Dunn County Criminal Records
What Is Dunn County Criminal Records
Criminal records in Dunn 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 generated and maintained by multiple agencies operating at the county, state, and federal levels.
A fundamental distinction exists between arrest records and conviction records. An arrest record documents that law enforcement took an individual into custody based on probable cause; it does not indicate guilt. A conviction record, by contrast, reflects a formal finding of guilt entered by a court of competent jurisdiction. Similarly, felony records document the most serious offenses—those punishable by imprisonment of one year or more in a state correctional facility—while misdemeanor records cover less severe offenses typically resulting in fines or county jail sentences not exceeding one year.
Juvenile records in Wisconsin receive heightened statutory protection. Under Wis. Stat. § 938.396, records pertaining to juveniles adjudicated delinquent are generally confidential and sealed from public view, distinguishing them from adult criminal records. Active warrant records reflect current, unserved judicial orders for arrest, whereas historical records document past enforcement actions that have been resolved.
The principal agencies maintaining Dunn County criminal records include:
- Dunn County Sheriff's Office — maintains arrest records, booking records, and jail records
- Dunn 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 — maintain incident and arrest reports within their respective jurisdictions
Criminal records typically encompass charges filed, arraignment proceedings, entered pleas, trial records, sentencing details, and any subsequent probation or parole conditions. The Dunn County Clerk of Courts provides administrative support for all branches of the Dunn County Circuit Court and serves as the official custodian of court-generated criminal records.
Dunn County Clerk of Courts 615 Stokke Pkwy, Menomonie, WI 54751 (715) 232-1228 Clerk of Courts – Dunn County, WI
Are Criminal Records Public In Dunn County
Criminal records in Dunn County are presumptively public under Wisconsin's open records law. Pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 19.35, "every person has a right to inspect any record." This statute establishes a strong public policy favoring disclosure, placing the burden on the custodial agency to demonstrate that a specific exemption justifies withholding a requested record.
Records that are currently available for public inspection include:
- Adult conviction records and court dispositions
- Court proceedings, case filings, and sentencing orders
- Booking records and jail rosters maintained by the Sheriff's Office
- Arrest logs and charging documents for adult defendants
Certain categories of records are restricted or exempt from public disclosure under current law:
- Juvenile records — sealed pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 938.396 and accessible only to authorized parties
- Ongoing criminal investigations — withheld to protect investigative integrity
- Expunged or sealed adult records — removed from public access by court order
- Confidential informant information — protected to preserve law enforcement operations
- Victim identifying information — restricted in cases involving certain sensitive offenses
Members of the public may inspect adult conviction records, court case information, and booking data through the offices and online portals described in subsequent sections of this page.
How To Look Up Criminal Records In Dunn County in 2026
Members of the public seeking criminal records in Dunn County may access them through several official channels. The following steps outline the process for obtaining records through each primary custodial agency.
Through the Dunn County Clerk of Courts (Court Case Records):
- Visit the Clerk of Courts office in person at 615 Stokke Pkwy, Menomonie, WI 54751, during regular business hours, Monday through 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, or by case number if known.
- Pay any applicable fees for copies of documents; inspection of records is provided at no charge under Wis. Stat. § 19.35.
- Alternatively, use the Wisconsin Court System's online case search portal to retrieve case information without visiting in person.
Through the Dunn County Sheriff's Office (Arrest and Jail Records):
- Submit a written open records request to the Sheriff's Office by mail, email, or in person at 615 Stokke Pkwy, Menomonie, WI 54751.
- Identify the subject by full legal name, date of birth, and approximate date of arrest or booking.
- Allow the agency the statutory response period; under Wis. Stat. § 19.35, custodians must respond "as soon as practicable and without delay."
- Pay applicable copy fees upon fulfillment of the request.
Through the Wisconsin Department of Justice (Statewide Criminal History):
- Submit a name-based or fingerprint-based criminal history request through the Wisconsin DOJ Crime Information Bureau at wilenet.org.
- Fingerprint-based searches provide the most comprehensive and accurate results and are required for certain employment and licensing purposes.
- Fees apply for statewide criminal history searches conducted through the DOJ.
Dunn County Sheriff's Office 615 Stokke Pkwy, Menomonie, WI 54751 Dispatch (Non-Emergency): (715) 232-1348 | Toll-Free: (800) 459-2939 Sheriff's Office – Dunn County
How To Find Criminal Records in Dunn County Online?
Several official online portals currently provide access to Dunn County criminal records without requiring an in-person visit.
Wisconsin Court System Case Search The Wisconsin Court System's case search portal provides public access to circuit court case records statewide, including Dunn County. Users may search by party name, case number, or citation number. The portal returns case type, filing date, charges, case status, and disposition information. No registration is required to conduct a basic name search. The portal does not contain sealed, expunged, or juvenile records.
Dunn County Jail Roster The Dunn County Jail page provides information regarding current inmates housed at the Dunn County Jail facility. The jail is designed to house sentenced and non-sentenced male and female inmates. Members of the public may access current inmate information through this portal. Historical booking records not reflected in the current roster must be requested directly from the Sheriff's Office.
Dunn County Clerk of Courts Online Access The Dunn County Clerk of Courts office page provides contact information and guidance for accessing court records. Detailed case documents beyond summary information available through the statewide case search portal may require an in-person visit or a formal written records request.
Records available exclusively through in-person inspection or formal written request include sealed case documents, detailed sentencing orders, pre-sentence investigation reports, and certain law enforcement investigative files.
Dunn County Jail 3001 US-12, Menomonie, WI 54751 (715) 232-1348 Jail – Dunn County, WI
Can You Search Dunn 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. Fees may only be charged for the actual, necessary, and direct costs of reproduction or transcription of records.
The following resources are available at no cost:
- Wisconsin Court System case search — free name-based searches returning case summaries, charges, and dispositions for Dunn County Circuit Court cases
- Dunn County Jail inmate roster — free online access to current inmate information
- In-person inspection at the Clerk of Courts — free inspection of court files during public counter hours (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.)
- In-person inspection at the Sheriff's Office — free inspection of releasable arrest and booking records
Fees are assessed for the following:
- Photocopies of records (per-page fees set by the custodial agency)
- Certified copies of court documents
- Fingerprint-based criminal history searches through the Wisconsin DOJ
- Postage and handling for mailed records
What's Included in a Dunn County Criminal Record?
A complete Dunn 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 (SID) number assigned by the Wisconsin DOJ
- FBI number assigned for federal tracking purposes
Arrest and Booking Information:
- Date, time, and location of arrest
- Arresting agency (Sheriff's Office, municipal police, or other law enforcement)
- Booking number and booking date
- Charges filed at the time of arrest
- Bail or bond amount set
- Jail facility where the individual was held
Court Case Information:
- Case number and court of jurisdiction (Dunn County Circuit Court)
- Filing date and case type
- Charges and applicable Wisconsin statutes, including felony class (Class A through I) or misdemeanor class (Class A, B, or C)
- Entered plea (guilty, not guilty, or no contest)
- Attorney of record and prosecuting agency
Disposition Information:
- Verdict (guilty, not guilty, or dismissed)
- Conviction date
- Sentencing details, including type and length of sentence, fines, 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 traffic violations
- Pending charges not yet adjudicated
How Long Does Dunn County Keep Criminal Records?
Dunn County criminal records are retained in accordance with Wisconsin's public records retention schedules established under Wis. Stat. § 19.21, which governs the duties of officials with respect to the custody and preservation of public records. The Wisconsin Public Records Board issues general schedules applicable to county agencies.
Current retention periods for principal record categories include:
- Felony conviction records — retained permanently by the Clerk of Courts and the Wisconsin DOJ
- Misdemeanor conviction records — retained permanently at the state level; local court records retained for a minimum of 20 years following case closure
- Arrest records without conviction — retained for a minimum of 7 years by the arresting agency, subject to expungement orders
- Jail booking records — retained for a minimum of 7 years by the Dunn County Sheriff's Office
- Juvenile adjudication records — retained until the subject reaches age 25 or for a minimum of 5 years following the last entry, whichever is later, and are sealed from public access
- Expunged records — physically destroyed or sealed pursuant to court order; the Wisconsin expungement statute, Wis. Stat. § 973.015, governs eligibility and procedure for expungement of certain adult criminal records
State-mandated retention schedules are published by the Wisconsin Public Records Board and are available through the Wisconsin Historical Society. Agencies are prohibited from destroying records prior to the expiration of the applicable retention period without authorization from the Public Records Board.