Warrant records are public in Walworth County, Wisconsin, pursuant to Wisconsin Public Records Law (Wis. Stat. §§ 19.31-19.39). This legislation establishes the presumption that all government records are accessible to the public unless specifically exempted by statute. The law operates under the principle that providing citizens with information about government affairs is an essential function of a representative government.
Members of the public may access warrant information through designated channels established by county authorities. The Wisconsin Supreme Court has consistently upheld the public's right to access court records, including warrants, as articulated in cases such as Newspapers, Inc. v. Breier, 89 Wis. 2d 417 (1979), which established that records of arrests and charges must be available for public inspection.
Certain warrant information may be temporarily sealed by court order if disclosure would compromise an ongoing investigation or endanger public safety. Such exceptions are narrowly construed and require specific judicial determination in accordance with Wis. Stat. § 19.35(1)(a).
Warrant records maintained by Walworth County authorities typically contain the following information as required by Wisconsin law:
Pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 968.04, arrest warrants must specify the offense alleged and command that the person against whom the complaint was made be arrested and brought before the judge issuing the warrant, or, if the judge is absent or unable to act, before some other judge in the same county.
Walworth County residents may verify warrant status through several no-cost methods established under Wisconsin's public access provisions:
Visit the Walworth County Clerk of Circuit Court at the Walworth County Judicial Center, 1800 County Road NN, Elkhorn, WI 53121. Public terminals are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
Contact the Walworth County Sheriff's Office at 1770 County Road NN, Elkhorn, WI 53121. Telephone: (262) 741-4400. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
Access the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) website, which provides public access to court records from Wisconsin's circuit courts. This resource is available 24 hours per day pursuant to Wisconsin Supreme Court Rule 72.
Individuals seeking information should be prepared to provide proper identification and specific information about the person for whom they are searching, including full legal name and date of birth to ensure accurate results.
The Walworth County Sheriff's Office maintains and executes warrants issued within the jurisdiction as authorized under Wis. Stat. § 59.27, which delineates the powers and duties of the sheriff. Sheriff warrants in Walworth County fall into several categories:
The Sheriff's Warrant Division operates from the Walworth County Sheriff's Office located at:
Walworth County Sheriff's Office
1770 County Road NN
Elkhorn, WI 53121
(262) 741-4400
Walworth County Sheriff's Office
The division maintains a database of active warrants and coordinates with other law enforcement agencies to execute warrants across jurisdictional boundaries through mutual aid agreements established under Wis. Stat. § 66.0313.
Individuals seeking to determine if they are subject to an active warrant in Walworth County in 2025 may utilize several official channels established by county authorities:
Pursuant to Wisconsin Administrative Code § DOC 328.27, individuals on probation or parole should maintain regular contact with their assigned supervision officer, who can provide information regarding any warrants issued for violations of supervision conditions.
The Wisconsin Department of Corrections also maintains records of warrants issued for probation and parole violations, accessible through:
Wisconsin Department of Corrections
3099 E. Washington Avenue
Madison, WI 53704
(608) 240-5000
Wisconsin Department of Corrections
Verification of outstanding warrants in Walworth County requires accessing official government records through established channels. Members of the public may utilize the following methods to conduct warrant searches:
When conducting a warrant search, requestors should provide:
Pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 19.35(1)(i), agencies may require written requests for certain records and may impose reasonable fees for search, copying, and other direct costs associated with locating and providing records.