Winnebago County Criminal Records
What Is Winnebago County Criminal Records
Criminal records in Winnebago 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 generated and maintained by multiple agencies operating at the county, state, and federal levels.
Arrest records document the act of taking an individual into custody and reflect probable cause determinations by law enforcement; they do not indicate guilt. Conviction records, by contrast, reflect a formal finding of guilt entered by a court following a plea, bench trial, or jury verdict. Under Wisconsin law, both categories may appear in a comprehensive background check, though they carry distinct legal weight.
Criminal offenses in Wisconsin are classified as felonies (Classes A through I, carrying potential prison sentences) or misdemeanors (Classes A through C, punishable by county jail terms). Juvenile records are generally sealed pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 938.396, which restricts access to records involving persons adjudicated delinquent as minors, distinguishing them from adult criminal proceedings that are presumptively open to the public. Active warrant records reflect current judicial orders for arrest, while historical records document resolved matters including dismissed charges, acquittals, and completed sentences.
The principal agencies maintaining criminal records in Winnebago County include:
- Winnebago County Sheriff's Office — maintains arrest records, booking data, and jail custody information
- Winnebago County Circuit Court / Clerk of Courts — maintains case filings, charging documents, pleas, trial records, sentencing orders, and dispositions
- Wisconsin Department of Justice, Crime Information Bureau — maintains the statewide criminal history repository
- Local municipal police departments (Oshkosh Police Department, Neenah Police Department, and others) — maintain incident and arrest reports within their respective jurisdictions
A complete criminal record may encompass charges filed, arraignment proceedings, bail determinations, plea agreements, trial transcripts, sentencing orders, probation and parole conditions, and any subsequent modifications to those orders. Court case information for Winnebago County Circuit Court is accessible through the Winnebago County Clerk of Courts.
Winnebago County Clerk of Courts 415 Jackson Street, Oshkosh, WI 54901 (920) 236-4848 Clerk of Courts
Winnebago County Sheriff's Office 4311 Jackson Street, Oshkosh, WI 54901 (920) 236-7300 Sheriff's Office
Are Criminal Records Public In Winnebago County
Criminal records in Winnebago County are presumptively open to the public under Wisconsin's open records law. Wis. Stat. § 19.35 establishes that every person has a right to inspect any record maintained by a government authority, and that the burden of proof for withholding a record rests with the custodian, not the requester. This statute applies broadly to law enforcement agencies, courts, and county offices operating within Winnebago County.
Under current law, the following categories of criminal records are generally available to members of the public:
- Adult conviction records, including felony and misdemeanor dispositions
- Court case filings, hearing transcripts, and sentencing orders
- Arrest logs and booking records maintained by the Sheriff's Office
- Jail custody and inmate status information
- Sex offender registration data maintained by the Wisconsin Department of Justice
Certain categories of records are restricted or exempt from public disclosure:
- Juvenile adjudication records, which are sealed under Wis. Stat. § 938.396 and accessible only to specified parties such as the subject, parents, attorneys, and certain government agencies
- Ongoing criminal investigation records, where disclosure would compromise law enforcement operations
- Expunged records, which have been ordered removed from public access by a court pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 973.015
- Confidential informant identities and certain victim information in sensitive case types
Members of the public seeking to inspect records are not required to state a reason for their request under Wisconsin's open records framework, though custodians may deny access when the public interest in nondisclosure demonstrably outweighs the public interest in disclosure.
How To Look Up Criminal Records In Winnebago County in 2026
Members of the public may obtain Winnebago 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 custodian. Arrest and booking records are held by the Winnebago County Sheriff's Office or the arresting municipal police department. Court case records, including charges, pleas, and dispositions, are held by the Winnebago County Clerk of Courts. Statewide criminal history records are maintained by the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Crime Information Bureau.
Step 2 — Submit a public records request. Requests to the Sheriff's Office or Clerk of Courts may be submitted in person, by mail, or by email. Requesters should provide the full legal name of the subject, date of birth, and the approximate date range of the records sought. No formal form is required under Wisconsin's open records law, though some offices provide optional request templates.
Step 3 — Pay applicable fees. Custodians may charge fees for locating, copying, and mailing records. Under Wis. Stat. § 19.35(3), fees must be limited to the actual, necessary, and direct cost of reproduction and transcription. Inspection of records in person is generally provided at no charge.
Step 4 — Request a statewide criminal history. For a comprehensive background check, members of the public may submit a name-based or fingerprint-based request to the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Crime Information Bureau. Fingerprint-based searches provide the most accurate results and are available through authorized LiveScan providers.
Step 5 — Access court records online. The Wisconsin Court System provides a statewide case search portal that covers Winnebago County Circuit Court proceedings. This tool allows users to search by name, case number, or citation number without visiting a courthouse.
Winnebago County Clerk of Courts 415 Jackson Street, Oshkosh, WI 54901 (920) 236-4848 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM Clerk of Courts
Wisconsin Department of Justice, Crime Information Bureau 17 West Main Street, Madison, WI 53703 (608) 266-5764 Wisconsin DOJ Crime Information Bureau
How To Find Criminal Records in Winnebago County Online?
Several official online portals currently provide access to Winnebago County criminal records without requiring an in-person visit.
Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) is the primary statewide portal for court case records. Members of the public may use the Wisconsin court case search to retrieve Winnebago County Circuit Court records, including case numbers, filing dates, charges, hearing schedules, and dispositions. The portal covers civil, criminal, family, and traffic cases. No registration or account creation is required to conduct a basic name or case number search. Results display the case type, party names, attorney information, and a summary of court events.
Winnebago County Jail Roster is maintained by the Corrections Division of the Sheriff's Office. The current inmate list is published as a regularly updated PDF document and includes each detainee's name, inmate ID, sex, judicial status, and initial booking date. This roster reflects individuals currently held in the Winnebago County Jail and does not constitute a historical arrest database.
Winnebago County Corrections Division provides supplementary custody and corrections information through its official Corrections Division page, including links to the current inmate list and information about the jail facility.
Wisconsin Department of Corrections Offender Search allows members of the public to search for individuals currently under state supervision, including those on probation, parole, or extended supervision. The Wisconsin Department of Corrections offender locator tool is available online and does not require registration.
Records that are available only in person include original paper filings, sealed case documents accessible to authorized parties, and certain law enforcement incident reports that have not been digitized. Members of the public seeking these materials must appear at the relevant custodian's office during public counter hours.
Can You Search Winnebago County Criminal Records for Free?
Wisconsin law currently mandates that members of the public have the right to inspect government records at no charge. Pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 19.35(1), any person may inspect a record maintained by a government authority without being required to pay a fee solely for the act of inspection. Fees may only be assessed for the actual cost of reproduction when copies are requested.
The following resources are available at no cost:
- Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA): The statewide court case search portal provides free online access to Winnebago County Circuit Court case records, including criminal case histories, charges, and dispositions
- Winnebago County Jail Inmate List: The current inmate roster is freely accessible online as a downloadable PDF
- Wisconsin DOC Offender Search: The Wisconsin Department of Corrections offender locator is available at no charge through the DOC website
- In-person inspection at the Clerk of Courts: Members of the public may inspect court records in person at the Clerk of Courts office during public counter hours without incurring a fee
Fees are assessed when certified copies, printed reproductions, or mailed documents are requested. The Clerk of Courts currently charges a per-page fee for photocopies and an additional fee for certified copies of court documents.
What's Included in a Winnebago County Criminal Record?
A complete Winnebago County criminal record may contain several distinct categories of information, depending on the source agency and the nature of the underlying case.
Identifying Information
- Full legal name and known aliases
- Date of birth and place of birth
- Physical description (height, weight, eye color, hair color)
- Booking photograph (mugshot)
- Last known address
- State Identification Number (SID) assigned by the Wisconsin Crime Information Bureau
- FBI Number assigned through the national fingerprint database
Arrest and Booking Information
- Date, time, and location of arrest
- Arresting agency (Sheriff's Office, municipal police department)
- Booking number and facility (Winnebago County Jail)
- Charges filed at the time of arrest
- Bail or bond amount set
- Custody status
Court Case Information
- Case number and court jurisdiction (Winnebago County Circuit Court)
- Filing date and assigned judge
- Charges and applicable Wisconsin statutes, including felony class (A–I) or misdemeanor class (A–C)
- Plea entered (guilty, not guilty, no contest)
- Attorney of record and prosecuting agency
- Hearing dates and continuances
Disposition Information
- Verdict (guilty, not guilty, dismissed)
- Conviction date
- Sentencing details: incarceration type and length, fines, restitution amounts, community service, and conditions of release
- Probation or extended supervision terms
- Appeals filed and outcomes
Additional Record Elements
- Active or recalled warrants
- Protective orders and injunctions
- Sex offender registration status
- OWI/DUI convictions and related administrative actions
- Traffic violations adjudicated in circuit court
- Pending charges and open cases
How Long Does Winnebago County Keep Criminal Records?
Winnebago 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 county agencies are required to comply with these schedules.
Current retention periods for principal criminal record categories include:
- Arrest and booking records: Retained for a minimum of seven years following the date of arrest, regardless of whether charges were filed or a conviction resulted
- Circuit court case files (felony): Retained permanently; felony case records are not subject to routine destruction
- Circuit court case files (misdemeanor): Retained for a minimum of twenty years following case closure
- Jail records and inmate files: Retained for a minimum of seven years following release from custody
- Probation and supervision records: Retained for a minimum of seven years following discharge from supervision
- Expunged records: Following a court order of expungement under Wis. Stat. § 973.015, the Clerk of Courts seals the record; however, law enforcement agencies may retain internal copies subject to restricted access protocols
The Wisconsin Public Records Board's General Records Schedule, issued pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 16.61, governs the retention and disposition of records held by county agencies. Records that have met their retention period may be destroyed only in accordance with an approved destruction authorization. Members of the public seeking records approaching or past their retention period should submit requests promptly to the relevant custodian.