Winnebago County was established in 1848 in Wisconsin. According to the US Census Bureau, more than 171,000 persons live in the county. The City of Oshkosh is the county seat. Other popular cities in Winnebago include Neenah, Winneconne, and Omro cities.
Courts in Winnebago County
The Circuit Court has original jurisdiction over all criminal cases and civil lawsuits in Winnebago. Misdemeanor and felony criminal proceedings are exclusive to the Circuit Court. The apex court has a general civil division tasked with handling legal disputes in which financial settlements are more than $10,000. Civil disputes involving less than $10,000 claims are taken to the small claims division.
The Circuit Court in Winnebago also hears probate matters, adoption cases, name changes, guardianships, and conservatorships. As an appellate court, the Circuit Court hears appeals from Winnebago Municipal Courts. The four Municipal Courts in Winnebago County typically preside over non-jury criminal proceedings. Each Municipal Court exercises exclusive jurisdiction over most ordinance violations committed within the municipality. They also preside over alcohol violations, truancy, curfew violations, and drug crimes.
Where to Find Public Court Records in Winnebago County
The Winnebago County Clerk of Courts stores and permits access to the following court records.
- Jury Lists
- Depositions
- Case dockets
- Motions and Responses
- Discovery Requests
- Settlement Agreements
- Court Transcripts
- Case Summaries
- Legal Briefs
- Writs and Agendas
- Verdicts
Interested persons may visit the Circuit Court Clerk or call (920) 236-4808 to inquire about public court records in Winnebago County. They can also use the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access to find public case files created in the county court. To find information on the state’s repository, interested persons must provide birth dates, parties’ names, and case numbers.
Types of Public Court Records in Winnebago County
Winnebago County public court records include:
- Criminal records
- Civil records
- Divorce decrees
- Family records
- Probate records
- Traffic court records and citations
- Property records
- Records showing foreclosures
Confidential Court Records in Winnebago County
In Winnebago, official court clerks do not grant public access to court records that are confidential under Wisconsin Court Rules. Examples of confidential court records include:
- Sealed records
- Records involving juvenile and child protective proceedings
- Adoption records
- Medical records
- Records pertaining to ongoing investigations
- Mental health records
- Confidential informant identities
- Victim identity in certain crimes
- Protected witness information
- Guardian ad litem reports
- Grand jury proceedings
- Personal information such as:
- Driver's license numbers
- Passport numbers
- Birth certificate details
- Taxpayer identification numbers
- Medical insurance identification numbers
- Credit card numbers
- Social Security numbers.
Juvenile Delinquency in Winnebago, WI
Unfortunately, in many areas of the Winnebago County, juvenile delinquency issues are on the rise. There are many reasons for the rise in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Wisconsin often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of crimes, and other family matters.
In 2017, a total of 986 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Winnebago County. Of that total, 60% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 593 court cases. Another 13% were dependency cases that accounted for 131 of the juvenile cases.
A lot of counties, including, Winnebago County, are focusing on family therapy and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Winnebago County juvenile delinquency numbers will show whether or not this approach is working.
| Juvenile Cases | Number of cases |
|---|---|
| Delinquency | 7,058 |
| Dependency | 1,908 |
| Status | 5,002 |
Government of Winnebago County, WI
| County Seat: | Oshkosh |
| Government Type: | County |
| Authority: | Dillon's Rule |
| Year Organized: | 1840 |
| Total Square Miles: | 579 |
| 2019 Population: | 170,414 |
| Persons/Square Mile: | 0.00 |