What are Juneau Public Records?
The Wisconsin Public Records Law defines public records as documents, papers, letters, books, photographs, maps, microfilms, audio and audio-visuals, films, sound recordings, or any other material, irrespective of their physical features, developed or received in compliance with the law or while transacting official business by any government entity.
The state code ensures that citizens may inspect public records to ensure accountability and transparency. As such, agencies, bureaus, and government offices are mandated to provide citizens with records in their custody upon request during business hours.
However, the law also exempts certain records from being accessible to the public.
Personal information related to property alert services
- Personal identifying information on arrest records
- Photographs of minors
- Personal identifying information on driver’s licenses
- Personal information on juvenile records
- Fatal accident reports are subject to an ongoing investigation or a court order requiring confidentiality
- The Department of Health maintains a controlled substance database.
- Tax information
- Medical records of people treated at state or local government hospitals
Apart from the records exempted by law, agencies in charge must promptly make any public record available for inspection. Where the records cannot be made available for inspection immediately, the custodian shall make the information available within seven (7) business days.
In addition to government agencies, some public records may also be accessible from third-party websites. These non-government platforms come with intuitive tools that allow for expansive searches. Record seekers may either use these tools to search for a specific record or multiple records. However, users will need to provide enough information to assist with the search such as:
- The name of the subject involved in the record (subject must be older than 18 or not juvenile)
- The address of the requestor
- A case number or file number (if known)
- The location of the document or person involved
- The last known or current address of the registrant
Third-party sites are not sponsored by government agencies. Because of this, record availability and results may vary.
Are Juneau Criminal Records Public?
Juneau County criminal records are public information. The Juneau County Sheriff’s Office is tasked with maintaining and providing access to criminal record information relating to county residents.
Interested members of the public may obtain Juneau county criminal records by querying the records clerk of the Sheriff’s office in person or via mail. To do so, the requestor must download and complete the Request for records form in which they must specify the record holder’s information and the record of interest. The form may be submitted in person or via mail to:
Juneau County Sheriff's Office
Attn: Records Clerk
200 Oak Street, Room 1110
Mauston, WI 53948
Tel: (608) 847-9414
Fax: (608) 847-9401
Interested persons may also request records from the Wisconsin Department of Justice. The state DOJ Crime Information Bureau maintains the central fingerprint-based criminal repository where the criminal history information of state residents are maintained. Hence, requestors may access criminal record information through the Wisconsin Online Record Check System or send a mail-in request to the Department using the appropriate record request forms.
Record requests to the state DOJ should be mailed to:
Crime Information Bureau
Record Check Unit
P.O. Box 2688
Madison, WI 53701-2688
(608) 266-7314
Under the state Public Records law, juvenile records are sealed from the purview of the public. Similarly, photographs involving minors, fatal accidents, and coroner's reports are also restricted. These records may only be accessed by specific department officials or people directly involved in the case.
How to Obtain Juneau County Police Reports and Arrest Records?
Interested members of the public may obtain Juneau County Police Reports and Arrest Records by querying the Records Unit of the Juneau County Sheriff’s Office. Requests may be made in person, via mail or fax and typically require the requestor to provide information with which to facilitate the record search. This includes the case number, date of incident, type of report, name(s) of people involved, location of incident and other relevant information pertinent to the research of these records. To request a record, interested persons may download and complete the Records Request Form. The application must then be submitted along with the appropriate fees and supporting documents to:
Juneau County Sheriff's Office
Attention: Records Clerk
200 Oak Street, Room 1110
Mauston, WI 53948
Tel: (608) 847-9414
Fax: (608) 847-9401
How to Find Sex Offender Information in Juneau County
Juneau county sex offender information can be obtained by querying the County Sheriff's office or by utilizing the Wisconsin Sex Offender Registry. The Registry is a public record and can be accessed by anyone. Sex offender information is also available through the Wisconsin Department of Corrections website. To search the sex offender registry, interested members of the public may visit the Wisconsin Sex Offender Registry website and enter their zip code. The Registry will return a list of all sex offenders living in Juneau County who are required to register under Wisconsin law. The Registry will also provide information on the offender's criminal history, physical description, and address.
How to Find Juneau County Sex Offender Information
Juneau county sex offender information is maintained by the County Sheriff’s office as well as the Wisconsin Department of Corrections which is central custodian of the Sex Offender Registry. The registry is useful to track convicted and wanted sex offenders. Information about registered sex offenders in Juneau County is publicly available on the online sex offender registry (SOR).
Where and How to Find Juneau County Inmate Information
Interested members of the public may obtain information about an inmate in Juneau County Jail by directly requesting information from the county Sheriff’s office or checking its Jail Bookings. Inmate information is also maintained by the Wisconsin Department of Corrections and can be accessed using the inmate locator. To search these databases, the requesting party will be required to know and furnish the department with the inmate’s full name or inmate ID.
How Do I Visit an Inmate in Juneau County Jail?
To visit an inmate in Juneau County Jail, interested persons must review the Juneau County Jail visiting rules and regulations and Inmate Jail Rules. They must call the facility and ensure that they are included in the visitation list of the inmate they are seeking to visit. The facility is located at:
Juneau County Jail
200 Oak St.,
Mauston, WI 53948
Phone: (608) 847-9419
Visitors must present a government-issued ID on arriving at the facility and they will be required to undergo a cursory search. A parent or legal guardian must accompany visitors under 16 years.
Juneau County Court Records
There are three levels of courts in Juneau County, Wisconsin: the circuit court, the municipal court, and the probate court. The circuit court is the county's trial court of general jurisdiction. The municipal court hears traffic, ordinance, and other misdemeanor cases. The probate court deals with matters related to wills, estates, guardianships, and conservatorships.
The circuit court in Juneau County is a court of general jurisdiction. This means that the court has the authority to hear any type of case that is not specifically assigned to another court. The circuit court in Juneau County is divided into two divisions: civil and criminal. The civil division hears cases involving contracts, torts, property disputes, and other matters. The criminal division hears cases involving felonies, misdemeanors, and traffic offenses.
The municipal court in Juneau County is a court of limited jurisdiction. This means that the court can only hear certain types of cases. The types of cases that the municipal court can hear include traffic offenses, ordinance violations, and other misdemeanors.
The probate court in Juneau County is a court of limited jurisdiction. This means that the court can only hear certain types of cases. The types of cases that the probate court can hear include wills, estates, guardianships, and conservatorships.
The following are the addresses and contact information of all the courthouses in Juneau county, Wisconsin:
Juneau County Circuit Court
Juneau County Justice Center
200 Oak Street,
P.O. Box 246,
Mauston, WI 53948
Phone: (608) 847-9356
Fax: (608) 847-9360
Regional Center Municipal Court
339 High Street,
P.O. Box 3,
Union Center, WI 53962
Phone: (608) 464-7667
Fax: (608) 464-7667
Are Juneau Court Records Public?
Yes, court records in Juneau are public. This means that anyone can request and view these records. There are certain types of court records that may be sealed or not available to the public, but in general, court records are open to everyone.
Some types of court records that may be available to the public include: criminal case information, civil case information, divorce filings, child custody records, and more. Records that are typically exempt from public disclosure include: juvenile records, adoption records, sealed criminal records, and more.
To request court records in Juneau, interested members of the public will need to contact the clerk of court for the specific court where the records are located. The clerk’s office will have information on how to make a public records request.
How to Obtain Juneau County Court Case Records
Interested members of the public may obtain Juneau county court case records by querying the office of the county court clerk. To request a record, the requestor must prepare a written request stating the name of the case and the case number. The request must be accompanied by a valid photo ID. If the record is available, the clerk will provide the requestor with a copy for a fee.
Requests may be made in person or via mail to:
Juneau County Clerk of Court
200 Oak Street, Justice Center
Mauston, Wisconsin 53948
Phone: (608) 847-9356
Fax: (608) 847-9360
If the requested court case record is not available from the county court clerk, it may be possible to obtain it from the state court administrator. The state court administrator’s office can be contacted for more information.
What are Juneau Vital Records?
Juneau County Vital Records are documents relating to significant events or highlights in a person's life that are recorded by the government agency in the county. The most common forms of Juneau County vital records include birth and death records, marriages; genealogy; and divorce records. Except when stated otherwise statutorily, vital records are generally classified as public records.
Where and How to Get Juneau County Divorce Records
Juneau 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:
Juneau County Clerk of Courts
1110 E. Main St. Suite 205
Merrill, WI 54452
Phone tree: (715) 536-0319
Fax: (715) 536-0361
Alternatively, the Vital Records Division of the Wisconsin Department of Health disseminates divorce records. The requester must complete and sign a Divorce Record Application 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 Juneau County Marriage Records
The County Clerk issues marriage licenses in Juneau 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.
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.
Where and How to Get Juneau County Birth Records
The Vital Records Division of the Wisconsin Department of Health disseminates birth records in Juneau County. The requester must complete and sign a Birth Certificate 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.
Where and How to Get Juneau County Death Records
The Vital Records Division of the Wisconsin Department of Health disseminates death records in Juneau County. The requester must complete and sign a Death Records 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.
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.
