Manitowoc County Criminal Records

Criminal records in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, are available through several channels. ManitowocCourt.us allows you to search publicly available information about criminal cases in the county. Additionally, records can be obtained through the Wisconsin court system, the Clerk of Circuit Court's office, and the Manitowoc County Sheriff's office. Each of these sources provides varying amounts of data—from basic case information to complete criminal history checks.

How to Search Criminal Records in Manitowoc

To search for criminal records, you will need at least one of the following:

• The person's full name
• Date of birth
• Case number

Online Search

1. ManitowocCourt.us — start here for a quick search of public information about criminal cases in the county.
2. Wisconsin Court System Case Search (CCAP) — the official portal of the state court system. Allows you to search circuit court, appellate court, and Wisconsin Supreme Court cases by name or case number. Results include charges, hearing dates, and case status.
3. Wisconsin Online Record Check System (WORCS) — the Wisconsin Department of Justice's system for criminal history checks. Suitable for employers, volunteer organizations, and private individuals needing a formal check.
4. Manitowoc County Inmate List — a PDF file with the current list of individuals held in the county jail.
5. Active Warrants List — a public PDF with the names of individuals with outstanding warrants.

In-Person Visit

The Manitowoc County Clerk of Circuit Court provides access to court files at the courthouse. You can view cases on-site and order copies of documents.

Written Request

To obtain copies from a court case, fill out the Open Records Request form and send it to the clerk's office. Instructions for completing the form are available on the general court information page.

To obtain a copy of a police report or check your record, contact the sheriff's office through the Release of Information Request form, which can be submitted online.

Search Manitowoc Criminal Cases by Case Number

In Wisconsin, court case numbers have a standard format, which is decoded as follows:

Main criminal case type codes:

• CF — criminal felony case (serious crime)
• CM — criminal misdemeanor case (minor crime)
• CT — criminal traffic violation
• TR — non-criminal traffic violation

For example, the number 2024MT000123CF indicates a felony filed in Manitowoc County in 2024 with the sequential number 123. Knowing the case number will yield the most accurate search result on the CCAP portal.

Charges, Case Status, Hearings, and Court Results in Manitowoc

Charges

Each charge in a case includes a reference to a specific Wisconsin statute (e.g., Wis. Stat. § 943.10 — burglary). Charges are classified by severity:

• Felony — serious crime, classes A to I; class A carries a life sentence
• Misdemeanor — less serious crime, classes A, B, C; up to 9 months imprisonment for class A
• Forfeiture/Infraction — fine-only offense with no imprisonment

Charges may be amended by the prosecutor during the court process — for example, a felony may be reduced to a misdemeanor as part of a plea agreement.

Case Status

Types of Hearings

• Initial Appearance / Arraignment — first court appearance, charges are announced
• Preliminary Hearing — determination of sufficient evidence for felonies
• Pre-Trial Conference — procedural discussions between parties
• Jury / Court Trial — substantive consideration of the case
• Sentencing — issuance of a sentence after a guilty plea
• Review Hearing — review of compliance with sentence conditions (e.g., probation)

On the criminal unit page of the county, you can subscribe to text reminders about upcoming hearings.

Court Trial Results

How to Request Certified Criminal Records in Manitowoc

Certified copies of court documents are issued by the Clerk of Circuit Court's office. Here's how to submit a request:

1. Download and complete the Open Records Request form.
2. Include the case number, party name, and specific documents you need.
3. Submit the form in person, by mail, or according to the instructions on the form.
4. Pay the applicable fees (see section below).

For a statewide criminal history check, use the WORCS system of the Wisconsin Department of Justice. This check covers arrests and convictions from all counties in the state.

If you need a police report or incident information, the sheriff's office accepts requests through its online form. A valid ID is required to submit a request.

The VINE service allows free checking of inmate status in the Wisconsin county jail system 24/7.

Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times for Criminal Records in Manitowoc

Fees for copies of court documents in Wisconsin are set according to Wis. Stat. § 814.61(10).

Source of copy fees: Wis. Stat. § 814.61(10). The fee for WORCS is set by the Wisconsin Department of Justice.

Processing Times

• WORCS (online) — results are usually available within a few minutes to two business days
• Clerk of court request (in person) — copies are often prepared on the day of the request if the case is available electronically
• Mail request — processing usually takes 5 to 10 business days, depending on the request volume and office workload

Payment at the clerk's office is accepted in cash, check, or money order. Confirm acceptable payment methods directly with the office, as rules may change.