Learn More About a Free Wisconsin Background Check

The State of Wisconsin gives the general public access to view state and local records. As per Statute 19.35(3), Wisconsin is an ‘open records’ US state and you can view the criminal records and opt for background checks from different state and local agencies. This rule is applicable only for adult criminal records. Under s. 938.396, all juvenile records of the State of Wisconsin are confidential and only divulged if the case was taken into an adult court. The Wisconsin courts and law enforcement agencies of the state are responsible for maintaining and preserving the records that are part of the background check information.

Wisconsin Circuit Court Access

You can conduct a free Wisconsin Background Check from the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access only. Consolidated Court Automation Programs (CCAP) case management system Consolidated Court Automation Programs (CCAP) case management system stores all records of the court cases filed in the circuit courts of the state. This is the responsibility of the clerk of the court. To conduct a background check you need to go to http://wcca.wicourts.gov/index.xsl;jsessionid=B0E46FF1EAD088BAD54FEE4B34FB094D.render6.You need to accept the terms and conditions and then you would be navigated to the search webpage. You can conduct a Wisconsin Background Check simple search or an advanced search as per your requirements. The following criterion can be used to conduct the background search:

Simple Search:

•    Party Name
•    Business Name
•    Birth Date
•    Case Number
•    County

Advanced Search:

•    Party Name
•    Business Name
•    Birth Date
•    Case Type
•    Case Number
•    Case Status
•    County
•    Date of Case Filing
•    Disposition Date
•    Date of Last Modification
•    Date of Calendar Activity
•    Date of Documents Addition
•    State Bar Identification Number
•    Class Code
•    JUSTIS Identification
•    Citation Number
•    Offense Date
•    DA Case Number
•    Issuing Agency
•    Prosecuting Attorney

The Supreme Court Rule Chapter 72 outlines the period for which each type of case information is available on Wisconsin Circuit Court Access. The only exceptions are where the fees or fines remain unpaid or when active appeals or active warrants are present. Certain cases involving juveniles or matters related to adoption or mental commitments are also unavailable at Wisconsin Circuit Court Access. Moreover Consolidated Court Automation Programs (CCAP) case management system is a voluntary program and therefore information from participating counties is only available from the database.

Wisconsin Background Checks can also be conducted for free on commercial websites. There is no guarantee that the information available would be authentic. It is better that you opt for authorized government background checks even if you have to pay a nominal fee for the procedure. This could be done with ease from the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Crime Information Bureau database. Every criminal record is part of the database and stays there for a particular period of time depending on the seriousness of the offense.

Wisconsin Department of Justice: Background Check

You need to set up an account with the Wisconsin Department of Justice if you wish to access the records. For opening an account you need to fill up the Wisconsin Criminal History Customer Account Application available on http://www.doj.state.wi.us/dles/cib/forms/cib/djle251.pdf. The following forms are available from the department:

Single Subject Requests: Form DJ-LE-250: http://www.doj.state.wi.us/dles/cib/forms/cib/djle250.pdf.

Multiple Subject Requests: Form DJ-LE-250A: http://www.doj.state.wi.us/dles/cib/forms/cib/djle250a.pdf.

For accessing this service you need other guides as well. These are as follows:

VCA Account Application Form is available on http://www.doj.state.wi.us/dles/cib/forms/cib/UpdatedVCAForm.pdf.

You can know all about VCA Account Instructions from http://www.doj.state.wi.us/dles/cib/forms/cib/VCAExplanation.pdf.

Background Check Manual, from http://www.doj.state.wi.us/dles/cib/forms/cib/worcs.pdf, helps you to understand the details of online background check in Wisconsin.

Reading a Criminal Record becomes easy with the tips available on http://www.doj.state.wi.us/dles/cib/forms/cib/worcs.pdf.

If you already have an account all you need to do is log in on the website https://wi-recordcheck.org/http://www.peoplepublicrecords.org/account/html/logon.jsp.

If you do not want to open an account with the Wisconsin Department of Justice you can pay for the service using your credit card. For this you need to visit https://wi-recordcheck.org/http://www.peoplepublicrecords.org/cc/html/http://www.peoplepublicrecords.org/index.html.

You can also send for Wisconsin background check requests via mail or fax. For mail requests you need to fill up the aforementioned forms, i.e. Form DJ-LE-250 and Form DJ-LE-250A, and send them along with the fee for processing. In case of fax requests you need to attach a self-addressed envelope (stamped) as well. The record is sent to your address via mail. For this you need to provide certain essentials. These are as follows:

•    Type of Requester
•    Purpose of Request
•    Mode of Payment
•    Details of the individual whose background needs to be checked (including full name, date of birth, sex and race)
•    Details of the ‘Return Request To’ Section.

You need to mail all these to the following address for processing your request:

Crime Information Bureau, Attn: Record Check Unit, PO Box 2688, Madison, WI 53701-2688.

In case of mail or fax requests you need to pay the fees via a check or money order to the Wisconsin Department of Justice.

Most people will prefer not to pay when there are free Wisconsin background checks available. It is necessary to understand that paying the nominal fees charged for information from the Wisconsin Department of Justice ensures the authenticity of the records. That is why it is always a good idea to look for information from government websites instead of commercial ones.

Crime Information Bureau, Wisconsin, has a fee structure for background check services. Statute 165.82 outlines the fee structure, which is as follows:

Fee for online requests for background check:

•    Request from Governmental Agency: $7
•    Request from Non-Profit Organization: $7
•    Request from others: $13

For mail or fax requests for background check:

•    Request from Governmental Agency: $12
•    Request from Non-Profit Organization: $12
•    Request from others: $18.

As you can see the fees for Wisconsin Background Check from the Department of Justice database are nominal. It is always advisable that you go for authentic background check as that is the only way to know whether the information you have accumulated is correct and up-to-date. Free Wisconsin background checks may be available but it is necessary to check from government approved websites.