Crime Numbers
The Justice Information Analysis Bureau of the Wisconsin Department of Justice publishes yearly Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) data for offenses and arrests that occurred in the State of Wisconsin. Crime data for Eau Claire County for 2019 showed there were 231 violent crimes and 1,983 property crimes reported in the county for a total of 2,214 index crimes. Of the violent crimes reported there was no homicide but 80 reports were for rape, 21 were for robbery, and 130 were for aggravated assault. Property crime reports included 341 burglary reports, 1,552 larceny-theft reports, 87 motor vehicle theft reports, and 3 arson reports.
When compared with figures from 2015, the county’s 2019 crime statistics show a 0.1% decline in total index crimes. There were increases in reports of rape (+263%), robbery (+23.5%), aggravated assault (+35.4%), and burglary (+5.6%) while reports for larceny-theft and motor vehicle theft declined by 6.9% and 1.1% respectively. The rates for arson and homicide reports showed no change.
Criminal Records
The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) retains and maintains the statewide repository for criminal history information. The complete collection of criminal history information in Wisconsin consists of a centralized fingerprint criminal history database, which is composed of criminal history information based on arrest fingerprint cards submitted by law enforcement agencies, and information available in the CHRI. The Criminal History Record Information (CHRI) consists of information about arrests, charges, demographics, and related final disposition reports from relevant court officers and corrections agencies. The Criminal Information Bureau (CIB) unit of the DOJ is tasked with the dissemination of criminal history information to the public upon request.
Wisconsin criminal records are public records and may be searched, viewed, and copied by any member of the public who meets the statutory obligations of being an adult and paying the established fee. Certain criminal records such as records involving juveniles and victims of abuse are sealed records. Sealed records are only available to a third party upon the issuance of a court order. Wisconsin allows for criminal records to be made available online and upon request by mail.
To facilitate the search for Wisconsin criminal records online, the DOJ provides the Wisconsin Online Record Check System (WORCS). The system enables members of the public to search Wisconsin criminal history information online for a fee. Users are required to register accounts and can set up monthly billing schedules if so desired. Criminal records searches cost $7 per request. The Department of Health and Family Services (DHFS) adds a $3 surcharge for operators of daycares and caregivers who are required to obtain a license from the DHFS to operate in Wisconsin.
There are typically two types of request forms for criminal record searches- Single Name Record Requests and Multiple Names Record Requests. Use the appropriate form when submitting a request by mail. All named-based criminal record checks cost $12 per request (which includes a $5 surcharge for paper copies) and daycare operators and caregivers must also pay the $3 DHFS surcharge. To initiate a request, submit the completed form, a stamped self-addressed envelope, and the complete payment to the CIB unit of the Wisconsin DOJ. All payments are non-refundable and in the event of a requested record not being found, a “No Record” certificate will be returned to the requester.
Fingerprint-based criminal record searches are required for obtaining official documents such as police certificates or statements of good conduct. A request of this nature cannot be completed online as it requires the requester’s fingerprints. Assistance with obtaining a set of fingerprints can be secured from the local sheriff’s office or police departments. These types of requests cost a total of $20 (which includes a $5 surcharge for paper copies).
Send all mail requests for Wisconsin criminal records to:
Crime Information Bureau
Record Check Unit
P.O. Box 2688
Madison, WI 53701-2688
(608) 266-5764
Individuals in Eau Claire County can request for personal criminal history checks from the Office of the Eau Claire Sheriff. To request for this criminal justice record, contact the Sheriff’s Office on (715) 839-4701 or complete the Authorization form and return it to:
Eau Claire County Sheriff’s Office
Records Division
721 Oxford Avenue
Suite 1400
Eau Claire, WI 54703
It is also possible to submit the Authorization form by email.
Eau Claire County traffic crash reports and incident reports are no longer provided on the Eau Claire County website by the Sheriff’s Office due to concerns about the privacy of personal information. To request for traffic crash reports or incident reports contact the Sheriff’s Office on (715) 839-4701 or request copies of traffic crash reports and incident reports by completing the Report Request Form and mailing it to the Sheriff’s Office. Request forms can also be sent by fax to (715) 839-4854.
The sex offender registry for the State of Wisconsin is maintained by the Wisconsin Department of Corrections (DOC). The DOC provides limited access to the information available in the registry, to members of the public. Retrieve information about sex offenders registered in Eau Claire County from the Wisconsin Sex Offender website or through the toll-free number: (800) 398-2403. Details about registered sex offenders scheduled to be released from incarceration are sent to local law enforcement agencies as special bulletin notifications, if the offenders are considered to pose significant risks to communities. It is the decision of the law enforcement agency whether or not to share these details with the public.
The only adult correctional facility in Eau Claire County is the Eau Claire County Jail. it is run by the Security Services Division of the Eau Claire County Sheriff and is located at:
710 Second Avenue
Eau Claire, WI 54703
(715) 839-4072
The North West Regional Juvenile Detention Center is also located in Eau Claire County at:
Government Center
721 Oxford Avenue
Suite 3450
Eau Claire, WI 54703
Phone: (715) 839-6086
Fax: (715) 839-1663
The Sheriff’s Office provides a jail roster on its website which provides a current listing of all inmates in the Eau Claire County jail. Information on the list is updated between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., Mondays through Fridays. For more accurate updated information on current inmates, call (715) 839-4702.
Family and friends of an inmate can deposit money into the inmate’s commissary account by:
- Mailing a money order made out to “Inmate’s name” to the Eau Claire County Jail. Each inmate is only allowed one money order per week and the value should not exceed $50.
- Using the public kiosks available in the county jail lobby
- Using Inmate Canteen’s online web service
Court Records
Eau Claire County has one Circuit Court and one Municipal Court. The Circuit Court has exclusive jurisdiction over all criminal cases except for most ordinance violations, as well as jurisdiction over general civil claims, civil equity cases, domestic relations, issues of probate, and most juvenile cases. The Circuit Court in Eau Claire County is located at:
Eau Claire County Circuit Court
Eau Claire County Courthouse
Suite 2220
721 Oxford Avenue
Eau Claire, WI 54703
Phone: (715) 839-4816
Fax: (715) 839-4817
The Municipal Court has exclusive jurisdiction over most ordinance violations, and will also handle certain juvenile cases including truancy, alcohol and drug offenses, curfew violations, and cases that do not require a jury trial. The Municipal Court located in Eau Claire County is at:
City of Augusta Municipal Court
145 W. Lincoln Street
P.O. Box 475
Augusta, WI 54722
Phone: (715) 286-2555
Fax: (715) 286-5606
Access to case files and court records from Circuit Courts in Wisconsin is available on the Wisconsin Judicial website ’s online case search portal. Use the search tools on the website to find Eau Claire County Circuit Court records.
Eau Claire County court records can be obtained in person using the public access computer terminals located in the lobby of the courthouse. Case files that have been scanned are available on the public access terminal and can be viewed, purchased, and printed from the terminal. There is a $1.25 fee per page for obtaining copies of documents. The staff of the Office of the Clerk of Court can also locate records on a requestor’s behalf for a fee of $5. Requested records that have not been scanned, and thus not available on the public access terminals, will be located by the Clerk of Court’s Office staff. Copies of these records can be printed for a fee of $1.25 per page. The Clerk of Court charges a statutory fee of $5 for certification of record copies.
Alternatively, call the Clerk of Court’s Office on (715) 839-4816 to make a record request. The case number, document name, and filing date of the required record must be provided when making the request or a $5 fee will be charged. The file will be located and a page count will be provided to ascertain the correct fee. Copies of the required record can be faxed or mailed to the requester. Faxed requests cannot exceed 15 pages of a record and certified copies of records cannot be faxed. If a request is to be returned by mail, then the requester must provide a stamped and self-addressed envelope when making the request. Payments for copies of records can be made by checks or money orders made payable to the Clerk of Courts or by credit or debit cards.
Vital Records
Vital records refer to all birth, death, marriage, and divorce records. Certified copies of a Eau Claire County vital record can only be received upon request by
- A person named on the record
- immediate family members of persons named on the record
- legal guardians of a person named on the record
- representatives of a person named on the record (with written and notarized authorization)
- Any person who can prove that information on the record is required for personal or property rights
Certified copies of records cost $20 per copy and $3 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time.
To obtain copies of divorce certificates in Eau Claire County, submit a request to the County Register of Deeds in person, by mail, or online. Use the Wisconsin Divorce Certificate Application form for in-person and mail submissions. Include a copy of a valid photo ID and a check or money order for the fee and submit the request to:
Register of Deeds
Eau Claire County
Government Center
7210 Oxford Avenue
Suite 1310
Eau Claire, WI 54703-5481
Phone: (715) 839-4745
Fax: (715) 855-6242
Certified copies of marriage records for Eau Claire County are available from the County Register of Deeds. Requests can be made for copies of records online, in person, or by mail. Make mail and in-person requests using the Wisconsin Marriage Certificate Application form. Complete the form and return to the Office of the Eau Claire Register of Deeds along with a check or money order for the fee and a copy of a valid photo ID.
To obtain copies of birth and death certificates for Eau Claire County, submit requests to the County Register of Deeds. Use the birth application forms for requests for copies of birth certificates and the death application form for requests for copies of death certificates. Completed forms should be accompanied by copies of valid photo IDs and payments for the complete fees.
All vital records for the State of Wisconsin, from 1907 to the present, are available from the Vital Records Office of the Wisconsin Department of Health located at 1 West Wilson Street, P.O.Box 309, Madison, WI 53701-0309. To receive copies of vital records from the Vital Records Office, submit requests online, by mail, or in person.
