How long are case files kept? Supreme Court Rules govern how long files are kept.
Felony files
Class A felony files: 75 years after final judgment
All other Felony files: 50 years after final judgment
Misdemeanor files: 20 years after final judgment
Traffic and other forfeiture files - 5 years after final judgment
For a full list of case retention click here: Supreme Court Rule 72- records retention
How do I find my case number and case information?
Click here to check the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access website: WCCA records. You may also use the public access computer terminal in Room #115 of the Courthouse to find case information, including court dates.
How do I get copies of documents in case files?
Copies are available Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. from the customer service window of Room #115 of the Courthouse. Copies cost $1.25 per page. If you need a copy of a document certified, the cost for certification is $5.00 in addition to the cost per page.
I received a traffic citation. Must I appear in court on the date set forth on my citation?
If the citation requires a mandatory appearance, you must appear at the designated place and time. If the citation does not require a mandatory appearance, the following answers apply:
NO: You may avoid appearing in court by sending the bail amount listed on the front of your citation prior to your court date. The court will find you guilty and the bail money will be forfeited. See #10 for information regarding paying by credit card or on-line.
NO: If you wish to plead "Not Guilty" you may do so by mail without appearing in court by sending the following to the court:
- Your plea
- The charge
- The date you were scheduled to appear
- The name of the police agency that issued your ticket
- The ticket number
- Your current mailing address and phone number
You must mail this information to the court listed on the front of this brochure. This must be received by the court no later than the date listed on the citation. After the date on the citation the court will send a notice to you advising when your case is set for trial.
NO: If you fail to post bail money, or enter a not guilty plea by mail or appear in court, default judgment will be entered against you for the amount of the ticket. You will be allowed 60 days to pay. If you do not pay within 60 days your driver's license will be suspended for failure to pay.
YES: If you wish to negotiate your citation you must appear at the date and time listed on the citation.
What will happen if I appear in court on the day of my citation?
The date on your citation is the date of your initial appearance. On this date a prosecutor will be present to speak with you. If your case is settled at this time no further appearances will be required of you. If you and the prosecutor do not come to an agreement to settle the case, the matter will be set for trial and you will receive a notice of the date and time of trial before you leave.
Can I request a jury trial for my citation?
You have the right to have a jury trial. If you chose to have a jury trial you must post the non-refundable $36 within 10 days of entering a plea of not guilty. If you do not post the fee within the 10 days, your right to a jury trial is permanently waived. If you do not wish to have a jury trial or if you do not timely pay the jury fee your case will be set for a trial to the court and a judge will decide the case.
I'm worried about the points to be assessed against my driving record. How do I know if I'm in point trouble?
If you are found guilty of a traffic violation, your driving record may be charged with demerit points. The court will report the convictions to the Division of Motor Vehicles and the Division will assess the number of points against your record, depending on the charge. If you accumulate 12 points against your driving record within a one-year period by date of violations, your license will be suspended or revoked.
Contact the Driver's License Bureau in Madison, Wisconsin for information regarding the number of points assessed against your license at 608-266-2261.
My driver's license has been suspended because I didn't pay my forfeiture. What should I do?
You will need to pay the fine to the Clerk of Circuit Court, Jefferson County Courthouse, 311 S. Center Ave, Jefferson , WI 53549AND you will need to pay a reinstatement fee to the Department of Transportation. Your license will NOT be reinstated automatically with the payment of your fine to the Clerk of Courts. You must also pay the reinstatement fee to the D.O.T. (Call your local D.O.T. office for more information.)
I posted a cash bond in a criminal action. How do I get my bond money back?
If the case is still open, the judge will usually require the bond to remain on deposit to secure the defendant's appearance in court, or you may arrange for the surrender of the defendant to the sheriff. After the case is closed, any remaining bond (after it is applied to the fine, court costs, assessments, and surcharges) will be returned to the person designated on the bond form. A bond refund check is usually mailed within 10 days of the sentencing/disposition of the case. If you do not receive the bond refund after three weeks of closing the case, you may contact our office at 920-674-7153.
Note that if the defendant failed to appear for a court date or otherwise violated bond conditions, the judge may order that the bond be forfeited and issue a bench warrant for the arrest of the defendant. If the bond is ordered forfeited, our office will mail a notice to both the defendant and the person who posted the bond.
Can I pay my fine or forfeiture by credit card or on-line?
The Clerk of Courts Office only accepts credit card payments through Government Payment Services. You can pay using a credit card by telephone or via the internet - we do not accept credit card payments at the office. Government Payment Services accepts Discover, MasterCard, Visa and American Express.
PAYING YOUR FINE BY CREDIT CARD:
Credit Card Payment by Telephone: Call 888-604-7888, 24 hours a day. You will need a pay location code (PLC#) 4115 for Traffic, County Ordinance, DNR and Criminal case payments. A 4.75% fee for phone service will be added to the total amount charged.
Credit Card Payment via the Internet: go to http://www.govpaynow.com. You will need a pay location code (PLC#) 4115 for Traffic, County Ordinance, DNR and Criminal case payments. A 3.5% fee for internet service will be added to the total amount charged.
If you are paying a fine, and also requesting a copy by fax, you can include the copy fee of $1.25 per page with the fine payment fee.