The Wisconsin Department of Justice (Wisconsin DOJ) maintains the state’s central repository for
Criminal History Record Information (CHRI), which is composed of demographic data, arrest and charge information, and final disposition reports. This information is stored in the state's
Centralized Criminal History (CCH) database.
Public access to criminal history record information is provided through the
Wisconsin Online Record Check System (WORCS). Anyone may pay a fee to request adult criminal history record information through WORCS. A request for criminal history record information is sometimes informally referred to as a criminal background check.
About the Centralized Criminal History database
The CCH database, managed by the Wisconsin DOJ Crime Information Bureau (CIB), contains detailed information about arrests, prosecutions, court findings, sentences, DNA registrations, and Wisconsin Department of Corrections (DOC) notices such as admissions and releases data. All information in this database is based on the submission of arrest fingerprint cards by law enforcement agencies. Fingerprint-supported records can be used to confirm whether a criminal record in the file belongs to a particular individual. Arrests without supporting fingerprints or related dispositions are not included in the criminal history database.
Wisconsin law enforcement agencies are required to submit arrest fingerprint cards per Wis.Stat.§165.84(1) for offenses designated in
Wis.Stat.§165.83(2)(a). The Wisconsin DOJ is also required to accept any other arrest fingerprint cards taken by law enforcement agencies for offenses other than those listed in
Wis. Stat.§165.83(2)(a). Criminal history information may be obtained from other sources, such as courts or the DOC.
These fingerprint-supported records confirm whether a criminal record belongs to a specific person. Any arrest or disposition with supporting fingerprints is submitted to the Wisconsin DOJ to be included on the record.
Public Access to Criminal History Record Information
Anyone can access and obtain adult criminal history record information (criminal background check) after paying the required fee.
Before requesting criminal history record information,
please review the following resources: