How to Request Jail Records for Your Loved One in Rock County

Under Wisconsin's Public Records Law (§§ 19.31-19.39), you have a right to inspect and copy certain records. For families, that often means requesting documents or media that help you understand what happened, or what a loved one is dealing with while in custody. Rock County's Sheriff's Office lists several common record types people request: incident reports, arrest reports, accident reports (a fee applies), jail records, and medical records. You can also request audio, photos, body camera footage, dash camera footage, citations, and records checks. You'll get the best results by asking for the specific record type you need rather than making a broad request for "everything."

Rock County asks people to submit records requests through its Public Records Online Portal. Starting there gives you a clean paper trail: what you asked for, when you asked, and any follow-up. That's especially helpful if you're requesting multiple items or records that may take time to gather.

Using the portal doesn't replace your rights under Wisconsin's Public Records Law. It's simply the submission method the county points people toward. The underlying right is the same: you can request to inspect and copy certain records covered by the law.

With the Rock County Sheriff's Office, you can make a record request verbally or in writing. Either way, your request needs to be reasonably specific about the subject matter and the time period. That "reasonably specific" part matters. It helps staff locate the right record without guesswork.

The Sheriff is the legal custodian of Sheriff's Office records in Rock County, but that authority has been delegated to the Support Services Captain. The Sheriff's Office identifies the Custodian of Records as Captain Josh Lund (Support Services Bureau). If you're unsure how to direct a request, those details help you reach the right person.

• ✓ Inmate or jail records: 608-757-7958
• ✓ Traffic accident reports: 608-757-7950
• ✓ Traffic citations: 608-757-7902
• ✓ Incident or arrest reports: 608-757-7951

Need 911 audio? Don't send that request to the Sheriff's Office. Rock County states that 911 audio must be requested from the Rock County 911 Communications Center. Directing it there from the start will save you time.

After you submit a request, the custodian is supposed to notify you as soon as practicable about the availability of the records, or deny the request in whole or in part. If your request is denied, you have the right to receive that denial in writing. Hold on to it. A written denial documents exactly what was refused and when.

Response times vary. Rock County explains that turnaround depends on the nature and extent of the request, plus staff availability and the resources needed to process it. A simple, narrow request will typically come back faster than a larger or more complex one.

Fees are possible. The Rock County Sheriff's Office may charge the actual, necessary, and direct costs of locating a record, reproducing it, and mailing or shipping it. If the total cost exceeds $50.00, the Sheriff's Office may require pre-payment before completing the request.

Accident reports carry a specific up-front cost. Rock County requires a $3 payment before releasing an accident report.