La Crosse County, Wisconsin Arrest Records

La Crosse County arrest records are official files that document arrests made by law enforcement within the county. Law enforcement agencies create these records at the point of arrest. Arrest records promote government accountability, support public safety, and allow the public to monitor law enforcement activity. Under Wis. Stat. §§ 19.31–19.39, arrest records maintained by county or city police departments are presumed open to the public. The law establishes that public access to government records is the rule, and restriction is the exception. The two largest police agencies in the county are the La Crosse Police Department and the La Crosse County Sheriff's Office. A separate statutory framework, the Criminal History Record Information law (Wis. Stat. § 165.83–165.84), governs the collection and release of criminal offender record information.

Are Arrest Records Public Information in La Crosse, Wisconsin?

Yes. Arrest records in La Crosse County are public information. Wisconsin Public Records Law, Wis. Stat. §§ 19.31 to 19.39, governs the release of arrest records and requires law enforcement agencies to permit public inspection and copying upon request. General conditions for access include:

• A written request identifying the specific record sought.
• Valid government-issued photo identification.
• Residency in La Crosse County is not a requirement.
• There may be copying or processing fees.

Major exceptions that may restrict access include the following:

• Files related to ongoing criminal investigations.
• Juvenile records.
• Records that have been sealed or expunged by a court order.
• Information whose release would endanger public safety or compromise an investigation.
• Records exempted under federal law or other controlling legal authority.

What Do Public County Arrest Records Contain?

Arrest records in La Crosse County document the circumstances surrounding an arrest made by law enforcement. Under Wisconsin's Public Records Law (Wis. Stat. §§ 19.31–19.39), the following information is commonly available to the public:

• Full name and physical description of the arrested individual.
• Date of arrest, time of arrest, and location of the arrest.
• Name of the arresting agency and officer.
• Charges filed at the time of arrest.
• Booking photographs (mugshots).
• Bail or bond information.
• Case or incident number.

However, not all information within an arrest record is available for public viewing. Law enforcement agencies and courts may limit access to certain information where disclosure may interfere with investigations, protect vulnerable persons, or comply with legal requirements.

La Crosse County, Wisconsin Arrest Search

Arrest information for La Crosse County is accessible through the following state and federal resources:

State Resources

• Department of Justice (DOJ) Crime Information Bureau (CIB): The CIB maintains the Centralized Criminal History (CCH) database, which is the official state repository for all arrest and criminal history records. Public access is available through the Wisconsin Online Record Check System (WORCS).
• Circuit Court Access (WCCA): This is a state-managed portal which provides public access to criminal case records, charges filed, and case dispositions for La Crosse County cases.
• Department of Corrections (DOC): The DOC Offender Locator tracks custodial status for individuals serving state sentences or under community supervision.
• State Patrol (Tomah Post): Handles arrests occurring on state highways within La Crosse County. Record inquiries can be made by phone at (608) 374-0513.

Federal Resources

• PACER: Offers public access to federal court records for cases related to La Crosse County.
• Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Inmate Locator: Tracks persons serving federal sentences.
• FBI Identity History Summary: A consolidated national arrest record linked to fingerprint submissions.
• U.S. Marshals Service (USMS): Publishes active federal fugitive profiles for the Western District of Wisconsin.

La Crosse County Inmate Locator

The La Crosse County Sheriff's Office maintains a Jail Inmate Locator Service for the benefit of the public. This service provides booking information for persons currently incarcerated in the County Jail, including bond and bail amounts, visiting schedules, and associated booking details. To locate a specific inmate, interested persons can follow these steps:

• Visit the "Inmate Locator" section of the La Crosse County Sheriff's Office website.
• Scroll down and click "I Agree" to proceed.
• A complete listing of all currently incarcerated persons at La Crosse County Jail will show up.
• Scroll through the listing to locate the desired individual.
• Click on the last name to view additional details, including specific criminal charges and mugshots.

La Crosse County Sheriff's Office

333 Vine Street

La Crosse, WI 54601-3296.

Phone: (608) 785-9629

Phone: (608) 785-9630

Active Warrant Search in La Crosse County

An arrest warrant is a legal document issued by a judge or magistrate that authorizes law enforcement to arrest a specific individual. Courts issue warrants if there is probable cause that someone committed a crime, missed a court date, or broke probation or supervision rules. A warrant usually lists the person's full name, the charge against the person, the court that issued it, and the date.

The La Crosse County Sheriff's Office hosts an active warrant list on behalf of the Clerk of Courts. Publication of a name on this list does not indicate guilt. It only confirms that a warrant is on file for that person's arrest. Interested persons may access the active warrant list by following these steps:

• Visit the "Warrant List" section of the La Crosse County Sheriff's Office website.
• Click "I Understand".
• The active warrant list will appear and can be reviewed immediately.

For questions about the active warrant list, contact the Clerk of Courts directly during normal business hours (608) 785-9590.

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in La Crosse County

Several free options exist for locating arrest records in La Crosse County. Interested persons may use the following tools at no cost:

• La Crosse County Jail Inmate Locator: This service provided by the Sheriff’s Office, gives real-time booking information, bail amounts, and charges for persons currently held in the County Jail.
• Active Warrant List (Clerk of Courts): Lists persons with active misdemeanor or felony warrants, including age, city of residence, and linked court case number.
• Circuit Court Access (formerly known as CCAP): Provides a comprehensive judicial history of the county’s criminal cases.
• La Crosse Police Department Open Records Portal: The City of La Crosse Police Department provides arrest reports and police records via email at no charge.

The following limits apply to some of the above free options:

• The Inmate Locator reflects only current custody. It excludes released or transferred persons.
• Records of dismissed or acquitted cases are removed from Circuit Court Access after two years.
• Requestors may need to provide specific identifying information, such as a full name, case number, or incident date.
• Free records are rarely complete. Information such as home addresses, social security numbers, juvenile records, and confidential informant details will be redacted.

La Crosse County Arrest Report

La Crosse County arrest record and arrest report are different documents. Each has its own role in the criminal justice system. An arrest record is a summary made when someone is taken into custody. It shows up in jail or court databases and lists basic details like the person’s name, charges, booking date, and the arresting agency. It provides a concise, structured record of the arrest.

An arrest report is different. It is a detailed account written by the arresting officer after the incident. The report explains what happened and why the person was arrested. It can include what the officer saw, witness statements, any evidence collected, and the order of events. In practice, arrest records help with quick identification and tracking. Arrest reports are used for investigations, prosecutions, and court reviews.

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in La Crosse County

Persons that were arrested but never convicted may request removal of fingerprint records from the Wisconsin DOJ Crime Information Bureau by submitting Form DJ-LE-250B at no cost. Usually, charges dismissed after a successful trial are removed from the public Circuit Court records portal after 2 years.

For parties with conviction records, Wisconsin law § 973.015 reveals that expungement means the court records are sealed, not completely erased. The conviction still counts for purposes such as firearm possession and professional licensing, even after expungement. To qualify for sealing, the following conditions apply:

• The person must have been under 25 years of age at the time the offense was committed.
• The highest term of imprisonment for the offense was six years or less.
• Only Class H and Class I felonies qualify; Classes A through G are excluded.
• No prior felony convictions.
• The court finds that the individual will benefit, and society will not be harmed.
• All conditions of sentencing and probation have been successfully completed.

Offenses excluded from sealing include:

• Violent felonies under § 301.048.
• Physical abuse or concealment of a child’s death under § 948.03 and § 948.23.
• Sexual assault and stalking offenses.
• All OWI and traffic forfeiture convictions.

How Do You Remove La Crosse County Arrest Records From the Internet?

The following legal and administrative frameworks exist to remove or restrict La Crosse County arrest records from public view:

• Administrative Removal (The Two-Year Rule): If a case ends in dismissal or acquittal, it is automatically removed from the WCCA website two years after the final decision. No court order is needed. If there are multiple charges and at least one leads to a conviction, the whole record stays online for the full time required for that conviction.

• Statutory Expungement (Wis. Stat. § 973.015): For certain convictions, a judge may order expungement during sentencing. After the sentence is completed, the Clerk of Courts seals both the paper file and the online CCAP record. However, expungement only removes the record from WCCA and does not automatically clear records kept by the Wisconsin DOJ Crime Information Bureau.

• Judicial Sealing (Wis. Stat. § 801.21): Concerned persons can petition the court to seal specific documents within a case file. Courts apply a high legal standard before granting such requests.
• Identity Theft or Mistaken Identity (Form GF-182A): Persons whose names appear on WCCA due to identity theft or clerical error can petition the court for removal using Form GF-182A.

(Note:) Removal from the official WCCA portal does not necessarily guarantee removal from private background check websites, as the Court System holds no authority over third-party platforms.