How do I find an inmate or search a jail roster?

Wisconsin Department of Corrections - WIDOC (state prisons and community supervision) / County Sheriff's Office / County Jail (county level - 72 counties)

Details

What you need to know

Fee

Online searches free; certified records requests may involve fees ONLINE OPTION: Yes - WIDOC Offender Search at doc.wi.gov; county Sheriff websites; WCCA for criminal case dockets WHERE TO GO: WIDOC (state prisons + supervision); County Sheriff's Office/County Jail (county inmates)

Online Option

Yes - WIDOC Offender Search at doc.wi.gov; county Sheriff websites; WCCA for criminal case dockets

Where to Go

WIDOC (state prisons + supervision); County Sheriff's Office/County Jail (county inmates)

County-specific variations apply

Wisconsin's 72 counties each operate county jails through their Sheriff's Offices. Milwaukee County has both the Sheriff's Office jail and a House of Correction (operated by Milwaukee County). Dane County (Madison), Waukesha County, Brown County (Green Bay), and Racine County have well-developed online inmate search tools. Rural northern Wisconsin counties (Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Florence, Forest, Iron, Sawyer, Vilas, Washburn) have small jails and may require direct calls to the Sheriff's Office.

Wisconsin Notes

Important state-specific details

WIDOC Offender Search: covers both state prison inmates and community-supervised individuals; comprehensive.
WIDOC manages state prisons including Waupun Correctional Institution, Green Bay Correctional Institution, Fox Lake Correctional Institution, Oshkosh Correctional Institution, Taycheedah Correctional Institution (women), and others.
Milwaukee County also operates a House of Correction at 8885 S. 68th Street, Franklin, WI 53132 - separate from the county jail; for sentenced misdemeanor offenders.
County jails operated by County Sheriffs - separate from WIDOC; recent arrests will NOT appear in WIDOC database.
Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (wcca.wicourts.gov): excellent resource for tracking criminal cases, which may show bail status and detention information.
Wisconsin Sex Offender Registry: wi-doc.com/sex-offender-search - searchable online; managed by WIDOC.
For visitation, phone calls, sending money, commissary, or mailing to a WI inmate: inmateaid.com has WIDOC and county jail facility details.

Official Source

State office contact

State Office

Wisconsin Department of Corrections - doc.wi.gov | (608) 240-5000; Offender Search: doc.wi.gov