Portage County Criminal Records
What Is Portage County Criminal Records
Criminal records in Portage County, Wisconsin, 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 and encompass a broad range of documentation types.
Arrest records document the act of being taken into custody by law enforcement and do not necessarily indicate a conviction. Conviction records, by contrast, reflect a formal finding of guilt entered by a court of competent jurisdiction. Under Wisconsin law, a felony is a crime punishable by imprisonment in a state correctional facility, while a misdemeanor carries a maximum sentence of up to one year in a county jail. Adult records are generally accessible to the public, whereas juvenile records are sealed by default pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 938.396, which restricts disclosure of records pertaining to individuals adjudicated as minors. Active warrants reflect current judicial orders for arrest, while historical records document resolved matters.
The principal agencies maintaining criminal records in Portage County include:
- Portage County Sheriff's Office — maintains arrest records, booking data, and jail rosters
- Portage County Circuit Court — maintains case filings, dispositions, and sentencing records
- Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) — maintains statewide criminal history through the Wisconsin Crime Information Bureau (CIB)
- Stevens Point Police Department — maintains local arrest and incident reports
Records maintained across these agencies include charges filed, arraignments, pleas entered, trial proceedings, verdicts, sentencing orders, and probation or parole conditions.
Portage County Sheriff's Office 1500 Strongs Ave, Stevens Point, WI 54481 (715) 346-1400 Portage County Sheriff's Office
Portage County Circuit Court 1516 Church St, Stevens Point, WI 54481 (715) 346-1364 Portage County Circuit Court
Are Criminal Records Public In Portage County
Criminal records in Portage County are presumptively open to the 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. The law establishes a strong public policy favoring disclosure, stating that "the public is entitled to the greatest possible information regarding the affairs of government."
Records that are currently accessible to the public include:
- Adult conviction records and court case dispositions
- Arrest logs and booking information
- Court proceedings, filings, and judgments
- Sentencing orders and probation conditions
Records that are restricted or exempt from public disclosure include:
- Ongoing criminal investigations where disclosure would impede law enforcement
- Sealed court records ordered closed by a judge
- Juvenile adjudication records, protected under Wis. Stat. § 938.396
- Expunged records where a court has ordered destruction or sealing
- Victim identifying information in sensitive cases such as sexual assault
Members of the public may inspect adult conviction records and court proceedings without demonstrating a specific need or purpose, consistent with the open records mandate.
How To Look Up Criminal Records In Portage County in 2026
Members of the public may obtain Portage County criminal records through several official channels. The following steps outline the process for accessing records through each primary agency.
Through the Portage County Circuit Court:
- Visit the Portage County Circuit Court Clerk's office in person at 1516 Church St, Stevens Point, WI 54481, during public counter hours (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
- Submit a written public records request identifying the subject by full name and date of birth
- Pay applicable copy fees (currently $1.25 per page for standard copies)
- Alternatively, use the Wisconsin court case search portal to locate case numbers prior to visiting
Through the Portage County Sheriff's Office:
- Submit a written public records request to the Sheriff's Office Records Division at 1500 Strongs Ave, Stevens Point, WI 54481
- Provide the subject's full name, date of birth, and any known case or booking numbers
- Allow up to 10 business days for processing, consistent with the response timeline under Wis. Stat. § 19.35
Through the Wisconsin Department of Justice:
- Submit a Criminal History Record Request through the Wisconsin DOJ Crime Information Bureau
- Complete Form DJ-LE-250 and submit with the applicable fee
- Results reflect statewide conviction history maintained in the Wisconsin criminal history repository
Wisconsin Department of Justice — Crime Information Bureau 17 W Main St, Madison, WI 53703 (608) 266-7314 Wisconsin Department of Justice
How To Find Criminal Records in Portage County Online?
Several official online portals currently provide access to Portage County criminal records and related justice system information.
Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA): The primary online portal for court records is the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access system, maintained by the Wisconsin Court System. Members of the public may search by name, case number, or citation number. The portal contains case filings, charges, dispositions, and sentencing information for cases filed in all Wisconsin circuit courts, including Portage County. No registration is required for basic public searches.
Wisconsin Court System Case Search: The Wisconsin court case search portal provides public access to records from the Wisconsin Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and all circuit courts. Users may search by party name, attorney, or case number. Results include case type, filing date, charges, and current status.
Portage County Jail Roster: The Portage County Sheriff's Office publishes a current jail roster on its official website, listing individuals currently held in the Portage County Jail. The roster includes name, booking date, and charges. This information reflects real-time custody status and is updated regularly.
Wisconsin Sex Offender Registry: The Wisconsin Department of Corrections maintains a publicly searchable sex offender registry that includes individuals registered in Portage County.
Key distinctions between online and in-person access:
- Online portals provide case-level information but may not include scanned documents or exhibits
- Certified copies of court records are available only through the Circuit Court Clerk's office in person or by mail
- Arrest records not resulting in charges may not appear in court databases and require a direct request to the Sheriff's Office
Can You Search Portage 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 agencies may charge for the actual cost of reproduction.
The following resources are available at no cost:
- Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA): Free online search of all circuit court case records, including Portage County, available at wcca.wicourts.gov
- Wisconsin Court Case Search Portal: Free public access to appellate and circuit court records through the Wisconsin Court System
- Portage County Jail Roster: Free online access to current inmate information through the Sheriff's Office website
- Wisconsin Sex Offender Registry: Free public search through the Department of Corrections
Fees apply only when requesting physical copies of documents. The Portage County Circuit Court currently charges $1.25 per page for standard copies and a higher fee for certified copies. In-person inspection of records at the courthouse or Sheriff's Office records window remains free of charge during regular business hours.
What's Included in a Portage County Criminal Record?
A complete Portage County criminal record may contain information drawn from multiple agencies and compiled across the full lifecycle of a criminal case.
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 assigned through the national criminal history repository
Arrest Information:
- Date, time, and location of arrest
- Arresting agency (Sheriff's Office, Stevens Point PD, or other)
- Booking number and jail facility
- Charges filed at arrest
- Bail or bond conditions set
Court Case Information:
- Case number and court jurisdiction (Portage County Circuit Court)
- Filing date and case type (felony, misdemeanor, civil forfeiture)
- Specific charges and applicable Wisconsin statutes
- Plea entered (guilty, not guilty, no contest)
- Attorney of record and prosecuting agency
Disposition:
- Verdict or plea outcome
- Conviction date
- Sentencing details including type (incarceration, probation, fine), length, fines, restitution ordered, and special conditions
- Appeals filed and outcomes
- Probation or parole supervision terms
Additional Records:
- Active or recalled warrants
- Protective or restraining orders
- Sex offender registration status
- OWI/DUI convictions and related administrative actions
- Traffic violations adjudicated in circuit court
- Pending charges not yet resolved
How Long Does Portage County Keep Criminal Records?
Portage County and the State of Wisconsin maintain criminal records according to established retention schedules governed by state administrative rules. The Wisconsin Public Records Board sets mandatory minimum retention periods for government records under Wis. Stat. § 19.21, which requires that public records be preserved for the periods specified in applicable schedules.
Current retention periods for principal record types include:
- Felony conviction records: Retained permanently by the Wisconsin DOJ and the Circuit Court
- Misdemeanor conviction records: Retained for a minimum of 20 years following case closure
- Arrest records not resulting in conviction: Retained for a minimum of 7 years
- Juvenile records: Retained until the subject reaches age 25 or for a minimum of 5 years after the last entry, whichever is later, subject to sealing provisions
- Court case files (general): Retained according to the Wisconsin Court System's records retention schedule, with felony files kept permanently and misdemeanor files kept for a minimum of 20 years
- Jail booking records: Retained for a minimum of 7 years by the Sheriff's Office
The Wisconsin Court System's official records retention schedule is published by the Director of State Courts and governs all circuit court records statewide. Expungement orders, where granted by a court, may result in the sealing or destruction of eligible records prior to the standard retention period.