Winnebago County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Created in the year 1840, Winnebago County was named for the many native tribes that called it home. The actual term Winnebago came from Algonquin origin and it means “people dwelling by the ill-smelling water.” Fox River used to become muddy and full of fish, hence where the name came from. Winnebago County is located in the central part of the state of Wisconsin. The county, known for its beautiful lakes, has its seat in Oshkosh which was established in 1853. An estimated population of 171,197 residents reside within the county. The court system of Winnebago County consists of two trial courts: Circuit Courts and Municipal Courts.

The county's Circuit Court is the court of original jurisdiction. The court is located in Oshkosh and hears all criminal and civil cases, including those beyond the jurisdiction of the Municipal Courts. They typically hear criminal cases relating to felonies and civil cases such as equity cases and juvenile matters. The Municipal Courts are also located in Oshkosh. They have jurisdiction over cases relating to violation of city ordinances and handle cases such as truancy, DUI cases, and drug offenses.

Winnebago County has a crime rate of 37.33 per 1,000 residents. This rate is slightly higher than the national average for a U.S. county, and it highlights the need for an effective court system in the county. The state judiciary has recorded that circuit courts in the county handle an average of 24,000 cases annually. The Winnebago County Clerk of Courts keeps records for these cases, and the cases are available to the public using the public access workstations in the courthouse. Individuals may also alternatively opt to access the court records online. It is important to note that the court only allows access to the public court records. Certain records, including adoption records, records of confidential informants, and substance abuse treatment records, as well as all juvenile matters and medical records, are designated as confidential and restricted from public access. Special permission or a court order is required to gain access to these concealed files, which the County Clerk will be pleased to help with during an in-person visit.

In conclusion, the judicial system of Winnebago County consists of the Circuit Court and Municipal Court. Both courts make their records accessible to the public and play their roles in ensuring the county does not descend into chaos.