balancing test,” which determines whether the presumption of openness is outweighed by another public policy concern. In other words, a law enforcement agency must ensure that a record’s release does not compromise a person’s safety, jeopardize an ongoing investigation, or unnecessarily invade a person’s privacy.
To furnish a record request, a researcher must be able to provide, to a sufficient degree, identifying information about the sought-after record. Subject to an agency’s visitation rules, an in-person requester may need to possess a valid photo ID. Note that access is open to the general public regardless of residency.
What Do Public Kenosha County Arrest Records Contain?
General public-facing elements of an arrest record include the following:
- The arrestee’s name, date of birth, sex, and other identifying information
- The name of the arresting agency and detention facility
- Booking date and time
- Arrest date and time
- A description of the charges that led to the arrest
- Release information, if available
- Bond information, if available
N/B: The above information is not public for sealed or expunged records.
The following arrest-related information is non-public and not subject to a balancing test:
- Juvenile records
- Expunged records
- Identifying information about victims of of a sensitive crime
- Client-attorney privileged records
- Identifying information about confidential informants
- Internal investigation records
- Ongoing investigation records
- Confidential personal information, e.g., social security numbers and driver’s license numbers
Kenosha County, Wisconsin Arrest Search
The Wisconsin Department of Corrections is the primary agency in charge of inmates and correctional facilities in the state. It is also in charge of inmate records for individuals housed in the Kenosha Correctional Center. Although the agency does not provide an online arrest log or roster, interested persons can still submit a record request online.
Notwithstanding, individuals find arrests and court dispositions when they conduct a criminal background check through the Wisconsin Online Record Check System (WORCS). This service is provided by the Crime Information Bureau (CIB), Wisconsin Department of Justice and costs a fee, which varies with requests. The Case Search portal is also a valuable tool for criminal information searches and can be searched using an inmate’s name, date of birth, or case number.
For records at the federal level, the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) portal offers access to federal criminal case filings that may contain arrest-related information. Note that PACER requires users to register for an account before any searches can be conducted.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) is in charge of individuals serving sentences in federal correctional facilities. Persons looking to locate a federal inmate can do so by entering either the person's full legal name or their BOP registration number into the BOP's online inmate locator tool.
Kenosha County Inmate Locator
The Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office provides an online inmate search tool that members of the public can use to find information about any inmates held at any incarceration facility located within the county. Individuals can search for inmates using their surname. Additional details that can furnish a search include booking number, a booking date range, and/or subject number. Older inmates (booked prior to 5/2/2017) can be looked up using the Inmate Search Archive page. For further information, interested person’s may contact the sheriff’s office at
1000 55th Street
Kenosha, WI 53140
Phone: (262) 605-5100
Fax: (262) 605-5130
Active Warrant Search in Kenosha County
An arrest warrant is a court order issued by a judge, directing law enforcement to apprehend a specific individual (Wisconsin Legislature 968.07). This type of warrant is issued when a person is suspected of committing a crime, usually based on a complaint or sworn testimony. An arrest warrant outlines the suspect’s name, the crime they are being accused of, the arrest clause, bond information, the name and signature of the issuing authority, the date and county of issuance, and the order to arrest. The county sheriff’s office bears the responsibility of executing arrest warrants. This office also maintains warrant information alongside the court clerk’s office.
Under the Wisconsin Public Records Law, arrest warrants are presumed public. The county clerk’s and sheriff’s offices may furnish interested members of the public with information about outstanding arrest warrants. There are no government-provided warrant search websites for Kenosha County. Interested persons may only request warrant information from the sheriff’s or court clerk’s office using official agency record request channels. Typical search criteria are a person’s name, the warrant number, or the case number, whichever is known.
|
Agency / Resource |
Purpose |
Search Methods |
|
Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office |
Maintains and serves warrants |
In person |
|
Maintains warrant information and facilitates public searches |
In person, online requests |
How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Kenosha County
The Kenosha County Sheriff's Office provides a free online inmate search tool that allows anyone to look up individuals currently or recently held in county custody. Searchers will need an inmate's name, booking number, housing facility, or subject number to conduct a search. At a minimum, a last name is required for results to populate.
While the tool is a useful starting point, a limitation is that it primarily reflects current and recent bookings, meaning older arrest records may not be accessible through this channel. Juvenile records and sealed cases are excluded entirely. Redacted materials and restricted documents will not appear through any free public-facing resource, and anyone needing a certified or comprehensive record will likely need to file a formal request through the appropriate agency.
Kenosha County Arrest Report
A Kenosha County arrest report and an arrest record are two separate documents and the distinction matters when determining what information is needed and where to find it. An arrest record is a standardized summary entry maintained within custodial or case management systems. It captures basic identifying details, mainly the subject's name, the charge, the arrest date, and the case number, and is the type of data that typically surfaces in background checks and criminal history databases.
An arrest report, by contrast, is a narrative account prepared by the arresting officer following an incident. It documents the officer's firsthand observations, the sequence of events leading to the arrest, any statements made at the scene, and other circumstances relevant to the case. The two documents are generated by different agencies for different purposes, meaning a request for one will not automatically produce the other.
How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Kenosha County
Individuals with an arrest record can petition the court to expunge the arrest from their record, provided the individual was
- Subsequently released without charge
- Found not guilty of the underlying charges
If the arrested individual was convicted, the arrest record still remains on file even if the associated criminal court record gets expunged. The only exemptions to this rule is if
- The offense was a misdemeanor or select felonies committed by a person under age 25 at the time of sentencing and the individual has successfully completed the sentence (Wisconsin Statutes § 973.015)
- It was a juvenile delinquency adjudication and the subject has reached the age of 17 (available upon request)
There is no fee for an expungement. To begin the process, a person must complete form DJ-LE-250B and submit it along with documentation showing no prosecution or dismissal of the offense(s) on the arrest card at the circuit court. Individuals that do not qualify for an expungement may seek a governor’s pardon, although this does not remove the arrest from the record. It will only appear on the case disposition that a governor’s pardon has been issued and, as a result, restore certain rights.
How Do You Remove Kenosha County Arrest Records From the Internet?
When a Kenosha County court grants an expungement, government agencies are legally obligated to remove or destroy the affected records. Private websites and background check platforms, however, operate outside the court's jurisdiction and are not always bound by the same requirement. Individuals may need to contact these platforms directly, typically submitting a copy of the expungement order as proof of eligibility. Since these sites function independently, removal is never guaranteed, and the process can differ from one platform to another.