What You Need to Know About Record Request Fees at Rock County Sheriff's Office
Requesting records from the Rock County Sheriff's Office? The cost depends on the work needed to find, copy, and deliver what you're asking for. Here's how fees are calculated, when you may need to pay up front, and when redaction fees can apply for audio or video.
Rock County Sheriff's Office fees are based on the actual, necessary, and direct costs of fulfilling your request. You're paying for the real work involved, not a flat "processing" fee. When staff time factors into the cost, the Sheriff's Office calculates it using the salary of the lowest-paid employee capable of doing the work. This matters most for requests that take time to locate, review, reproduce, or prepare for delivery.
- ✓ Locating the record(s)
- ✓ Reproducing the record(s)
- ✓ Mailing or shipping the record(s)
Some requests require a small payment before anything gets released. Accident Reports, for example, require a $3.00 payment up front.
Even when there's no single posted price for the record you want, you can still be charged the actual, necessary, and direct costs tied to your request. That includes time spent locating the record, reproducing it, and mailing or shipping it.
The Sheriff's Office may require pre-payment when the total cost of your request exceeds $50.00. If your request is likely to cross that line, plan on paying before the records are released.
If you submit your request online, you'll receive an electronic invoice and can pay online. This is typically faster than going through a non-online request. Pre-payment can still apply either way if the total exceeds $50.00, but online submission makes it easier to handle the invoice and payment step quickly once you're notified.
If you're requesting recorded audio or video (body camera footage, for instance), redactions can affect the price. Under 2023 Wisconsin Act 253, the Sheriff's Office may charge a fee for the actual, necessary, and direct cost of redacting that content. Act 253 also allows exemptions for people who meet certain criteria outlined in the law. If you think you might qualify, it's worth asking about it when you submit your request.
- ✓ Staff time to review recorded audio or video for content that must be removed
- ✓ Staff time to perform the redaction work (calculated using the lowest-paid capable staff member)
- ✓ Technical processing needed to produce a redacted copy
- Submit your request online. Online requests generate an electronic invoice.
- Pay through the online option when you get the invoice. The Sheriff’s Office notes you can pay online faster than people who do not submit online.
- ✓ Staff time, priced using the salary of the lowest-paid staff member who can do the work
- ✓ Costs to locate records, reproduce them, and mail or ship them
- ✓ Possible redaction fees for recorded audio or video under 2023 Wisconsin Act 253 (with exemptions available to qualifying individuals)
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