Crime Numbers
The Wisconsin Department of Justice provides crime statistics for Jefferson County. In 2019, the county had a total of 369 violent crimes including 28 rapes, 8 robberies, 91 aggravated assaults, and 242 simple assaults. There were no murders in that year but 821 property crimes were recorded. These include 119 burglaries, 653 larcenies, 48 motor vehicle thefts, and 1 arson.
Between 2015 and 2019, homicides (-100%), robberies (-47%), simple assaults (-8%), burglaries (-19%), larcenies (-32.6%), and arsons (-75%) declined in Jefferson County. However, aggravated assaults (16.7%), and motor vehicle thefts (29.7%) both increased in the same five-year period.
Criminal Records
Statewide criminal records are available at the Wisconsin Department of Justice through its Wisconsin Online Record Check System (WORCS). Register for a WORCS account to search the public database. Provide exact details for requested records, including date of birth, last name, first name, and social security number.
Requesters may also contact the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office for criminal records, using the details below:
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office
411 South Center Avenue
Jefferson, WI 53549
Phone: (920) 674-7310
Fax: (920) 674-7126
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office provides incident reports to the general public by mail, fax, and in person. To obtain copies of these reports, download and complete a Limited Record Information Request Form with personal details specifying the desired report and its intended use. Each report costs 25 cents per page. CDs and DVDs containing photos, video, and audio recordings are also available at $15 per disc. Send the request to the Sheriff’s Office at:
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office
411 South Center Avenue
Jefferson, WI 53549
Phone: (920) 674-7310
Fax: (920) 674-7126
Depending on the report requested, the Sheriff’s Office may redact some information. Incident reports with complete details are only available to persons named on these reports as well as their parents, legal guardians, and other requesters with written and notarized consent from the persons named on the records.
The Wisconsin Department of Corrections keeps a public online database of Jefferson County’s sex offenders. Find registered sex offenders living in Jefferson County by searching the Wisconsin Sex Offender Registry with addresses in the county. Search results include offenders’ full names, aliases, photos, residential addresses, offenses, ethnicities, and current statuses.
The Wisconsin Department of Corrections also provides an online database of all inmates in Jefferson County. Use its Offender Search tool and select Jefferson from the county drop-down menu. The search result displays the offender’s last name, first name, birth year, race, zip code, and current incarceration status.
Alternatively, contact the Jefferson County Jail using the information listed below:
Jefferson County Jail
411 South Center Avenue
Jefferson, WI 53549
Phone: (920) 674-7310
Fax: (920) 674-7485
The Jefferson County Jail allows both on-site and video visitations. Inmates are allowed 2 weekly visits, each lasting 30 minutes. Contact the County Jail to schedule an on-site visitation. Schedule a video visitation through the approved Video Visit Anywhere platform.
Contact the County Jail for information about funding an inmate’s commissary account. The Jefferson Sheriff’s Office also provides a Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE) service. The general public may subscribe to VINE, to receive notifications when there is a change in an inmate’s status, such as a release or transfer. Use the VINE platform to subscribe or call (888) 944-8463 to enquire about such information.
Court Records
Jefferson County has 1 Circuit Court and 6 Municipal Courts. Listed below are their addresses and contact details:
Jefferson County Circuit Court
Jefferson County Courthouse
311 South Center Avenue
Room 115
Jefferson, WI 53549
Phone: (920) 674-7150
Fax: (920) 674-7425
City of Fort Atkinson Municipal Court
101 North Main Street
Fort Atkinson, WI 53538
Phone: (920) 563-7786
Fax: (608) 563-3311
City of Lake Mills Municipal Court
200D Water Street
Lake Mills, WI53551
Phone: (920) 350-7063
Fax: (920) 648-2347
City of Watertown Municipal Court
106 Jones Street
Room 2065
Watertown, WI 53094
Phone: (920) 206-4203
Fax: (920) 206-4225
Jefferson Municipal Court
425 Collins Road (Court Office)
Jefferson, WI 53549
Phone: (920) 674-0444
Fax: (920) 674-6470
Town of Oakland Municipal Court
N4450 County Road A
Cambridge, WI 53523
Phone: (608) 423-7312
Fax: (608) 423-4290
Village of Palmyra Municipal Court
100 West Taft Street
P.O. Box 368
Palmyra, WI 53156
Phone: (262) 495-4459
Fax: (262) 495-8875
The Jefferson County Clerk of Courts maintains court records in the County. To request a court record, contact the Clerk of Courts using the details listed below:
Jefferson County Courthouse
311 South Center Avenue
Room 115
Jefferson, WI 53549
Phone: (920) 674-7150
Fax: (920) 674-7425
The Wisconsin Court System provides online court records to the public, through its Wisconsin Circuit Court Access platform. Using the Case Search tool, select Jefferson from the county drop-down menu. Requesters may also restrict search results by case number, last name, first name, business name, and birth date. The platform displays details including current status, case type, and judgment.
Find property records for the county with the Jefferson County Land Records Search. Search by parcel address, parcel number, or municipality. Jefferson County also offers a subscription-based Land Records Portal for more detailed records. The portal pools records from various Jefferson County departments including the Jefferson County Land Information Department, Register of Deeds, County Treasurer’s Office, and Zoning Department. To subscribe, contact the Land Information Department using the information listed below:
Jefferson County Land Information
311 South Center Avenue
Room 102
Jefferson, WI 53549-1701
(920) 674-7236
Vital Records
The Jefferson County Clerk of Courts maintains the records of divorces finalized in the court. To request a divorce record, contact the Clerk of Courts using the information below:
Clerk of Circuit Court
Jefferson County Courthouse
311 South Center Avenue
Room 115
Jefferson, WI 53549
Phone: (920) 674-7150
Fax: (920) 674-7425
All Jefferson County vital records are available from the Office of the Register of Deeds. Vital records are accessible in person, by mail, and online. The first copy of each record costs $20. Each additional copy of the same records costs $3, if ordered with the first copy. Online requests cost an additional $10 processing fee.
To request a copy of a Jefferson County vital record by mail, download and complete a Birth Certificate Application, Marriage Certificate Application, Marriage Certificate Application, Divorce Certificate Application or Death Certificate Application. Enclose a copy of a government-issued ID, check or money order payable to the Register of Deeds, and a self-addressed and stamped envelope. Mail the request to:
Register of Deeds
311 South Center Avenue
Jefferson, WI 53549
Phone: (920) 674-7235
Fax: (920) 674-7238
To request these vital records in person, visit the Office of the Register of Deeds at the address provided above.
