Search Wisconsin Inmate Records
The jail system in Wisconsin comprises 19 adult institutions, 14 correctional center systems, three women's correctional institutions, and 71 county jails.
As of December 31, 2022, there were 20,873 inmates under the jurisdiction of the state's correctional authorities. The jail system had over 10,000 employees and operated on a budget of about $1.45 billion. In 2022, the incarceration rate in Wisconsin was 311 inmates per 100,000 residents.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, the state's correctional system includes 19 adult institutions, 14 correctional centers, 3 women's facilities, and 71 county jails. The system houses approximately 20,873 inmates, employs over 10,000 staff, and operates on a budget of $1.45 billion, with an incarceration rate of 311 per 100,000 residents.
Wisconsin Department Corrections Inmate Search
Correctional institutions in Wisconsin operate under the oversight of the state Department of Corrections. The Department works to protect the general public via the constructive management of inmates under its authority.
The Wisconsin DOC maintains an online database of persons incarcerated within its facilities. This database is searchable via the DOC's inmate and offender search tool.
Find Inmate by Name
The Wisconsin inmate and offender search tool on the Wisconsin Department of Corrections website allows you to find an inmate by name. On the homepage of the web search, provide the name of the inmate and click on the search button on the bottom right-hand corner of the page. If you provide the last and first names of the inmate, you may narrow the search results to find the inmate information quickly. However, you may still perform a search if only one of the names of the inmate is known.
Find Inmate by Number
The Wisconsin Department of Corrections inmate and offender search tool allows users to find inmates other than by name. If you know the DOC identification number of an inmate, you can find that inmate by providing the ID number in the DOC identification number field of the inmate and offender search tool.
How Many Inmates Are Currently Incarcerated in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has an estimated total incarcerated population of about 39,700 people across state prisons, county jails, federal facilities, private or contracted placements, juvenile facilities, and other detention categories.
| Facility Type | Population | % of Total | Avg. Daily Cost | Capacity Utilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Prisons | ~23,100 | 58.2% | ~$125 | ~108% |
| County Jails | ~12,500 | 31.5% | ~$90 | ~70% |
| Federal Facilities | ~1,600 | 4.0% | ~$120 | ~95% |
| Private Prisons | ~50 | 0.1% | ~$100 | N/A |
| Juvenile Facilities | ~350 | 0.9% | ~$450 | ~55% |
| Other / Pre-Trial | ~2,100 | 5.3% | ~$85 | ~80% |
| Total | ~39,700 | 100.0% | ~$118 | ~91% |
State Correctional Facilities in Wisconsin
Wisconsin operates an estimated 35+ major adult correctional institutions, correctional centers, and specialty facilities. The system includes maximum- and medium-security prisons, specialty treatment facilities, women's institutions, medical or aged-care units, and work-release centers.
| Facility Name | Type | Location | Capacity | Population | Security Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waupun Correctional Institution | State Prison | Waupun | ~1,100 | ~1,150 | Maximum |
| Green Bay Correctional Institution | State Prison | Allouez | ~1,100 | ~1,050 | Maximum |
| Dodge Correctional Institution | Reception / State Prison | Waupun | ~1,650 | ~1,500 | Maximum / Intake |
| Columbia Correctional Institution | State Prison | Portage | ~830 | ~900 | Maximum |
| Taycheedah Correctional Institution | Women's Facility | Fond du Lac | ~950 | ~900 | Multi-Level |
| Oakhill Correctional Institution | State Prison | Oregon | ~700 | ~760 | Minimum |
| Wisconsin Resource Center | Specialty Facility | Winnebago | ~500 | ~430 | Secure Treatment |
| Chippewa Valley Correctional Treatment Facility | Medical / Aged Facility | Chippewa Falls | ~450 | ~390 | Minimum / Treatment |
| Milwaukee Secure Detention Facility | Community Corrections Facility | Milwaukee | ~1,000 | ~850 | Secure Detention |
| Thompson Correctional Center | Work Release Center | Deerfield | ~125 | ~115 | Minimum |
Inmate Demographics & Population Trends in Wisconsin
Wisconsin's incarcerated population is primarily male and includes a large share of people serving sentences for violent offenses, with racial disparities that are more pronounced than national averages. Sentencing patterns reflect a mix of prison admissions for serious felonies, supervision violations, and revocations from community supervision.
| Demographic Category | Breakdown | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | Male ~93%; Female ~7% | Men make up the large majority of Wisconsin's prison population, while women are primarily housed at Taycheedah and related women's facilities. |
| Age Groups | 18–24 ~10%; 25–34 ~32%; 35–44 ~29%; 45–54 ~18%; 55+ ~11% | The population is concentrated among adults ages 25–44, while the older inmate share has gradually increased. |
| Race / Ethnicity | White ~48%; Black ~40%; Hispanic / Latino ~7%; Native American ~4%; Asian / Other ~1% | Black and Native American residents are incarcerated at rates substantially higher than their share of the state population. |
| Top Offense Types | Violent ~54%; Property ~16%; Drug ~12%; Public order / OWI ~10%; Other ~8% | Violent offenses account for the largest share of sentenced state prisoners, while revocations also affect admissions. |
| Avg. Sentence Length | ~6–8 years imposed; time served varies by offense and supervision rules | Longer terms are most common for violent and sex offenses; many releases include extended supervision. |
| Recidivism Rate | ~30% returned to prison within 3 years | Returns often involve supervision violations as well as new convictions, similar to trends in other Midwestern states. |
Parole, Release & Reentry Resources in Wisconsin
Wisconsin release pathways include parole for eligible older-law sentences, earned release opportunities, extended supervision, and community corrections oversight. Reentry support is provided through the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, local service providers, workforce programs, housing partners, benefits access, and victim notification systems.
| Program / Resource | Description | Who It Serves | Contact / Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Parole Board | Reviews parole eligibility for people sentenced under laws that allow discretionary parole. | Eligible incarcerated people with parole-eligible sentences. | Wisconsin Parole Commission through the Wisconsin DOC. |
| Good Time / Sentence Reduction | Includes earned release, sentence credit, and program-based release options where legally available. | Eligible incarcerated people who meet statutory, conduct, and program requirements. | Institution records office, social worker, or Wisconsin DOC policy guidance. |
| Parole Supervision | Community supervision that may include reporting, treatment, employment requirements, and violation monitoring. | People released on parole, extended supervision, or other DOC supervision status. | Wisconsin DOC Division of Community Corrections field office. |
| Reentry Housing | Transitional housing, contracted beds, and community referrals for people leaving custody. | People nearing release, individuals under supervision, and those at risk of homelessness. | DOC reentry staff, county human services, and local nonprofit housing providers. |
| Employment Assistance | Job readiness, work-release coordination, vocational training, and referrals to employers or workforce boards. | Incarcerated people preparing for release and individuals on community supervision. | Institution program staff, Wisconsin Job Centers, and DOC community corrections agents. |
| Benefits Restoration | Assistance with identification, Medicaid or BadgerCare Plus, FoodShare, Social Security, and other public benefits. | People returning to the community after incarceration. | Wisconsin ACCESS, county human services agencies, and DOC reentry coordinators. |
| Victim Notification Program | Provides custody status and release notifications through Wisconsin's VINE service and related victim services. | Victims, survivors, family members, and concerned community members. | Wisconsin VINE or Wisconsin DOC Office of Victim Services. |
What Information is Contained in a Wisconsin Inmate Record?
A Wisconsin inmate record as provided via a search tool provides the following information:
- DOC ID Number: The Wisconsin DOC-issued number used to identify the inmate.
- Mugshot: The official image of the inmate
- Demographic Information of the Inmate
Name, aliases, birth year, age, sex, race, ethnicity, weight, eye color, hair color, dexterity, height, and weight. - Inmate Status: This information provides information on whether the individual is under active community supervision or no longer under DOC supervision
- Region unit office: The regional office is responsible for managing the community supervision of the inmate.
- Region unit agent: The name of the assigned supervising officer or agent from the region unit office
- Maximum discharge date: The latest date by which the inmate must be fully discharged from any form of custody or supervision, marking the official end of their sentence
- Mandatory release /extended supervision date: The date on which the inmate must be released due to statutory requirements
- Parole eligibility date: The earliest date the inmate may be considered for parole.
- Address of the institution: The physical address of the holding facility
- Movement: Details and date of the transfer of the inmate between correctional institutions
- Court case Information: information about the cases for which the inmate was convicted
- Photos: Photographs of the inmates from multiple sides and angles
Wisconsin Inmate Records by Counties
Several counties in Wisconsin provide access to their inmate log. If the inmate whose record you want is held in a county jail, then the inmate's record will also be maintained by the county sheriff's office. To find the inmate record, you must first determine which county jail holds the inmate. Once you determine that, you may visit the website of the county sheriff to see if online access to inmate records is available. Douglas, Brown, and Milwaukee County Sheriff's offices are some local jurisdictions providing inmate locator search tools for users to find inmate records.
- Adams County
- Ashland County
- Barron County
- Bayfield County
- Brown County
- Buffalo County
- Burnett County
- Calumet County
- Chippewa County
- Clark County
- Columbia County
- Crawford County
- Dane County
- Dodge County
- Door County
- Douglas County
- Dunn County
- Eau Claire County
- Florence County
- Fond Du Lac County
- Forest County
- Grant County
- Green County
- Green Lake County
- Iowa County
- Iron County
- Jackson County
- Jefferson County
- Juneau County
- Kenosha County
- Kewaunee County
- La Crosse County
- Lafayette County
- Langlade County
- Lincoln County
- Manitowoc County
- Marathon County
- Marinette County
- Marquette County
- Menominee County
- Milwaukee County
- Monroe County
- Oconto County
- Oneida County
- Outagamie County
- Ozaukee County
- Pepin County
- Pierce County
- Polk County
- Portage County
- Price County
- Racine County
- Richland County
- Rock County
- Rusk County
- Saint Croix County
- Sauk County
- Sawyer County
- Shawano County
- Sheboygan County
- Taylor County
- Trempealeau County
- Vernon County
- Vilas County
- Walworth County
- Washburn County
- Washington County
- Waukesha County
- Waupaca County
- Waushara County
- Winnebago County
- Wood County
Are Incarceration Records Public Information in Wisconsin?
The Open Records Law in Wisconsin provides the basis for public access to incarceration records in the state. This law aims to allow members of the public to inspect or copy the records of government operations and decisions.
According to the Open Records Law, government records must be made public by the official custodians of the record. Hence, the Wisconsin Department of Correction offers incarcerated records to requesters as a public service and in the interest of public safety. The records provided to the public include the information of convicted offenders sentenced to incarceration, supervision, or both with the DOC.
Note that some parts of incarceration records may be redacted. Also, entire records may be made inaccessible to the public. If a record has been expunged or sealed according to a court order, the whole record will be inaccessible to the court. Portions of incarceration records containing sensitive information such as medical information and Social Security numbers may also be redacted.
Federal Prisons in Wisconsin
The federal correctional institution located in Oxford (County Road G & Elk Avenue) is the only federal prison in Wisconsin. It is a low-security institution and has a population of 1,161 inmates. This institution caters to male offenders and is administered by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Frequently Asked Questions about Inmate Records
The Wisconsin Department of Corrections is committed to openness and transparency, which includes fulfilling its obligations under Wisconsin's public records law. While exemptions exist for certain records, state law makes a presumption of public access.
To request a Department of Corrections public record in Wisconsin, you may submit a public record request via the Wisconsin DOC public records request portal . Note that certain fees apply depending on the form of the record requested.
The Wisconsin inmate and offender search tool allows the general public to perform an online lookup for an individual incarcerated in Wisconsin state prisons. The tool allows users to perform a search using the inmate's DOC ID Number, name, and address. The WI VINE County Jails is also an online tool that may be used to access inmate information for persons held in local county jails in Wisconsin.
To access old inmate records in Wisconsin, contact the correctional institution where the inmate was incarcerated to make a public record request to the Wisconsin Department of Corrections .
The Wisconsin Office of Vital Statistics is the official custodian of death records in the state. The Office receives a notification of the death of an inmate upon the demise of the individual. Hence, to obtain an inmate's death record, submit a request to the Wisconsin Office of Vital Statistics .
No specific period is stipulated by the Wisconsin Department of Corrections for inmates' information to be published in the Wisconsin inmate locator. However, inmate information is typically published on the state portal between 24-28 hours upon the arrival of the offender in the correctional facility.
Like several states in the United States, Wisconsin approves the use of Access Corrections Secure Deposit to send funds to inmates in its correctional facilities. Access Corrections accepts deposits via phone, mail, online, or at a walk-in facility. Note that walk-in locations are pegged at a daily limit of $2,900.
To send funds using US Postal Services, send a completed Wisconsin DOC money order or check deposit slip (made payable to Access Secure Deposits) with the inmate's DOC number written on it to:
Secure Deposits
Wisconsin DOC
P.O. Box 12486
St. Louis, MO 63132
If you prefer a walk-in service, visit any of Access Corrections' affiliate walk-in provider (CashPayToday) locations to complete a transaction. Note that service fees apply and only cash is accepted. Alternatively, call CashPayToday at (844) 340-2274.
To send money online using Access Corrections services, visit the vendor's website or call (866) 345-1884. VISA and MasterCard debit and credit cards are accepted.