Oconto County Public Records / Oconto County Arrest Records

Oconto County Arrest Records

How To Look Up Arrest Records in Oconto County in 2026

OcontoRecords.us provides data and publicly available information related to arrest records in Oconto County, Wisconsin. Members of the public may find booking records, charge information, custody status, court case references, mugshots, and bond details through the resources described below. Record availability varies by agency and the nature of the underlying case.

Members of the public may search arrest records through official resources including the Oconto County Sheriff's Office, local police departments, the Clerk of Court, and state-level online tools. The following sections detail each available method.

Online Methods:

1. County Sheriff's Office Arrest Records

The Oconto County Sheriff's Office maintains booking records and, at present, provides public access to jail roster information through its official website. Members of the public may search by name to identify individuals currently in custody or recently booked. The roster is updated on a regular basis and includes the arrestee's name, charges, booking date, and custody status. The Sheriff's Office website is the primary online source for current arrest and booking information within the county.

2. Local Police Departments

The City of Oconto Police Department and the City of Oconto Falls Police Department serve as the primary municipal law enforcement agencies within Oconto County. Both departments may publish press releases containing arrest information on their respective websites or through local media outlets. Members of the public seeking arrest logs from a specific municipal jurisdiction should contact the relevant department directly, as online arrest log availability varies by agency.

City of Oconto Police Department
1210 Main St, Oconto, WI 54153
Phone: (920) 834-7711
City of Oconto

City of Oconto Falls Police Department
1111 Superior Ave, Oconto Falls, WI 54154
Phone: (920) 846-3311
City of Oconto Falls

3. County Clerk of Court Case Search

Court cases arising from arrests in Oconto County are accessible through the Wisconsin Court System case search portal. Members of the public may search by the arrestee's name to locate associated criminal case filings, charge information, hearing dates, and case dispositions. This tool covers circuit court cases statewide, including those originating in Oconto County Circuit Court.

4. State Law Enforcement Database

The Wisconsin Department of Justice maintains the state criminal history repository. Members of the public may request a criminal history record through the Wisconsin DOJ Crime Information Bureau. A fee of $7.00 applies to public record name-based searches submitted online. The repository includes arrest and conviction data reported by law enforcement agencies throughout Wisconsin.

In-Person Access:

Sheriff's Office:
301 Washington St, Oconto, WI 54153
Phone: (920) 834-6900
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM
Oconto County Sheriff's Office

Members of the public visiting in person should bring a valid government-issued photo identification and, where available, the subject's full legal name, date of birth, and approximate arrest date. Fees for copies of records are assessed at the time of the request.

Clerk of Court:
301 Washington St, Oconto, WI 54153
Phone: (920) 834-6857
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM
Oconto County Clerk of Court

By Mail:

Written requests submitted by mail to the Oconto County Sheriff's Office should include the subject's full legal name, date of birth, approximate date of arrest, booking number if known, and the requestor's full contact information. Payment for applicable copy fees should accompany the request. Processing time varies based on request volume.

By Phone:

The Sheriff's Office may be reached at (920) 834-6900 during regular business hours. Telephone inquiries are limited in scope; staff may direct callers to the online system or advise an in-person visit for detailed record access.

Through Legal Channels:

Attorneys may request records through formal discovery processes or by subpoena. Detailed investigative files and police reports not otherwise available to the general public may be obtained through these legal mechanisms in connection with active legal proceedings.

Information Needed for Search:

Full legal name (first and last at minimum)
Date of birth or approximate age
Approximate date of arrest
Booking number (if known)
Location of arrest (which jurisdiction)

Are Arrest Records Public in Oconto County

Arrest records in Oconto County are public records under Wisconsin law. Wisconsin Statute § 19.35 establishes the right of any person to inspect public records maintained by government agencies, including law enforcement records. As the Wisconsin Department of Justice has stated, "Wisconsin's public records law reflects the state's commitment to open government and the public's right to know about the activities of its government." Arrest records are maintained by government agencies in the exercise of their official duties and are therefore subject to public inspection absent a specific statutory exemption.

What Arrest Information Is Public:

Arrestee name and aliases
Date and time of arrest
Location of arrest
Arresting agency
Charges filed at time of arrest
Booking number
Mugshot/booking photograph
Bond and bail information
Custody status
Basic demographic information (age, physical description)

Limitations on Public Access:

Juvenile arrest records (restricted or sealed under Wisconsin law)
Expunged arrest records (removed from public access by court order)
Sealed records (court-ordered confidentiality)
Active investigation information that would compromise law enforcement operations
Undercover officer identities
Confidential informant information
Victim identifying information in certain cases
Witness protection participants

Constitutional and Legal Basis:

Article IV, Section 26 of the Wisconsin Constitution affirms the principle of open government. The balance between transparency and individual privacy is addressed through the exemptions enumerated in § 19.36 of the Wisconsin Statutes, which identifies categories of records that may be withheld from public disclosure. First Amendment protections support press access to arrest information as a matter of public interest.

Who Can Access Arrest Records:

General public
Media organizations
Employers (subject to restrictions under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act)
Landlords (subject to applicable restrictions)
Licensing agencies
Background check companies
Attorneys and legal professionals
Academic researchers

Restrictions on Use:

The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) governs the use of arrest records in employment and housing screening. Arrests that did not result in conviction may not be reported by consumer reporting agencies after seven years under certain circumstances. Wisconsin does not currently have a statewide "ban the box" law applicable to private employers, though individual municipalities may have adopted local ordinances. The distinction between an arrest and a conviction is legally significant; an arrest record does not establish guilt.

What's in Oconto County Arrest Records

Arrest records maintained by Oconto County law enforcement agencies contain several categories of information compiled at the time of booking and during the arrest process.

Personal Identification Information:

Full legal name and any aliases
Date of birth and age at time of arrest
Sex and race
Height, weight, eye color, and hair color
Identifying marks such as scars or tattoos
Address at time of arrest (may be limited in public release)

Arrest Details:

Arrest date and time
Location of arrest
Arresting agency and, in some cases, arresting officer name and badge number
Booking date, time, and booking number
Warrant information if the arrest was warrant-based

Charges Information:

Specific criminal charges and statute numbers violated
Charge classification (felony degree or misdemeanor class)
Number of counts per charge
Domestic violence designation if applicable

Booking Information:

Booking facility name and location
Booking photograph (mugshot)
Fingerprints (collected but not typically included in public record releases)
Personal property inventory

Custody and Bond Information:

Current custody status
Bond amount and bond type (cash bond, surety bond, personal recognizance, or no bond)
Release date and time if released
Release conditions if made public

Court Information:

Court case number assigned
Scheduled arraignment date
Court jurisdiction and judge assignment if available

What's Typically NOT in Public Arrest Records:

Detailed narrative of the arrest from the police report
Witness statements
Victim identifying information
Evidence collected during investigation
Medical or mental health information
Social Security number (redacted)
Financial account information

Difference Between Arrest Records and Related Documents:

Police reports: Contain detailed incident narratives not always available to the public
Court records: Document legal proceedings following the arrest
Criminal records: Reflect convictions and sentences imposed
Background checks: Compile information from multiple sources including court and law enforcement databases

How Much Does It Cost to Get Arrest Records in Oconto County?

Members of the public may inspect public records at no charge under Wisconsin law; fees apply to copies and certified documents. The following fee structure reflects current standard charges:

Record Type	Fee
Paper copies	$0.25 per page (standard)
Certified copies	$5.00 per document (Clerk of Court)
Criminal history record check (DOJ)	$7.00 per name search
Electronic records	Varies by agency

Wisconsin Statute § 19.35(3) governs the fees that may be charged for public records and provides that fees shall not exceed the actual, necessary, and direct cost of reproduction. Fees for locating and retrieving records may also be assessed in certain circumstances. The Clerk of Court and Sheriff's Office each maintain their own fee schedules consistent with this statutory framework.

Accepted payment methods at the Oconto County Sheriff's Office and Clerk of Court include cash, check, and money order payable to the respective agency. Members of the public should confirm accepted payment methods prior to submitting a request.

Fee Waivers:

Wisconsin law does not mandate a blanket fee waiver for indigent requestors, though agencies retain discretion to reduce or waive fees in appropriate circumstances. Individuals seeking their own records for purposes of expungement proceedings may inquire about applicable fee reductions at the time of the request.

What Is Available at No Cost:

In-person inspection of public records (no copy fee for viewing only)
Online case search through the Wisconsin Court System portal
Online jail roster viewing through the Sheriff's Office website

How To Delete Arrest Records in Oconto County

Wisconsin law provides for expungement of certain arrest and conviction records, which results in the sealing of the record from public access. Expungement and sealing are distinct remedies: expungement under Wisconsin Statute § 973.015 results in the record being sealed so that it is not accessible to the public, while the underlying record is retained by law enforcement and the court. As the Wisconsin Court System has noted, "Expungement does not destroy the record; it seals it from public view."

Eligibility for Expungement in Wisconsin:

The offense must have been committed before the person reached age 25
The person must have successfully completed their sentence
The court must have ordered expungement at the time of sentencing (for offenses committed on or after July 1, 2016, the petition may be filed after sentence completion)
Certain serious offenses, including Class H and Class I felonies under specified circumstances, and violent offenses, are not eligible

Steps to Seek Expungement:

Confirm eligibility based on the offense, age at time of offense, and sentence completion status
Obtain the case number from the Oconto County Circuit Court
File a petition for expungement with the Oconto County Circuit Court
Serve the petition on the District Attorney's Office
Attend the scheduled hearing
If granted, the court issues an order directing the Clerk of Court and law enforcement agencies to seal the record

Oconto County Circuit Court
301 Washington St, Oconto, WI 54153
Phone: (920) 834-6857
Oconto County Circuit Court

Oconto County District Attorney's Office
301 Washington St, Oconto, WI 54153
Phone: (920) 834-6858
Wisconsin District Attorneys

Individuals who were arrested but not charged, or whose charges were dismissed, may also petition the court for expungement of the arrest record. Third-party commercial databases are not subject to court expungement orders and may retain records independently; individuals must contact those entities separately to request removal.

What Happens After Arrest in Oconto County?

Immediate Post-Arrest Process:

1. Transport to Jail

Following an arrest in Oconto County, the arrested person is transported to the Oconto County Jail for booking. The jail is located at the Oconto County Sheriff's Office facility.

Oconto County Jail
301 Washington St, Oconto, WI 54153
Phone: (920) 834-6900
Oconto County Sheriff's Office

2. Booking Process

Upon arrival at the jail, the booking process is initiated. This process involves recording personal information, photographing the individual (mugshot), collecting fingerprints, conducting a criminal history and outstanding warrants check, inventorying personal property, completing a medical screening, and assigning housing classification. The booking process typically takes between one and four hours depending on facility volume.

3. First Appearance/Initial Hearing

Under Wisconsin law, an arrested person must be brought before a judge or court commissioner within 48 hours of arrest for an initial appearance. At this hearing, the court formally notifies the individual of the charges, determines bond or bail, advises the individual of their rights, and, if the individual is indigent, initiates the process for appointment of a public defender. Initial appearances in Oconto County are conducted at the Oconto County Circuit Court and may be held via video conference.

Bond/Bail Process:

Types of Bond:

Cash Bond: The full bond amount must be paid in cash. The amount is refunded upon conclusion of the case, minus applicable fees, provided all court appearances are made.

Surety Bond: The individual engages a licensed bail bondsman, who posts the full bond amount in exchange for a non-refundable premium, which is set at 10% of the bond amount under Wisconsin law.

Personal Recognizance (PR Bond): The individual is released on a written promise to appear at all future court dates. No monetary payment is required. Eligibility is based on community ties, employment, criminal history, the nature of the charges, and assessed flight risk.

No Bond: The court may order that an individual be held without bond in cases involving serious violent offenses, demonstrated flight risk, danger to the community, probation or parole violations, immigration holds, or out-of-state warrants.

Conditions of Release:

Release conditions may include regular check-in requirements, travel restrictions, no-contact orders, drug and alcohol testing, GPS monitoring, and pretrial supervision through the Oconto County Pretrial Services program.

4. Release or Continued Detention

If bond is posted, the individual is processed for release, which typically takes between one and eight hours. The individual receives their personal property, a written notice of court dates, and written conditions of release. Failure to appear at any scheduled court date results in bond forfeiture and issuance of a bench warrant.

If bond is not posted, the individual remains in custody, receives a housing assignment, and is oriented to jail rules, commissary, phone privileges, and visitation schedules.

Accessing Legal Representation:

Public Defender:

Wisconsin State Public Defender – Oconto County
Serves Oconto County through the regional office
Phone: (920) 448-5000 (Green Bay Regional Office)
Wisconsin State Public Defender

Eligibility for a public defender is based on financial need. The application is completed at or shortly after the initial appearance.

Private Attorney:

Individuals have the right to retain private counsel at any stage of the proceedings. The State Bar of Wisconsin maintains a lawyer referral service for individuals seeking private representation.

Charging Decision:

The Oconto County District Attorney's Office reviews the arrest and determines whether to file formal charges, request additional investigation, decline prosecution, or file different charges. This review occurs within days to weeks of the arrest depending on the complexity of the case. For felony offenses, the prosecution proceeds by information following a preliminary hearing, or by grand jury indictment.

Arraignment:

At arraignment, the court formally reads the charges and the defendant enters a plea of not guilty, guilty, or no contest. The majority of defendants enter a not guilty plea at arraignment, and subsequent court dates are scheduled.

Court Process Overview:

The pretrial phase includes discovery, pretrial motions (including motions to suppress evidence or dismiss charges), pretrial conferences, and plea negotiations. Case resolution may occur through dismissal, diversion programs such as drug court or mental health court, a negotiated plea agreement, or trial. Wisconsin provides defendants the right to a jury trial for most criminal charges.

Sentencing (if convicted):

Upon conviction, the court imposes a sentence that may include incarceration, probation, fines, restitution, community service, treatment programming, or a combination of these. Credit is applied for time served in pretrial detention.

Timeline Overview:

Arrest to first appearance: Within 48 hours
First appearance to arraignment: Days to weeks
Arraignment to trial or resolution: Months, varying by case complexity
Misdemeanors: Resolved within several months in most cases
Felonies: May extend to a year or more depending on complexity
Right to speedy trial: Guaranteed under Article I, Section 7 of the Wisconsin Constitution

Rights Throughout Process:

Right to remain silent
Right to an attorney
Right to a speedy trial
Right to confront witnesses
Right to present a defense
Right against self-incrimination
Right to appeal a conviction

Important Contacts:

Oconto County Sheriff's Office (Jail)
301 Washington St, Oconto, WI 54153
Phone: (920) 834-6900
Oconto County Sheriff's Office

Oconto County Clerk of Court
301 Washington St, Oconto, WI 54153
Phone: (920) 834-6857
Wisconsin Court System – Oconto County

Oconto County District Attorney's Office
301 Washington St, Oconto, WI 54153
Phone: (920) 834-6858
Wisconsin District Attorneys Association

Wisconsin State Public Defender
Phone: (920) 448-5000 (Green Bay Regional Office)
Wisconsin State Public Defender

What to Do If You're Arrested:

Remain calm and cooperative with law enforcement
Do not physically resist arrest
Exercise the right to remain silent by politely declining to answer questions
Request an attorney immediately and do not waive this right
Do not discuss the case with anyone other than your attorney
Contact family or friends to assist with bail if needed
Attend all scheduled court dates without exception
Comply with all conditions of release

How Long Are Arrest Records Kept in Oconto County?

Arrest record retention in Oconto County is governed by Wisconsin law and the policies of the applicable agency. The Wisconsin Public Records Board establishes retention schedules for government records, and law enforcement agencies are required to comply with these schedules.

Arrest Records Retention by Type:

Active Arrest Records (Conviction Resulted):

Felony Convictions:

Retained permanently by the Sheriff's Office, Clerk of Court, Wisconsin DOJ criminal history repository, and the FBI's National Crime Information Center (NCIC)
No destruction authorized

Misdemeanor Convictions:

Retained permanently in court records
Local law enforcement records retained pursuant to the Wisconsin Public Records Board schedule, which provides for permanent retention of conviction-related records in most categories

Arrest Records (No Conviction):

Dismissed Charges:

Local law enforcement records are retained for a minimum period established by the Wisconsin Public Records Board, and may remain accessible unless expunged by court order
Court records are retained permanently in electronic form
State repository retains the record unless updated following expungement

Acquittals:

Court records are retained permanently
Local law enforcement records are retained per the applicable retention schedule
Records may be eligible for expungement petition

Charges Not Filed:

Booking records are retained for a minimum period per the retention schedule
May be eligible for expungement petition in appropriate circumstances

Digital vs. Physical Records:

Physical Records:

Booking paperwork and fingerprint cards are retained per the Wisconsin Public Records Board schedule
Photographs are retained for the duration of the applicable retention period

Digital Records:

Computer-aided dispatch (CAD) records and records management system entries are often retained permanently
Electronic court records are maintained permanently by the Wisconsin Court System
Mugshot databases maintained by third-party commercial entities are not subject to law enforcement retention schedules

Third-Party Databases:

Commercial background check companies and mugshot aggregation websites may retain arrest records indefinitely and are not required to update records following expungement unless they operate as consumer reporting agencies subject to the FCRA. Individuals whose records have been expunged should contact these entities directly to request removal.

Retention by Agency:

Sheriff's Office:
301 Washington St, Oconto, WI 54153
Phone: (920) 834-6900
Oconto County Sheriff's Office

Booking records, arrest reports, and investigative files are retained per the Wisconsin Public Records Board General Schedule for Law Enforcement Records.

Clerk of Court:
301 Washington St, Oconto, WI 54153
Phone: (920) 834-6857
Oconto County Clerk of Court

Felony case files are retained permanently. Misdemeanor and traffic case files are retained for periods specified in the Wisconsin Court System records retention schedule. Electronic records are maintained permanently.

State Repository:

The Wisconsin Department of Justice Crime Information Bureau maintains the state criminal history repository, which includes arrest and disposition data reported by all law enforcement agencies in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin DOJ Crime Information Bureau retains records in accordance with state law and updates records upon receipt of expungement orders from the courts.

FBI Database:

The FBI's NCIC and Interstate Identification Index (III) retain records at the federal level, accessible to law enforcement agencies nationwide for background checks related to employment, firearms purchases, and other purposes. Federal retention is permanent for most categories of records.

Effect of Disposition on Retention:

Conviction: Permanent retention in all major databases; appears on background checks indefinitely
Dismissal: Remains in databases unless expunged; local retention varies
Expungement: Local records sealed; state repository updated; FBI database may retain with notation; removal from third-party databases requires separate action
No charges filed: Shortest retention period; may be purged automatically after the applicable retention period or upon petition

Impact on Background Checks:

Under the FCRA, most employment background checks cover a seven-year period for non-conviction records. Convictions may be reported indefinitely. Wisconsin does not currently impose a statewide restriction on reporting convictions after a specified period, though expunged records are not to be disclosed by agencies subject to the expungement order.

How to Check Retention Status:

Members of the public may contact the Oconto County Sheriff's Records Division at (920) 834-6900 to inquire about the retention status of a specific arrest record. A formal public records request submitted in writing may be required, and applicable fees may apply for copies of responsive records.