How Sheriff Offices Are Set Up Across Wisconsin's 72 Counties

Wisconsin has 72 counties, and every one of them elects a sheriff. The office is created by the state constitution, so no county board can abolish it. That makes the sheriff the only law enforcement agency with authority in every part of the state, from downtown Milwaukee to the farm towns of Lafayette County. If you live outside a city or village, the sheriff's office is very likely your everyday police agency.

Voters choose sheriffs in partisan elections held in November of gubernatorial election years. The sheriff answers to those voters rather than to the county board, although the board still controls the budget. County government, including the sheriff's statutory duties, is covered in Chapter 59 of the Wisconsin Statutes. Those duties include keeping the peace, operating the county jail, attending circuit court, and serving legal papers.

In practice, the office has three main jobs. Deputies patrol and answer calls. Jail staff book, house and release people held by the county. Court officers provide security and serve legal papers for the circuit court. Larger counties split these jobs into separate divisions, while small counties often rotate the same deputies between road patrol and jail shifts.

No single state agency commands Wisconsin's sheriffs, but several state bodies shape their work. The Wisconsin Department of Justice supports law enforcement training and standards through its Law Enforcement Standards Board and runs the state crime laboratories. The Department of Corrections sets and inspects minimum standards for county jails. The Badger State Sheriffs' Association lets the elected sheriffs share practices and speak together on legislation.

Milwaukee, Dane and Brown: Sheriff Services in Wisconsin's Largest Counties

Urban counties work differently from the rest of the state because their cities already have police departments. The City of Milwaukee polices its own streets, so the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office concentrates on the county jail, courthouse security and other county-level duties. Our directory lists the County Correctional Facility - Central at 949 North 9th Street in downtown Milwaukee, reachable at 414-226-7000. Milwaukee County has more sheriff listings than any other county in the state, so check the Milwaukee County page to match the right facility to your errand.

Dane County follows a similar pattern around Madison, which has its own police department. Sheriff's deputies cover the towns and growing suburbs beyond the city limits. The Dane County Sheriffs Office - Northeast Precinct sits at 4084 Muller Road in DeForest, 608-266-3456, which places a sheriff's presence near the northeastern edge of the county. The Dane County page shows the other offices in the county.

In northeastern Wisconsin, the Brown County Sheriff's Office at 2684 Development Drive in Green Bay (920-391-7450) serves a county anchored by the Green Bay area. Farther south in the Fox River Valley, the Outagamie County Sheriffs Department and Jail at 320 South Walnut Street in Appleton can be reached at 920-832-5605. Start with the Brown County page if your business is in Green Bay.

In metro counties, expect separate phone lines for the jail, civil process and records. Call the main number first and ask for the right division before you drive across town.

Rural and Northwoods Sheriffs: Where the County Office Is the Police Department

Local government in Wisconsin is built from cities, villages and towns. Towns are the rural layer, and many have no police force of their own. In those areas a 911 call typically goes to a county dispatch center, and a sheriff's deputy responds. Because one deputy may cover hundreds of square miles, staffing and response times look very different from city policing.

The Calumet County Sheriff's Office sits at 206 Court Street in Chilton (920-849-2335). The Lafayette County Sheriff's Office is at 626 Main Street in Darlington (608-776-4870), in the southwest part of the state. Along the Mississippi River, the Crawford County Sheriff Department and Jail at 224 North Beaumont Road in Prairie du Chien answers at 608-326-8414. These are small offices where the same staff may handle patrol, court duties and civil papers.

The Northwoods add a seasonal twist. The Sawyer County Sheriff's Office at 101 5th Street in Hayward (715-634-4858) and the Burnett County Sheriff's Office at 7410 County Highway B in Siren (715-349-2121) serve areas where lake and recreation traffic swells the population in summer and snowmobile trails matter in winter. Deputies there can end up handling boating, trail and cabin-area calls alongside ordinary patrol. Door County works the same way on a peninsula that fills with visitors, and its Sheriffs Department and Jail is at 1205 South Duluth Avenue in Sturgeon Bay (920-746-2400).

Western Wisconsin counties near Minnesota see commuter traffic. Pierce County's department and jail is at 414 West Main Street in Ellsworth (715-273-5051), and the St. Croix County department is at 1101 Carmichael Road in Hudson (715-381-4320). Central Wisconsin has the Portage County Sheriff's Office at 1500 Strongs Avenue in Stevens Point (715-346-1400) and the Marquette County Sheriff Department and Jail at 67 West Park Street in Montello (608-297-2115).

Menominee County is a special case. Its sheriff is listed at Courthouse Lane in Keshena (715-799-3357), and the county shares its boundaries with the Menominee Indian Reservation. Questions about which agency has jurisdiction in a given situation can involve tribal as well as county officers, so ask the dispatcher or the front desk who should take your report.

What a Wisconsin Sheriff Handles, and What Belongs to Other Agencies

Knowing the sheriff's actual responsibilities saves a wasted trip. A Wisconsin sheriff's office generally handles the following:

Some tasks never reach the sheriff. The Wisconsin Department of Justice, not the sheriff, issues concealed carry licenses. Driver licenses and plates come from the state's Division of Motor Vehicles. Questions about a state prison go to the Department of Corrections. Crashes on interstates and state highways may involve the Wisconsin State Patrol rather than county deputies. Match the request to the agency and you save a trip.

To confirm the right office, start with the county, not the city. Find the county on this page, call the number and ask about hours. Jail lobbies are usually staffed around the clock, while records and civil process counters often keep weekday business hours. Bring a photo ID, and have any case number ready.

Sheriff offices in Wisconsin are independently elected county agencies responsible for law enforcement, jail operations, and civil process service. Each county in Wisconsin elects its own sheriff, who serves as the chief law enforcement officer for that county's unincorporated areas.

Sheriff locations are available in 79 cities across Wisconsin. They are spread across 72 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration of sheriff office listings include Milwaukee, Prairie du Chien, Hayward, reflecting the population centers where multiple sub-offices or specialty divisions may be located.

Wisconsin residents should note that sheriff offices handle civil law enforcement functions — such as serving eviction notices and foreclosure papers — in addition to criminal law enforcement, so the sheriff office is often the correct point of contact for civil legal matters at the county level.

Sheriff by Counties

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If you are a Wisconsin resident looking to obtain a concealed carry permit, request a background check clearance letter, or serve legal documents through official channels, your county sheriff office is the starting point — contact them directly to confirm required documentation and current processing times.

Browse Sheriff by county across Wisconsin to find the nearest location.

Getting Something Done at a Wisconsin Sheriff's Office

A trip to a Wisconsin sheriff's office goes faster with preparation. Start by confirming the county, because the county line decides which sheriff has jurisdiction. Then phone the main number from the listing and ask which counter or division handles your request. Jail lobbies are generally open around the clock, but records and civil process counters usually keep weekday business hours.

Bring a government-issued photo ID in every case. For a records request, bring the date, time, location and any case or report number. For a civil matter, bring the court papers you were given. For jail business, bring the inmate's full name and, if you have it, the date of birth. Staff cannot discuss every detail of an open case, so write down the case number and the deputy's name.

Border and small-office counties deserve extra planning. In St. Croix County, where the sheriff's department sits on Carmichael Road in Hudson, many residents commute toward the Twin Cities, so a crash or warrant question can involve a Minnesota agency too. In Calumet County, where the sheriff's office is on Court Street in Chilton, a quick call ahead is the simplest way to reach the right person.

In an emergency, skip the directory and dial 911. Use the non-emergency numbers listed here for reports about past incidents, welfare questions and general information.

Wisconsin Sheriff Questions Answered

Start with the county where your property sits, since each of Wisconsin's 72 counties has exactly one sheriff. If you live in a city or village with its own police department, such as Milwaukee, Madison or Green Bay, city officers handle most calls. The sheriff then handles the county jail, the courts and areas outside city limits. If you live in a town, the sheriff is usually your primary agency. Your property tax bill or county clerk can confirm your county and municipality. Then find the county's listing here and call its main number.

The sheriff runs the county jail in Wisconsin, including facilities such as the Door County Jail in Sturgeon Bay (920-746-2400) and the Marquette County Jail in Montello (608-297-2115). Call the jail's number to ask about visiting, phone accounts, property drop-off and money deposits, because the rules differ by county. Some people serve sentences under Wisconsin's Huber law, which allows eligible inmates to leave the jail for work, school or family care. The jail staff, not the records counter, answer those questions. Have the inmate's full legal name ready when you call.

No. The Wisconsin Department of Justice issues concealed carry licenses, and applicants apply through the state rather than at a county sheriff's office. The department also sets the requirements, such as proof of firearms training, so check its current instructions before you apply. A sheriff's office can still answer related questions, such as how to report a lost firearm or what to do if you are stopped while carrying. For rules about weapons inside a courthouse, ask the county's court security staff before you go.

Wisconsin's Public Records Law, found in sections 19.31 to 19.39 of the statutes, gives you the right to request records from a sheriff's office. You can ask in person, by mail or by phone, though a written request leaves a clear paper trail. Offices must respond as soon as practicable and without delay, and they may charge the actual, necessary and direct cost of copying. Some details, such as information about juveniles, victims or active investigations, may be withheld or redacted. Give the date, location and any report number to speed up the search.

Sheriff's offices serve summonses, subpoenas, small claims papers and other notices issued by the circuit court. Being served is not an arrest, and the deputy is not taking sides. Read the papers right away, because the deadline to respond is printed on the summons and missing it can lead to a default judgment. Deputies cannot give legal advice. For help, contact the clerk of circuit court in your county or a legal aid organization. Eviction orders are carried out by the sheriff only after a judge has issued the proper writ.

Wisconsin sheriffs are elected countywide to four-year terms, with the contest held in November of gubernatorial election years. Candidates usually appear on the ballot with a party label. To check your registration, find your polling place or preview your ballot, use MyVote Wisconsin, which is run by the Wisconsin Elections Commission. If you have concerns about your sheriff's office between elections, you can also speak at county board meetings, since the board approves the sheriff's budget and oversees county finances.