Criminal records in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, are accessible through several channels — online tools, official court systems, law enforcement agencies, and the Clerk of Court's office. OzaukeeCourt.us allows you to search publicly available information about criminal cases in the county. Additionally, records can be obtained through the Wisconsin court system portal, the Ozaukee County Sheriff's office, and the Clerk of Circuit Court. Below are step-by-step instructions for each method.
How to Search Criminal Records in Ozaukee
To begin your search, you will need at least one of the following pieces of information:
- Full name of the person (first and last name)
- Date of birth
- Case number
Through OzaukeeCourt.us
Go to OzaukeeCourt.us and enter the name or case number in the search field. The service works with public court records of the county.
Online through Official Portals
- Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) — the main portal for searching court cases of all district courts in the state. Go to the case search page, select Ozaukee County, and enter the name or case number. Confidential case types are not displayed here.
- Wisconsin Online Record Check System (WORCS) — the criminal history check system from the Wisconsin Department of Justice. Suitable for formal background checks.
- Inmate Lookup — Inmate Lookup on the sheriff's office website shows individuals currently held in the county jail. Note: the sheriff's office does not guarantee the accuracy of this data.
- Wisconsin Department of Corrections — DOC provides information about offenders under state supervision.
In Person
Visit the Clerk of Circuit Court office at the Ozaukee County Justice Center. Public access terminals to court records are available there. You can also submit a request directly to the clerk.
By Mail or Written Request
Send a request for court records to the Clerk of Circuit Court by mail, email, or fax. Detailed information about the request procedure can be found on the Record Request page. For state-level criminal history checks, use the WORCS system from the Department of Justice.
Sheriff's office records (incident reports, arrest reports) are requested separately through the Open Records Request form.
Search Ozaukee Criminal Cases by Case Number
Each case in Wisconsin district courts receives a standardized number. Here's what it looks like:
Format: YYYY-XX-NNNNNN
- YYYY — year the case was filed (e.g., 2024)
- XX — case type code. For criminal cases, the most commonly used are:
- CF — felony
- CM — misdemeanor
- CT — traffic/criminal traffic
- FO — forfeiture (ordinance violation)
- NNNNNN — sequential case number within the year
Example: 2024-CF-000123 indicates a felony case filed in 2024 with sequential number 123. Enter this number in WCCA or on OzaukeeCourt.us for quick search of a specific case — without needing to know the defendant's name.
Charges, Case Status, Hearings, and Court Results in Ozaukee
Charges
| Element | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Statute Code | Reference to a specific section of the Wisconsin Statutes (e.g., § 940.01 — first-degree intentional homicide) |
| Severity | Felony, Misdemeanor, or Forfeiture (ordinance violation) |
| Class | Felony is classified from A to I; Misdemeanor from A to C. The class determines the maximum penalty. |
| Amended Charges | The prosecutor may amend the initial charges during the case — for example, reducing a felony to a misdemeanor as part of a plea agreement. |
Case Status
- Open / Active — the case is under court consideration
- Pending — awaiting the next procedural action
- Disposed / Closed — the case is concluded (verdict issued, closed, or dismissed)
Types of Hearings
- Initial Appearance — the defendant's first appearance before a judge; charges are announced, bail is set
- Preliminary Hearing — the judge determines if there is sufficient basis to proceed with the case (only for felony)
- Arraignment — the defendant officially responds to the charges: guilty, not guilty, or no contest
- Pre-Trial Conference — a meeting of parties to discuss evidence, possible agreements
- Jury/Court Trial — substantive consideration of the case
- Sentencing — sentencing after a guilty plea or conviction
Court Results
| Result | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Guilty | The defendant is found guilty |
| Not Guilty | The court or jury acquitted the defendant |
| Dismissed | The case is closed without a verdict — at the prosecutor's or court's initiative |
| No Contest (Nolo Contendere) | The defendant does not contest the charges but does not formally admit guilt; the court treats this as an admission for sentencing purposes |
| Deferred Judgment | The decision is postponed; if court requirements are met, the charges may be dropped |
| Acquitted | Full acquittal after substantive consideration |
How to Request Certified Criminal Records in Ozaukee
Certified copies of court records are issued by the Clerk of Circuit Court. These are official documents with the court seal, accepted by employers, attorneys, and government agencies.
Ways to Submit a Request
- In Person — visit the clerk's office at the Justice Center at the address below
- By Mail — send a written request specifying the full name of the party, case number (if known), and type of document needed
- By Email or Fax — contact details are provided on the Record Request page
Include in your request:
- Full name of the person for whom the record is needed
- Case number (if available)
- Type of document (e.g., judgment of conviction, complaint, sentencing order)
- Contact information for response
Identification is usually required for in-person requests. For mail requests, include a copy of ID if required by the clerk.
Sheriff's Office Records
To obtain copies of police reports, arrest reports, and other law enforcement records, contact the Ozaukee County Sheriff's Office.
State-Level Criminal History Check
The Wisconsin Department of Justice provides access to criminal history through WORCS. This check covers records from the entire state, not just a single county.
Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times for Criminal Records in Ozaukee
| Service | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Copy of court document (non-certified) | $1.25 per page | Wis. Stat. § 814.61(10)(a) |
| Certification | $5.00 per document | Wis. Stat. § 814.61(10)(b) |
| Criminal history check via WORCS | $7.00 per request | Wisconsin DOJ |
| Copies of sheriff's office records | $0.25 per page (usually) | Wis. Stat. § 19.35(3) |
Processing Times
- Court Records (Clerk of Court) — requests submitted in person are often processed the same day or the next business day. Mail requests usually take 5–10 business days.
- WORCS — results of online checks are generally available within minutes after submission.
- Sheriff's Records — according to Wis. Stat. § 19.35(4), a response to an open records request must be provided "as soon as practicable and without delay," but no later than within 10 business days. More complex requests may take longer.
Payment is usually accepted by check, money order, or cash for in-person requests. Confirm acceptable forms of payment directly with the clerk's or sheriff's office before sending a mail request.