What are Columbia County Arrest Records?
Columbia County arrest records are official documents containing an individual’s criminal history record within the jurisdiction of Columbia County. Arrest records usually describe circumstances that surround an individual’s arrests. It includes information on searches, inquiries, reports, logs, arrest warrants, and mug shots. However, these records do not provide definitive proof of a subject’s involvement in a crime. Thus, they may not replace detailed criminal history information. The Columbia County Sherriff’s Office is the primary custodian of arrest records in Columbia. Alternatively, an individual may use State Records’ online search tools.
Crime Statistics
According to data from the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Columbia County reported a total of 961 offenses in 2019. Larceny-theft was the most reported crime and accounted for 51.2% of the index crimes at 492 incidents. Simple assault was the second most reported offense and accounted for 25.9% of the index crimes at 249 incidents. Burglary was the third most reported offense and constituted 7.9% at 76 incidents. There were also 21 cases of rape and 2 cases of homicide.
From 2018 to 2019, the reported index offenses in Columbia County increased by 4.7%. Larceny-theft increased by 16.9%, burglary rose by 6.6% while simple assault dropped by 3.3%. However, there was a year-on-year decrease in reported cases of rape from 27 incidents while homicide rates remained unchanged.
What are Columbia County Criminal Records?
Columbia County criminal records are documents of an individual’s criminal history within the county’s jurisdiction. These records include documents on an individual’s arrests, warrants, past criminal charges, current criminal charges as well as convictions and sentences.
How Do I Get Columbia County Criminal Records?
Unless sealed by state statute or court order, Columbia County criminal records are public records. Members of the public seeking information on criminal records may direct their request to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office located at:
Law Enforcement Center
711 East Cook Street
P.O. Box 132
Portage, WI 53901
Alternatively, the Wisconsin Department of Justice provides criminal records for free. Interested parties can submit a request via the Wisconsin Online Record Check System. Likewise, some third-party service providers allow access to publicly available records online. Since geographical location does not limit search engines, they are useful to search for specific and/or multiple records.
However, third-party search engines cannot guarantee record availability since they are not government-sponsored. To query the search engines on third party sites, use:
- The location of the record
- The name of the individual involved (juvenile records are often unavailable)
How to Find Columbia County Sex Offender Information
The Wisconsin Department of Corrections is the central custodian of the Sex Offender Registry. The registry is useful to track convicted and wanted sex offenders. Information about registered sex offenders in Columbia County is publicly available on the online sex offender registry (SOR).
How do I Visit an Inmate in Columbia County Jail?
Inmates serve time at the Columbia County Jail and Huber Center located at:
403 Jackson Street
Portage, WI, 53901
Phone: (608) 742-6476
Visitors must be fully and properly dressed. The visitation time on weekdays is from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on weekends. Furthermore, visitors must be the inmate’s visitation list and must carry a government-issued ID. A parent or legal guardian must accompany visitors under 16 years. Visitors should phone the jail administration before a visit.
Where And How To Find Columbia County Inmate Information
Individuals may call the Columbia County Jail directly to request information on a current inmate or check its Jail Bookings. Likewise, information on inmates currently housed at Columbia County Jail is accessible on the Wisconsin Department of Corrections inmate locator. Either way, the searcher must know the inmate’s full name or inmate ID. To narrow down the search, provide information such as approximate age, sex, and date of birth.
What are Columbia County Court Records?
Columbia County court records are documents, files, and transcripts of everything that occurs during a legal process. Under the Wisconsin Open Records Law, courts are required to provide court records as they are public documents. The court generates and maintains them from when a litigant files a case to when a judge delivers a verdict as well as when a party files an appeal. The Clerk of Courts maintains court records in Columbia. To access a court record, the requester must visit the Clerk’s Office in person and present the litigant’s name or case number. Hearing dates are also useful to find court records.
Alternatively, the Wisconsin Court System serves as a central repository of court cases in the state. By using online search tools on the judiciary website, an individual can also access court records in Columbia County.
Location of all Courts in Columbia County
This is a list of the addresses and contact information of courts in Columbia County:
Columbia County Circuit Court
P.O. Box 587,
Portage, WI 53901
Phone: (608) 742-2191
Fax: (608) 742-9601
City of Wisconsin Dells Municipal Court
300 La Crosse Street,
Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965
Phone: (608) 254-2442
Fax: (608) 254-7329
Eastern Columbia County Joint Municipal Court
641 South Main Street,
P.O. Box 96,
Fall River, WI 53932
Phone: (920) 484-6320
Fax: (920) 484-6321
Portage Municipal Court
115 West Pleasant Street,
Portage, WI 53901
Phone: (608) 742-2258
Fax: (608) 742-8623
What are Columbia County Vital Records?
Vital records in Columbia are official documents of all life events that occur within county jurisdiction. This includes documents that pertain to all births, deaths, marriages, and marriage dissolution. The County Clerk is the local custodian for vital records while the Wisconsin Department of Health is the central repository of all vital records in the state.
Where And How To Get Columbia County Divorce Records
Columbia County divorce records are obtained at the office of the Clerk of Courts. Eligible individuals may obtain certified copies in person or by mail. The requester must also contact the Clerk’s Office for the associated costs.
Direct requests to:
Columbia County Clerk of Circuit Court
400 DeWitt Street,
P.O. Box 587
Portage, WI 53901
Phone: (608) 742-2191
Fax: (608) 742-9601
Alternatively, the Vital Records Division of the Wisconsin Department of Health disseminates divorce records. The requester must complete and sign an application form and attach a photocopy of a valid ID. The standard fee is $20.00 per certified copy and $3.00 for additional copies. Payment can be made by check or money order made payable to the State of Wisconsin Vital Records.
Direct mail and in-person requests to:
Wisconsin Vital Records Office
P.O. Box 309
Madison, WI 53701
Where And How To Get Columbia County Marriage Records
The County Clerk issues marriage licenses in Columbia County. Eligible individuals may obtain certified copies of marriage records in person or by mail. The requester must also contact the Clerk’s Office for the associated costs.
Direct requests to:
Columbia County Clerk’s Office
112 East Edgewater Street
Portage, WI 53901
Phone: (608) 742-9654
Alternatively, the Vital Records Division of the Wisconsin Department of Health disseminates marriage records. The requester must complete and sign an application form and attach a photocopy of a valid ID. The standard fee is $20.00 per certified copy and $3.00 for additional copies. Payment can be made by check or money order made payable to the State of Wisconsin Vital Records.
Direct mail and in-person requests to:
Wisconsin Vital Records Office
P.O. Box 309
Madison, WI 53701
Where And How To Get Columbia County Birth Records
The Vital Records Division of the Wisconsin Department of Health disseminates birth records in Columbia County. The requester must complete and sign an application form and attach a photocopy of a valid ID. The standard fee is $20.00 per certified copy and $3.00 for additional copies. Payment can be made by check or money order made payable to the State of Wisconsin Vital Records.
Direct mail and in-person requests to:
Wisconsin Vital Records Office
P.O. Box 309
Madison, WI 53701
Where And How To Get Columbia County Death Records
The Vital Records Division of the Wisconsin Department of Health disseminates death records in Columbia County. The requester must complete and sign an application form and attach a photocopy of a valid ID. The standard fee is $20.00 per certified copy and $3.00 for additional copies. Payment can be made via check or money order made payable to the State of Wisconsin Vital Records.
Direct mail and in-person requests to:
Wisconsin Vital Records Office
P.O. Box 309
Madison, WI 53701
In addition to government agencies, county public records may also be obtained from third-party websites. These non-government platforms come with intuitive tools that allow for expansive searches. Record seekers may either opt to use these tools to search for a specific record or multiple records. Users are able to search third-party websites remotely for multiple records at a time with just the name of the record subject and their last known location, including the city, county, or state. Third-party sites are not sponsored by government agencies. Because of this, record availability and results may vary.
