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CCAP Wisconsin Court Records

Wisconsin Circuit Courts

The Wisconsin Circuit Courts were established as trial-based courts to resolve disputes, criminal violations, and traffic matters in the state of Wisconsin. These courts are considered to be the originating court of jurisdiction.

Wisconsin Circuit Courts are divided into 9 judicial districts. There are a total of 249 Wisconsin circuit court judges assigned to cover the 72 counties in the state. A large number of these judges oversee the Milwaukee County Circuit Court.

Obtain Wisconsin Circuit Court Documents

The Wisconsin Circuit courts use a consolidated court access program to allow individuals to view and obtain court case records and documents. There is a web portal that provides remote access to the documents as long as you have an internet connection.

These documents can be viewed and printed directly from the portal without visiting a county courthouse. There are public terminals available in the courthouses for the general public to access the portal. This is reserved for individuals that lack internet access.

Wisconsin circuit courts web portal contains information for all court cases filed in the state of Wisconsin. The user-friendly interface allows you to research court cases by name, citation, and/or the court case number. You have the option to narrow down your search results if they are too broad.

Information that is displayed on the portal is the same information that you will find in the courthouse. The only exception is cases that exceed the display period, family court cases, juvenile cases, and cases that are sealed. More information regarding the types of cases that are found on the portal is available in the online tutorial guide. This guide discusses how to search for court records and how to read court documents.

Wisconsin Circuit Courts
Wisconsin Circuit Courts

Information Retrieved From Wisconsin Circuit Courts

As mentioned previously, you have the option to print the court records directly from the portal.

The information that you can obtain from the portal include the following:

  • Case information including the case number, charges, and disposition
  • The date the case was filed and the status of the case
  • The location where the case was filed along with the judicial officer overseeing the case
  • Case notes, documents, events, and hearings that are entered in the consolidated access program

Any information that is not found on the portal can be requested from the county clerk’s office. The instructions for requesting court records is located on the portal.

Contacting Wisconsin Circuit Courts

Every county in Wisconsin has elected officials known as the clerks of the court that are responsible for the daily administrative operations of the courts. Questions about specific cases are referred to the county clerk’s office where the case was filed. This information can be found on the County Clerk’s directory on the web portal. The directory is broken down by judicial districts and each county clerk’s office has a website containing information for that county.

The county clerk’s offices for the circuit courts are maintained and regulated by the Wisconsin Supreme court. The courts consider the record custodians for court documents and must adhere to the Wisconsin state statute.

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CCAP Wisconsin Court Records

WIS CCAP

The IT needs for the state of Wisconsin’s judicial system are controlled and maintained through the WIS CCAP system. This system is the consolidated court program consisting of various hardware and software that is used across the state by all government agencies.

WIS CCAP is used by these government agencies to communicate and transfer documents regarding court cases that are filed in Wisconsin’s circuit courts. The data that is sent to this system is requested by the public, the courts, law enforcement, and/or other government offices.

What Is WIS CCAP?

WIS CCAP is the court automation program and system that maintains the electronic documents of court cases filed in Wisconsin. This system is updated and revised frequently by the director of the state courts office. It was created in a response to the growing number of records requests and as a way to streamline the process of consolidating court records. This streamlined process makes it easier for individuals to access and maintain court case documents and files. It also reduces the amount of paperwork that is used in the judicial system.

How Does WIS CCAP Work?

WIS CCAP
WIS CCAP

The way WIS CCAP works is by automatically capturing and exchanging data between the circuit courts and various agencies in Wisconsin. The data exchange is processed once information is entered into the system or a case is filed.

Each government agency including law enforcement in Wisconsin has its own database for entering information regarding citations or court cases and is linked to the ccap management system. When an agency inputs information in its database it is electronically transferred into the court management system. This allows the system to export information back to the agency’s database until the case is resolved.

This means that these agencies are able to issue citations and file cases through their database. State Patrol is able to use a laptop to issue citations and transfer to a floppy disk. This disk is delivered to the circuit court clerk’s office where it is electronically entered into the ccap management system. After the case has been finalized the information is sent to the Department of Transportation and all databases in Wisconsin are updated.

When a case is filed in circuit court it is automatically filed electronically in the case management database. Updates are provided to the county district attorney’s office once the case has been resolved or disposed of.

Each agency has its own procedure and process for transferring the information to the case management system. However, once it is received the WIS CCAP procedure to export information back to the issuing agency through the case management system is unified for all agencies.

Questions About WIS CCAP

If there are questions about the system, including how to access and use it, individuals would need to contact the clerk of the court’s office. They have support staff trained in assisting and training individuals on how to use the system. You can find information for the clerk of the court’s office on the court management website.

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CCAP Wisconsin Court Records

WI Court Access

Individuals that need to perform background checks or access court records in Wisconsin are able to do so using the WI court access program. This program allows you to access the court records online using the consolidated court’s unified case records system. You can access this program and website remotely from any location if you have internet access. Otherwise, you will need to visit a Wisconsin County circuit courthouse and use the public terminal.

About WI Court Access

This system is a unified court system program that allows access to case records filed in circuit court. The case records that are on file include every type of court case filed in a Wisconsin court with the exception of cases that are deemed not available to the public. Cases that are not available for public inspection using this system, include the following:

  • Adoption cases
  • Guardianship cases
  • Civil commitments
  • Juvenile delinquency
  • Termination of parental rights
  • Child protection

The head of the committee that oversees the circuit court system believes that the public should know about criminal records. Therefore, sealing or expunging a criminal record in the state of Wisconsin is not easy.

WI Court Access
WI Court Access

Using WI Court Access

This system is not used for just access case records. Individuals can use this system to file cases electronically or to research legal matters. There are legal resources and tools that are available on the website to answer questions regarding criminal issues, divorce, probate, and other legal matters.

This court system program is used throughout different agencies in Wisconsin to exchange information electronically. Information that is exchanged includes the following:

  • Information with the District Attorney’s office regarding criminal and juvenile circuit court cases.
  • Tax warrant issues
  • Traffic case information with the state patrol and Department of Transportation
  • Criminal and forfeiture cases with the Crime Information Bureau

This system is used for jury management and is linked to the Division of Motor Vehicles information database. This assists the circuit courts with processing juror information and selecting a panel of potential jurors for court cases filed in circuit courts.

Questions About WI Court Access

The system is maintained in Madison, Wisconsin by the director of the state courts and the director of state courts offices. They are responsible for updating the WI court access program and ensuring that the system runs smoothly. Therefore, any technical questions regarding the system should be addressed to the WI court access technical support group.

Questions regarding information found using this system should be directed to the circuit clerk of the court’s office. The circuit court clerk’s office in each Wisconsin county is the official recordkeeper of cases filed in their county. If you are unsure how to contact the circuit court clerk’s office, you can use the directory found on the website. The directory will include a list of the main departments for the court and information for the clerk of court for that county.

If you need copies of court case records you will need to call or visit the courthouse and speak with a court clerk for assistance.

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CCAP Wisconsin Court Records

WI Circuit Court Access

In 1992, various agencies in Wisconsin were faced with an overwhelming number of requests for court records. This is what initiated the implementation of the WI circuit court access system that would take over 15 years to complete. County by county implemented this online system in their courthouses and by 2008, the last county joined.

WI Circuit Court Access Purpose

The purpose of the system is to provide a unified system where anyone can access court records including government and law enforcement agencies. There is an oversight and creation committee that is designated to oversee the system and maintain the website. The committee operates under the director of state courts.

This committee handles all issues that pertain to the policies of the circuit court access program.

Using WI Circuit Court Access Program

The circuit court access program is accessible through the following link https://wcca.wicourts.gov/. When using the website, it is important to read the complete terms and conditions of the search portal.

All information that is contained on the website is what is entered in the computer systems at the courthouse and filed in the records department. There is a subscription option that individuals can register for to retrieve information from the circuit court access interface. The subscription option allows users to use automated processes to download information and monitor the system. This option is designed for individuals that want a technical interface rather than a browser interface.

WI Circuit Court Access
WI Circuit Court Access

There is a handbook for using the program and understanding legal terms on the website. The handbook includes a glossary of commonly used legal terms and abbreviations to help users have a better understanding of the information that they are accessing through the portal.

This portal is not just for researching and accessing court records. If you have fees and fines to pay related to a court case, you can use the portal to pay these fees. You can also access calendars for law enforcement agencies, attorneys, and the courts.

You can use the portal to access the live stream court proceedings. The link is located under the calendar navigation toolbar that is on the search portal.

Information About WI Circuit Court Access

This system provides access to a number of court forms that are needed to file a court case. There are various types of court forms that are used when filing court cases. These forms make it possible for individuals to file court cases electronically.

The portal can be used as a resource for understanding the process of filing a court case and understanding what happens when a case is filed in court. The website is easy to explore and contains a plethora of resources for learning about the Wisconsin judicial system and understanding how the court system operates.

If you don’t understand or need clarification about the information on the portal, or if you have questions regarding court documents, you can use the directory on the portal to find contact information for the circuit courts in Wisconsin. You will need to contact the clerk of the court’s office for assistance.

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CCAP Wisconsin Court Records

WI Circuit Court

The WI circuit court was established in 1977, when amendments were approved that allowed the judicial system to be restructured. Until this date, the trial courts in Wisconsin were divided into county and circuit court cases. The amendment allowed the courts to become a unified system creating one court to handle all of these cases.

How the WI Circuit Court Works

The circuit courts in Wisconsin receive funding from the state and the county. These funds are used to pay court officials their salaries and cover the cost of traveling and training for judges. State and county funds are also used to pay operating costs, court-appointed attorneys and witnesses, jurors, grants, and court interpreters.

There are 72 counties in the state of Wisconsin with 249 circuit court judges to hear cases in these counties. These counties are divided into 9 administrative districts with a chief judge in each district. The appointment of chief judge is determined by the Wisconsin Supreme Court and this elected official serves a 2-year term.

The duties and responsibilities of the chief judge include the following:

  • Maintain and oversee the administration in each district
  • Assign a deputy chief judge
  • Work with circuit court officials and staff
  • Meet monthly
  • Perform duties under direction from the Supreme Court
WI Circuit Court
WI Circuit Court

Cases that are filed in a WI circuit court include civil, traffic, criminal, probate, and juvenile court cases. In this trial court, cases are heard with arguments presented by both parties. The outcome of the case is determined by a judge or jury. The unfavorable party is able to appeal the court’s decision after the court proceedings.

About WI Circuit Court Records

Any case that is filed in a Wisconsin court is maintained by clerks of that courthouse. The courthouse is required to retain circuit court records for 20 years after the final entry of the court proceeding. These records are available to the public online and in the courthouse where the case was filed. The retention period for online records and documents differs from the retention period of paper court records.

Circuit court records contain information pertaining to a court case including the following:

  • Warrants, citations, indictments, complaints, and other types of documents used to file a case.
  • Information about the parties involved in the case including addresses, date of birth, and other personal information.
  • Evidence used in the court hearings
  • Transcripts of court events and hearings
  • Information about the status of a case, the disposition in a case, the date the case was filed, where the case was filed, and the judge assigned to the case.

Anyone who wishes to obtain copies of this information can print it directly from the website or by visiting the courthouse where the case originated.

Questions About WI Circuit Court Records

For questions about the proceedings in a circuit court case, individuals would need to contact the clerk’s office that filed the court case. This link https://www.wicourts.gov/courts/circuit/judges.htm can be used to access the directory for each courthouse in the state of Wisconsin.

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CCAP Wisconsin Court Records

Wisconsin CCAP Search

Wisconsin CCAP is the hardware and software program for the state of Wisconsin’s judicial system. It is the result of a merger between two of the court system departments into one unit. By merging the two departments, users can conduct different types of searches using the resources available through the programs.

Using the Online Wisconsin CCAP Search System

You have several different applications to choose from. The most common application that is used is the circuit court access interface. The WCCA allows users to conduct case searches in the CCAP system.

You will need a computer that has internet access to use the Wisconsin ccap search interface. If you don’t have internet access you can use a public terminal located in the courthouse of any county in Wisconsin.

There are CCAP computers located in the offices of all circuit court judges and circuit court staff. These computers allow individuals to access the internet, use the court system intranet, and access their email accounts.

The Wisconsin CCAP maintains the court information repository program. The CIR holds and extracts information from every court in the state of Wisconsin to determine the need for more judges and to monitor the judicial caseloads of every circuit court in Wisconsin.

Wisconsin CCAP Search
Wisconsin CCAP Search

Who Uses Wisconsin CCAP Search System

The Wisconsin CCAP is used by the general public, circuit court clerk staff, judges, probate registers, law enforcement, the Department of Justice, Crime Information Bureau, and other government entities.

Anyone who uses the Wisconsin CCAP system can use the WCCA for any case filed in any Wisconsin county circuit court. You can also visit the county courthouse where the county listed as the official record holder for the case to look up court documents if you do not want to use the WCCA program in the online search system.

You can access court documents, dispositions, and the status of court cases that is not in violation of the state court records law. to access the information that is in the Wisconsin court and judicial system.

Questions About the Online Wisconsin CCAP Search

If you have questions regarding any online Wisconsin ccap search you can contact the technical department of the program. If you have questions regarding a case that is found in the Wisconsin CCAP system, you need to locate the record holder of the court case or the circuit court that filed the court case.

The contact information is listed below for questions about the Wisconsin CCAP system.

CCAP

110 East Main Street Suite 500

Madison, WI 53703

Phone: 608-267-3728

Fax: 608-261-6655

The Chief information officer for the CCAP is Jean Bousquet.

Support staff for the Wisconsin CCAP system has been trained in all interfaces of the system. They are familiar with the hardware and software of the Wisconsin CCAP system and travel all over the state to train users and install the components of the CCAP system. The support staff uses information from the service and technical calls to update the software every year and fix issues.

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CCAP Wisconsin Court Records

Wisconsin Criminal Records

There are several reasons that a person may need to access Wisconsin criminal records. The main reasons these records are requested include pre-employment screening and rental screening. However, these aren’t the only reasons to access criminal records.

When an employer uses information obtained from the Wisconsin Department of Justice to do a criminal background check, only convictions can be used to disqualify an individual. This is regulated by the Wisconsin Fair Employment Law.

Obtaining Wisconsin Criminal Records

The Wisconsin Crime Information Bureau is regulated by the Wisconsin Department of Justice and maintains the centralized criminal history database for the state of Wisconsin. Individuals that would like to request criminal records would need to submit a request using the Wisconsin Online Record Check System(WORCS) website.

This website allows the general public to request Wisconsin criminal records for a fee. You have the option to submit a request by registering on the website or by using the public user option. If you need to obtain criminal records regularly, it is recommended to create an account as a registered user. As a registered user, you will be able to access information by logging into your dashboard.

The fee for an online criminal background check is $7.00. If you request a mail records result you would need to add $5.00 as a processing fee.

Wisconsin Criminal Records
Wisconsin Criminal Records

Information Found on Wisconsin Criminal Records

The information that is found on the criminal history report is gathered from arresting law enforcement agencies, prosecuting agencies, courts, state criminal history repository, and federal criminal history repository entities. Criminal records are triggered by these entities when an individual receives a citation, violates a law, or is arrested.

When requesting a criminal record, you must verify that it belongs to the person that you are investigating, especially if you are doing a name search. The information contained in the Wisconsin Criminal Records report is deemed accurate as of the date of the request.

Landlords and employers are only able to submit a name-based check which is less accurate than a fingerprint-based check. If the information does not belong to the subject of the search, the process for clarifying the information is to complete and submit the Wisconsin Criminal History Challenge Form along with fingerprints. More information can be found on the website.

Questions about Wisconsin Criminal Records

Answers to questions regarding the results of criminal records requests or submitting a request can be found on the WORCS website. There is a section on the website that provides training material on how to read a criminal record, how to remove information from a criminal record, how to challenge a criminal record, as well as a notice for employers to read.

If you still have questions after reading over the training material and the brochures found on the website, you can contact the Criminal History Unit.

Contact information for the Criminal History Unit:

Criminal History Unit: 608-266-7314

Background Check: CIBRecordCheck@doj.state.wi.us

Criminal History record: CIBCriminalHistory@doj.state.wi.us

The Crime Information Bureau’s hours of operation are Monday-Friday between the hours of 8 am-4 pm.

For technical support, you would need to contact the administrator.

Categories
CCAP Wisconsin Court Records

About Wisconsin Court Access

The Wisconsin Court Access is an online circuit court system created in 1999, to access cases filed in Wisconsin Circuit Courts. The Wisconsin Court Access allows the general public, court officials, the media, attorneys, and law enforcement to access court records in a unified and consolidated system.

Case information is uploaded to the system regularly with the exception of scheduled periodic maintenance to the system. The information that is available in the system is a digital copy of the records found in the county courts. The county courts for each county are the recordkeepers for the cases filed in that county, yet the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access Committee is responsible for maintaining the online search portal.

Using Wisconsin Court Access

If you wish to use the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access online search portal, you would need to go to the WCCA website. Once you have accessed the WCCA website, you will need to agree to the terms and conditions found on the website to proceed with a search.

When using the online search portal you can search for cases by name, case number, and/or citation number. You can also perform advanced searches to narrow down your search results. This allows you to enter the following additional information:

  • The date the court case was filed.
  • The case status
  • The case disposition date
  • Date of birth
  • Attorney name
  • Business name
  • Offense date
Wisconsin Court Access
Wisconsin Court Access

You also have the option to perform a statewide or countywide search. It is recommended to search statewide if you are unsure of what county the case was filed in. After 2 years, if certain types of cases were dismissed, the information is removed from the online search portal. However, the information would still be available in the county clerk’s office where the case was filed. To access dismissed court cases after 2 years, you would need to contact the county clerk’s office where the case was filed.

Questions About WCCA

If you have questions about court cases that you access on the Wisconsin Court Access online search portal, you would need to contact the county clerk’s office. If the question is a technical question regarding the WCCA website, you can send a message through the contact us link found on the WCCA website.

There is a set of FAQs found on the website that can answer general questions that you may have. This includes understanding the abbreviations used on the court documents, how to perform a search, what types of cases you have access to, and what information you will find on the Wisconsin Court Access online search portal.

In general, you can access criminal, traffic, civil, family, and probate cases in compliance with the Wisconsin open records law. This law states that circuit court records are made available for inspection by the general public.

If changes are made to the portal, the WCCA committee will inform the public of these changes by placing a notice on the website. The most recent changes made to the site were made in 2018. These are made to the site are to make the site more user-friendly for the public.