Marinette County Criminal Records
What Is Marinette County Criminal Records
Criminal records in Marinette County are official 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 or conviction. Conviction records, by contrast, reflect a formal finding of guilt entered by a court of competent jurisdiction. Within the conviction category, felony offenses in Wisconsin are classified as Class A through Class I and carry potential prison sentences, while misdemeanor offenses are classified as Class A, B, or C and carry maximum jail terms of up to nine months, one year, or two years, respectively. Juvenile records are generally sealed and withheld from public disclosure under Wis. Stat. § 938.396, which governs the confidentiality of records pertaining to minors adjudicated in the juvenile justice system. Active warrants represent current judicial orders authorizing arrest, whereas historical records reflect closed or resolved matters.
The principal agencies responsible for maintaining criminal records in Marinette County include:
- Marinette County Sheriff's Office — maintains arrest records, booking data, and jail records
- Marinette County Clerk of Circuit Court — maintains case filings, court proceedings, and final dispositions
- Wisconsin Department of Justice, Crime Information Bureau — maintains statewide criminal history records
- Local municipal police departments — maintain incident and arrest reports within their respective jurisdictions
Records maintained across these agencies collectively document charges filed, arraignments, pleas entered, trial proceedings, sentencing orders, and probation or parole conditions imposed by the court.
Marinette County Clerk of Circuit Court 1926 Hall Avenue, Marinette, WI 54143 (715) 732-7550 Clerk of Circuit Court
Are Criminal Records Public In Marinette County
Criminal records in Marinette 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."
Under current law, the following categories of criminal records are generally available for public inspection:
- Adult conviction records, including charges, pleas, verdicts, and sentencing information
- Court case filings and docket entries in Circuit Court proceedings
- Arrest logs and booking records maintained by the Sheriff's Office
- Sex offender registration information maintained by the Wisconsin Department of Justice
The following categories are restricted or withheld from public disclosure:
- Juvenile adjudication records, which are sealed pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 938.396
- Records pertaining to ongoing criminal investigations, where disclosure would compromise law enforcement operations
- Expunged records that have been ordered sealed by a court under Wis. Stat. § 973.015
- Certain victim information protected under Wisconsin's victim rights statutes
Members of the public seeking access to court records may submit requests directly to the Marinette County Clerk of Circuit Court or access available records through the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) online portal.
How To Look Up Criminal Records In Marinette County in 2026
Members of the public may obtain criminal records in Marinette County through several official channels. The following steps outline the process for accessing records through the primary custodial agencies.
To obtain court records from the Clerk of Circuit Court:
- Visit the Clerk of Circuit Court office in person at 1926 Hall Avenue, Marinette, WI 54143, during public counter hours of Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Submit a written public records request identifying the subject by full legal name and date of birth, and specifying the type of records sought.
- Pay any applicable copy fees as established by the court. Under Wis. Stat. § 19.35(3), agencies may charge a fee not exceeding the actual cost of reproduction.
- Alternatively, access case information online through the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access portal at wcca.wicourts.gov.
To obtain arrest and booking records from the Sheriff's Office:
- Contact the Marinette County Sheriff's Office during office hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Submit a written public records request to the Records Division, identifying the subject and the specific records requested.
- Allow the statutory response period of up to ten business days for the agency to fulfill or deny the request.
To obtain a statewide criminal history record:
- Access the Wisconsin Online Record Check System (WORCS) maintained by the Wisconsin Department of Justice.
- Create an account or submit a request as a guest user.
- Provide the subject's full name and date of birth; pay the applicable fee per record request.
- Receive results electronically upon processing.
Marinette County Sheriff's Office 2161 University Drive, Marinette, WI 54143 (715) 732-7600 Office of Sheriff
How To Find Criminal Records in Marinette County Online?
Several official online portals currently provide access to Marinette County criminal records without requiring an in-person visit.
Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) The WCCA portal at wcca.wicourts.gov provides public access to circuit court case records statewide, including Marinette County. Users may search by party name, case number, or attorney. The portal contains case filing dates, charges, hearing schedules, dispositions, and sentencing information. No registration is required for basic public searches; however, certain sealed or restricted case types are not displayed.
Wisconsin Online Record Check System (WORCS) The Wisconsin Department of Justice criminal background check portal allows individuals and organizations to submit criminal history requests online. WORCS returns results based on the statewide criminal history repository maintained by the Crime Information Bureau. Registration is required, and a per-transaction fee applies. Results include conviction history, pending charges, and, where applicable, sex offender registration status.
Marinette County Sheriff's Office Online Resources The Marinette County Sheriff's Office website provides general law enforcement information. Members of the public seeking current jail roster or inmate status information may contact the office directly, as a live online roster may not be continuously published.
Wisconsin Department of Corrections Offender Locator The Wisconsin Department of Corrections maintains an online offender locator tool that allows members of the public to search for individuals currently under DOC supervision, including those on probation, parole, or extended supervision. No registration is required to use the offender search function.
Records available exclusively through in-person requests include original paper filings, certified copies of court documents, and certain law enforcement incident reports not published online.
Can You Search Marinette County Criminal Records for Free?
Wisconsin law provides that members of the public have the right to inspect public records at no charge. Under Wis. Stat. § 19.35(1), any person may inspect a record 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 currently available at no cost:
- Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) — Free online search of Marinette County court case records, including charges, dispositions, and hearing dates, available at wcca.wicourts.gov
- In-person inspection at the Clerk of Circuit Court — Members of the public may inspect court records at the public counter without charge during regular business hours
- In-person inspection at the Sheriff's Office — Arrest logs and booking records may be inspected in person at no cost; copy fees apply if reproductions are requested
- Wisconsin DOC Offender Locator — Free online search of individuals under active Department of Corrections supervision
Fees are assessed for the following services:
- Certified copies of court documents
- Statewide criminal history record requests submitted through WORCS (per-transaction fee applies)
- Reproductions of records beyond the scope of free inspection
What's Included in a Marinette County Criminal Record?
A complete criminal record in Marinette County 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 Crime Information Bureau
- FBI Number assigned upon submission of fingerprints to the national repository
Arrest Information
- Date, time, and location of arrest
- Arresting agency (Sheriff's Office, municipal police department)
- Booking number and facility where the individual was held
- Charges filed at the time of arrest
- Bail or bond amount set and conditions of release
- Name of the jail or detention facility
Court Case Information
- Case number and court of jurisdiction (Marinette 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, no contest)
- Attorney of record for the defense and prosecution
Disposition Information
- Verdict (guilty, not guilty, dismissed)
- Conviction date where applicable
- Sentencing details, including type of sentence (incarceration, probation, fine), length, fines imposed, restitution ordered, and conditions of supervision
- Appeals filed and outcomes
- Probation or parole terms and supervising agency
Additional Record Elements
- Active or recalled warrants
- Protective or restraining orders
- Sex offender registration status under Wisconsin's sex offender registry
- OWI/DUI convictions and related administrative actions
- Traffic violations adjudicated in circuit court
- Pending charges not yet resolved
How Long Does Marinette County Keep Criminal Records?
Marinette County retains criminal records in accordance with Wisconsin's public records retention schedules established by the Wisconsin Public Records Board. Retention periods vary by record type and custodial agency.
- Felony conviction records — Retained permanently by the Clerk of Circuit Court and the Wisconsin Crime Information Bureau
- Misdemeanor conviction records — Retained permanently at the state level; local court records are retained for a minimum of 20 years following case closure
- Arrest records without conviction — Retained for a minimum of seven years by the Sheriff's Office, subject to expungement orders
- Juvenile records — Retained until the subject reaches age 25 or for five years following the last court action, whichever is later, unless sealed earlier by court order
- Expunged records — Following a court order of expungement under Wis. Stat. § 973.015, records are removed from public access, though law enforcement agencies may retain internal copies
- Probation and supervision records — Maintained by the Wisconsin Department of Corrections for the duration of supervision plus a minimum retention period established by agency policy
- Incident and arrest reports — Retained by the Sheriff's Office and municipal agencies for a minimum of seven years per the Wisconsin Public Records Board General Schedule
The Wisconsin Public Records Board's retention schedules, which govern all county and municipal agencies, are published through the Wisconsin Historical Society and apply uniformly to Marinette County custodial agencies.