Rock County Criminal Records
What Is Rock County Criminal Records
Criminal records in Rock County, Wisconsin, are official government documents that chronicle an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system, from initial law enforcement contact through final court disposition. These records are generated and maintained by multiple agencies across the county and state, each capturing a distinct phase of the criminal process.
A fundamental distinction exists between arrest records and conviction records. An arrest record documents that law enforcement took an individual into custody based on probable cause; it does not indicate guilt. A conviction record, by contrast, reflects a formal finding of guilt entered by a court of law, either through a guilty plea, no-contest plea, or jury/bench verdict. Under Wisconsin Statutes § 19.35, members of the public retain the right to inspect government records, including many criminal justice documents, subject to specific exemptions.
Rock County criminal records further distinguish between felony and misdemeanor offenses. Felonies are the more serious classification, carrying potential state prison sentences, while misdemeanors are lesser offenses typically resulting in county jail terms, fines, or probation. Juvenile records occupy a separate legal category; under Wisconsin law, records involving individuals adjudicated as juveniles are generally sealed and withheld from public access to protect the minor's rehabilitative interests. Active warrant records reflect current judicial orders for an individual's arrest, whereas historical records document past proceedings that have reached final disposition.
The principal agencies maintaining Rock County criminal records include:
- Rock County Sheriff's Office — maintains arrest records, booking data, and jail rosters
- Rock County Circuit Court — maintains case filings, charges, arraignments, pleas, trial records, sentencing orders, and probation/parole conditions
- Wisconsin Department of Justice, Crime Information Bureau — maintains statewide criminal history records
- Local municipal police departments (Janesville Police Department, Beloit Police Department, and others) — maintain incident and arrest reports at the municipal level
A complete criminal record may encompass charges filed, arraignment proceedings, entered pleas, trial transcripts, sentencing orders, conditions of supervision, probation and parole records, and any subsequent modifications to those orders. The Wisconsin Court System provides centralized access to circuit court case information statewide.
Rock County Circuit Court 51 S. Main St., Janesville, WI 53545 (608) 743-2200 Rock County Circuit Court
Rock County Sheriff's Office 200 N. Main St., Janesville, WI 53545 (608) 757-7951 Rock County Sheriff's Office
Are Criminal Records Public In Rock County
Criminal records in Rock County are presumptively public under Wisconsin's open records law. Wisconsin Statutes § 19.31 establishes the public policy of the state, declaring that "all persons are entitled to the greatest possible information regarding the affairs of government and the official acts of those officers and employees who represent them." This policy applies broadly to criminal justice records held by county and municipal agencies.
Under current law, the following categories of records are generally available to members of the public:
- Adult conviction records, including charges, pleas, verdicts, and sentencing
- Court case filings and docket entries in circuit court proceedings
- Arrest and booking records for adults
- Jail rosters reflecting current detainees
- Sex offender registration information
Certain categories of records are restricted or withheld from public disclosure:
- Juvenile adjudication records, which are sealed pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes § 938.396 to protect the privacy of minors
- Ongoing criminal investigation records, which may be withheld where disclosure would compromise law enforcement operations
- Expunged records, which have been ordered removed from public access by a court
- Confidential informant information and records protected by specific statutory exemptions
Members of the public seeking access to restricted records must demonstrate a legally recognized basis for disclosure or obtain a court order authorizing release.
How To Look Up Criminal Records In Rock County in 2026
Members of the public may obtain Rock County criminal records through several official channels, depending on the type of record sought and the level of detail required.
Step 1 — Identify the Record Type Determine whether the record sought is a court case record, an arrest/booking record, a statewide criminal history, or a corrections record, as each is maintained by a different agency.
Step 2 — Search Court Records Online The Wisconsin Court System's case search portal allows members of the public to search Rock County Circuit Court records by name, case number, or citation number at no charge. Results include case type, filing date, charges, and disposition.
Step 3 — Request Records from the Circuit Court Clerk For certified copies of court documents, members of the public may submit a written request to the Rock County Clerk of Courts in person or by mail. The Clerk's office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Fees apply for certified copies.
Step 4 — Request Arrest Records from the Sheriff's Office Arrest and booking records held by the Rock County Sheriff's Office may be requested in writing pursuant to Wisconsin's open records law. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or by email to the Sheriff's Records Division.
Step 5 — Obtain a Statewide Criminal History Statewide criminal history background checks are available through the Wisconsin Department of Justice Criminal Background Checks portal, known as the Wisconsin Online Record Check System (WORCS). A fee is assessed per search.
Step 6 — Check Corrections Status Information regarding individuals currently or previously under the supervision of the Wisconsin Department of Corrections is available through the Wisconsin Department of Corrections offender locator tool.
Rock County Clerk of Courts 51 S. Main St., Janesville, WI 53545 (608) 743-2200 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Rock County Clerk of Courts
How To Find Criminal Records in Rock County Online?
Several official online portals currently provide access to Rock County criminal records without requiring an in-person visit.
Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) The primary online resource for court records is the Wisconsin Court System's circuit court case search, which indexes all Rock County Circuit Court cases. Users may search by:
- Party name (first and last name required)
- Case number
- Citation number
- Attorney name
The portal returns case type, filing date, charge descriptions, statute citations, and disposition information. No registration is required to conduct a basic search. Detailed case documents, however, may require an in-person visit to the Clerk of Courts.
Rock County Jail Roster The Rock County Sheriff's Office maintains a current jail roster reflecting individuals presently held at the Rock County Jail. This roster is accessible through the Sheriff's Office website and is updated regularly. It includes the detainee's name, booking date, and charges.
Wisconsin Department of Justice — WORCS The Wisconsin Online Record Check System, administered by the Wisconsin Department of Justice, provides statewide criminal history background checks. Access requires user registration and payment of a per-search fee. The system returns conviction history compiled from law enforcement agencies across Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Department of Corrections Offender Locator The Wisconsin Department of Corrections offender locator tool allows members of the public to search for individuals currently incarcerated or under community supervision statewide. The search is available at no charge and requires no registration.
Records involving sealed juvenile cases, expunged matters, or active investigative files are not available through any public online portal and require a court order for access.
Can You Search Rock County Criminal Records for Free?
Wisconsin law provides that members of the public have the right to inspect public records at no charge. Wisconsin Statutes § 19.35(1) states that "any requester has a right to inspect any record." Fees may be assessed only for the actual, necessary, and direct cost of reproduction or for locating a record if the search requires more than a de minimis effort.
The following resources are currently available at no cost:
- Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) — Free online search of Rock County court case records, including charges and dispositions, via the Wisconsin Court System case search
- Rock County Jail Roster — Free online access to current detainee information through the Rock County Sheriff's Office website
- In-Person Inspection — Members of the public may inspect original court records and arrest logs at the Clerk of Courts or Sheriff's Records Division without charge during regular business hours
- Wisconsin DOC Offender Locator — Free online search of current and former Wisconsin Department of Corrections offenders
Fees are assessed for the following:
- Certified copies of court documents (per-page fee set by the Clerk of Courts)
- Statewide criminal history background checks through WORCS (fee per transaction)
- Copies of police reports (per-page reproduction fee)
Wisconsin Department of Justice 17 W. Main St., Madison, WI 53703 (608) 266-1221 Wisconsin Department of Justice
What's Included in a Rock County Criminal Record?
A comprehensive Rock County criminal record may contain information across several categories, depending on the maintaining agency and the nature of the individual's criminal history.
Identifying Information
- Full legal name and known aliases
- Date of birth
- Physical description (height, weight, eye color, hair color)
- Booking photograph (mugshot)
- Last known address
- State Identification Number (SID) assigned by the Wisconsin Crime Information Bureau
- FBI Number (if applicable for federal records)
Arrest Information
- Date, time, and location of arrest
- Arresting agency (Sheriff's Office, municipal police department)
- Booking number and facility
- Charges filed at the time of arrest
- Bail or bond amount set
- Jail facility where the individual was held
Court Case Information
- Case number and court jurisdiction (Rock County Circuit Court)
- Filing date and case type
- Charge descriptions and applicable Wisconsin statute citations, including felony class (Class A through I) or misdemeanor class (Class A, B, or C)
- Plea entered (guilty, not guilty, no contest)
- Attorney of record and prosecuting agency
- Scheduled and completed hearing dates
Disposition Information
- Verdict (guilty, not guilty, dismissed)
- Conviction date
- Sentencing details, including incarceration length, fine amounts, restitution ordered, and conditions of supervision
- Probation or parole terms and supervising agency
- Any appeals filed and their outcomes
Additional Record Elements
- Active or recalled arrest warrants
- Protective or restraining orders
- Sex offender registration status under Wisconsin's sex offender registry
- OWI/DUI convictions and related administrative actions
- Traffic violations adjudicated in circuit court
- Pending charges not yet resolved
How Long Does Rock County Keep Criminal Records?
Rock County and the State of Wisconsin maintain criminal records according to established retention schedules that vary by record type and agency. Under Wisconsin's public records law and the Wisconsin Public Records Board's retention schedules, agencies are required to retain records for specified minimum periods before authorized destruction.
Current retention periods for principal record categories include:
- Felony conviction records — Retained permanently by the Wisconsin Court System and the Wisconsin Department of Justice Crime Information Bureau
- Misdemeanor conviction records — Retained permanently at the state level; local agency copies may be subject to shorter schedules
- Arrest records without conviction — Retained for a minimum of seven years by local law enforcement agencies, subject to applicable expungement orders
- Circuit court case files (felony) — Retained permanently by the Rock County Clerk of Courts
- Circuit court case files (misdemeanor) — Retained for a minimum of 20 years following case closure
- Jail booking records — Retained for a minimum of seven years by the Rock County Sheriff's Office
- Juvenile records — Retained pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes § 938.396, with destruction authorized upon the subject reaching a specified age, absent a court order to the contrary
- Expunged records — Removed from public access upon court order; physical destruction timelines are governed by the expungement order and applicable retention schedules
The Wisconsin Public Records Board publishes the General Records Schedule applicable to county agencies, which governs minimum retention periods for all categories of government records maintained at the county level.
Wisconsin Public Records Board 101 E. Wilson St., Madison, WI 53703 (608) 266-2996 Wisconsin Public Records Board