Dodge County Public Records / Dodge County Arrest Records

Dodge County Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Dodge County

Arrest records in Dodge County, Wisconsin, are generally considered public records under state law. Pursuant to Wisconsin Statute § 19.35, members of the public have the right to inspect and copy records maintained by government agencies, including law enforcement records such as arrest logs, booking reports, and incident reports. This open-records framework applies to the Dodge County Sheriff's Office, local municipal police departments, and other law enforcement agencies operating within the county.

It is important to distinguish between an arrest record and a conviction record. An arrest record documents the act of being taken into custody by law enforcement and does not indicate guilt or a criminal conviction. A conviction record, by contrast, reflects a formal finding of guilt by a court of law. Under Wisconsin law, individuals who are arrested but not convicted retain certain rights regarding the use and dissemination of their arrest information. Certain categories of records — including records involving juveniles, sealed cases, or ongoing investigations — may be withheld from public disclosure under applicable exemptions.

What's in Dodge County Arrest Records

Dodge County arrest records contain a standardized set of data fields compiled at the time of booking and throughout the criminal justice process. The following categories represent the information typically documented in an arrest record:

Arrestee Identifying Information:

Full legal name and known aliases
Date of birth and age at time of arrest
Physical descriptors including height, weight, hair color, and eye color
Race and gender
Last known residential address

Arrest Details:

Date, time, and location of arrest
Name and badge number of arresting officer
Arresting agency (e.g., Dodge County Sheriff's Office, Beaver Dam Police Department)
Circumstances and narrative summary of the arrest

Charge Information:

Specific criminal charges filed
Statute citations for each charge
Classification of offense (felony, misdemeanor, or ordinance violation)

Warrant Information (if applicable):

Warrant number and issuing court
Date warrant was issued
Jurisdiction of originating warrant

Booking Information:

Booking number and date
Facility where the individual was processed
Fingerprint and photograph (mugshot) notation

Bond/Bail Information:

Bail amount set by the court
Type of bond (cash, surety, personal recognizance)
Bond conditions imposed

Court Information:

Case number assigned by the Clerk of Courts
Scheduled court appearance dates
Presiding court and judge assignment

Custody Status:

Current custody status (held, released, transferred)
Release date and conditions if applicable

Additional Information May Include:

Prior arrest history referenced in the booking record
Detainer or hold information from other jurisdictions
Notations regarding medical or mental health screening at intake

How To Look Up Arrest Records in Dodge County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Dodge County arrest records through several official channels. The following steps outline the standard process for accessing these records:

Contact the Dodge County Sheriff's Office — Submit a written public records request to the Sheriff's Office, which maintains arrest and booking records for incidents occurring within county jurisdiction. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or via email. The office processes requests in accordance with Wisconsin Statute § 19.35, which requires agencies to respond within a reasonable time.
Visit the Clerk of Courts — Court-related arrest records, including charging documents and case dispositions, are maintained by the Clerk of Courts – Dodge County. Members of the public may inspect these records at the courthouse during regular business hours.
Submit a Written Request — Requesters should include the full name of the subject, approximate date of arrest, and any known case or booking numbers to facilitate record retrieval. Fees for copies are set by the agency and are subject to change.
Identify the Correct Agency — Arrests made by municipal police departments (such as Beaver Dam, Waupun, or Mayville) are maintained by those respective agencies. Requesters should direct inquiries to the department that made the arrest.

Dodge County Sheriff's Office 127 E. Oak St., Juneau, WI 53039 (920) 386-3726 Dodge County Sheriff's Office

Dodge County Clerk of Courts 210 W. Center St., Juneau, WI 53039 (920) 386-3570 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Clerk of Courts – Dodge County

How To Find Dodge County Arrest Records Online

Several official online platforms currently provide access to Dodge County arrest and court records without requiring an in-person visit.

Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) — The Wisconsin Court System operates a publicly accessible online portal where members of the public may conduct a Wisconsin court case search to locate circuit court records, including criminal case filings, charges, and dispositions associated with arrests in Dodge County.
Wisconsin Department of Corrections Offender Lookup — For individuals who have been sentenced to a state correctional facility, the Wisconsin DOC maintains a searchable offender information database that includes current custody status, supervision information, and facility assignment.
Dodge County Sheriff's Office Website — The Sheriff's Office may publish recent arrest logs or press releases on its official website. Members of the public are encouraged to check the county's official web portal for any publicly posted booking information.
Dodge Correctional Institution — Individuals received at the Dodge Correctional Institution as part of the state's central reception process for adult male inmates may be located through the DOC's offender search tool.

How To Search Dodge County Arrest Records for Free?

Multiple no-cost options are currently available for members of the public seeking Dodge County arrest records without incurring fees.

Wisconsin Circuit Court Access Portal — The Wisconsin court case search tool is available to the public at no charge and provides access to criminal case records filed in Dodge County Circuit Court, including charges stemming from arrests.
In-Person Inspection at the Clerk of Courts — Under Wisconsin Statute § 19.35, members of the public have the right to inspect public records at no cost. Fees apply only when copies are requested. The Clerk of Courts – Dodge County permits free in-person inspection of court records during regular business hours.
DOC Offender Information Search — The Wisconsin Department of Corrections provides free public access to its offender information portal, which includes data on individuals currently incarcerated or under community supervision.
Sheriff's Office Public Records Inspection — Members of the public may visit the Dodge County Sheriff's Office to inspect arrest logs and related records at no charge, with copy fees assessed separately per agency schedule.

How To Delete Arrest Records in Dodge County

Wisconsin law provides two primary legal mechanisms for limiting public access to arrest records: expungement (legal erasure of the record) and sealing (restricting public access while preserving the record for law enforcement purposes). These remedies are distinct and governed by separate statutory provisions.

Expungement results in the destruction or erasure of a criminal record, effectively removing it from public view. Under Wisconsin Statute § 973.015, expungement may be available to individuals who were under the age of 25 at the time of the offense, were convicted of a misdemeanor or certain felonies, successfully completed their sentence, and received an expungement order from the sentencing court at the time of conviction. Expungement is not automatic and must be ordered by the court.

Sealing restricts access to records without destroying them. Sealed records remain accessible to law enforcement and certain authorized agencies but are not available to the general public.

Cases eligible for record removal or restriction may include:

Arrests that did not result in charges being filed
Cases dismissed by the court
Cases resulting in acquittal
Juvenile adjudications handled under separate statutory provisions
Cases meeting the age and offense criteria under § 973.015

Steps to pursue expungement in Dodge County:

Confirm eligibility based on age at time of offense, offense classification, and sentence completion
File a petition with the Dodge County Circuit Court
Serve notice on the District Attorney's Office
Attend the scheduled hearing before the circuit court judge
If granted, the court issues an expungement order directing relevant agencies to destroy or seal the record

Dodge County Circuit Court 210 W. Center St., Juneau, WI 53039 (920) 386-3570 Dodge County Circuit Court

What Happens After Arrest in Dodge County?

The criminal justice process in Dodge County follows a structured sequence from the point of arrest through final case disposition.

Arrest and Booking — Following an arrest, the individual is transported to the Dodge County Jail for booking. Booking involves recording personal information, photographing, fingerprinting, and documenting the charges.
Initial Appearance — The arrested individual appears before a judge, typically within 48 hours, for an initial appearance. At this stage, the court reviews the charges, advises the defendant of their rights, and determines bail or bond conditions.
Preliminary Hearing or Grand Jury — For felony charges, a preliminary hearing is held to determine whether probable cause exists to proceed to trial. The District Attorney's Office presents evidence to support the charges.
Arraignment — The defendant enters a formal plea (guilty, not guilty, or no contest) before the circuit court.
Pre-Trial Proceedings — Both parties engage in discovery, motions practice, and potential plea negotiations during the pre-trial phase.
Trial or Plea Disposition — Cases are resolved either through a jury or bench trial, or through a negotiated plea agreement accepted by the court.
Sentencing — Upon conviction, the court imposes a sentence, which may include incarceration, probation, fines, or a combination thereof. Individuals sentenced to state prison may be received at the Dodge Correctional Institution, which serves as the central reception center for adult male inmates in Wisconsin.

How Long Are Arrest Records Kept in Dodge County?

Arrest records in Dodge County are subject to retention schedules established under Wisconsin administrative law and the Wisconsin Public Records Board. Under current law, law enforcement agencies are required to maintain records for specified minimum periods before destruction is authorized.

General Law Enforcement Records — Pursuant to Wisconsin Administrative Code and the Public Records Board's General Records Schedule, standard law enforcement records, including arrest reports and booking records, are generally retained for a minimum of seven years.
Records Involving Serious Offenses — Records pertaining to felony arrests and violent crimes may be subject to extended retention periods, often maintained indefinitely or until the subject reaches a specified age.
Court Records — Criminal case records maintained by the Dodge County Clerk of Courts are subject to the Wisconsin Supreme Court's records retention schedule, which mandates varying retention periods based on case type and disposition.
Different Agencies, Different Requirements — The Dodge County Sheriff's Office, municipal police departments, and the Clerk of Courts each operate under agency-specific retention schedules. Records retention serves the dual purpose of preserving evidence for potential future proceedings and maintaining accountability within the criminal justice system.

Members of the public seeking information on specific retention schedules may submit a public records request to the relevant agency or consult the Wisconsin Public Records Board's published schedules.

How to Find Mugshots in Dodge County

What Mugshots Are Mugshots are official photographic images taken by law enforcement at the time of booking. They are part of the arrest record and serve as an identifying document within the criminal justice system.

Where Mugshots Are Maintained Mugshots taken in Dodge County are maintained by the Dodge County Sheriff's Office and the facility where the individual was booked. Municipal police departments maintain booking photographs for arrests processed at their respective facilities.

Finding Mugshots Members of the public may request mugshots by submitting a public records request to the Dodge County Sheriff's Office. Requests should include the subject's full name, date of birth, and approximate date of arrest to facilitate retrieval.

Can They Be Found Online At present, Dodge County does not operate a publicly accessible online mugshot database. Some booking photographs may appear in press releases published by the Sheriff's Office on its official website. Third-party websites may republish mugshots obtained from public records, though the accuracy and currency of such information cannot be verified through official channels.

Obtaining Mugshots Officially The most reliable method for obtaining an official mugshot is through a formal public records request submitted directly to the Dodge County Sheriff's Office. Fees for copies are assessed in accordance with the agency's current fee schedule.

Restrictions on Mugshot Access Mugshots associated with expunged records, juvenile cases, or sealed proceedings are not subject to public disclosure. Certain investigative photographs may also be withheld if release would compromise an ongoing investigation, consistent with exemptions recognized under Wisconsin Statute § 19.36.

Dodge County Sheriff's Office 127 E. Oak St., Juneau, WI 53039 (920) 386-3726 Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Dodge County Sheriff's Office