Kenosha County Sheriff Rejects Major Change to Inmate Database

Copied!
Sheriff David W. Zoerner At Kenosha County Law Enforcement Round Table
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)

Kenosha County Sheriff David W. Zoerner has rejected a massive overhaul to the online Kenosha County Jail inmate roster. The Kenosha County Jail’s steering committee recommended to the Sheriff that he only display current inmates on the search. This would mean, that if someone was arrested at 2:00 am, but bails out at 3:00 am, few people would ever learn of the arrest. The steering committee is comprised of members of Kenosha Police, Kenosha Sheriff, Joint Services and Kenosha Fire. The committee considered one problem that the inmate roster creates – innocent people’s data. When someone is arrested, they are photographed and fingerprinted. The Kenosha DA’s office could decide not to charge them. They could also face a jury of their peers, and be found not guilty. Charges could be dismissed. For these people, their booking information and mugshot remain online. It is still a public records and the Sheriff’s Department isn’t doing anything wrong here. However, there is a process for someone to get their booking information and mugshot off of this website. According to the Wisconsin DOJ, you may have your arrest record purged if the following applies:

Paid Advertisement

1) found to be not guilty, 2) the charges were dismissed by the court or prosecutor, or 3) no charges were filed by the prosecutor

Paid Advertisement

Once the Wisconsin Department of Justice purges your arrest(s), you can provide that document to the Sheriff’s Department and they will take down your booking info and mugshot. It is important to know, however that the police report, mugshot, and booking data still has to be released by the Sheriff to anyone who requests it – it just won’t be openly displayed.

Paid Advertisement

Chief Deputy Justin Miller told KCE today that he wants to educate the public more thoroughly about how people in these categories can have this information removed. Miller told KCE that the key players in the criminal justice system were not contacted during the steering committees’ decision. He says that has now occurred. “The negatives that would come from this change out weigh the positives of having the system up. That’s why I recommended that the Sheriff keeps things the way they are.”

Paid Advertisement

“I thank the committee for bringing this important matter up. I will not be changing the roster at this time,” said Sheriff Zoerner.

Paid Advertisement
Screenshot From The Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office Inmate Roster

Criminal defense attorneys like Michael Cicchini and Eric Olson use the roster almost every day. “I use the roster for many reasons. It is the best tool for determining sentencing credit for clients. I can see the date of booking and date of release. Prosecutors use it too.  It makes it easy for us to agree to the length of time served when it’s right there in black and white,” said Attorney Cicchini.  “I’m glad that the Sheriff is keeping this in place,” said Attorney Eric Olson. “I’m also elated that he kept video calls from attorneys to inmates free of charge. It really helps me stay connected to my clients when in-person visits are not available due to illness, etc.” Judges use this system as well as the media.

Paid Advertisement

In 2017, the jail roster switched to a new system. Miller told KCE that this system will stay up.

Paid Advertisement

.

Paid Advertisement

.

Author

Copied!
LATEST NEWS

Teen Avoids Adult Court After Bringing Loaded Gun to Indian Trail

Kenosha, Wis. — In a decision that’s raising eyebrows across the community, Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge Chad Kerkman (D) on Friday rejected a request from prosecutors to waive 16-year-old Jaheem Wright into adult court, allowing the teen who brought a loaded gun to school and made threats to be sentenced in juvenile court instead. Wright, who terrified students and staff at Indian Trail High School in December, took a plea deal and pleaded guilty to

Read More »

Counselor on Leave Amid Allegations at Westosha Central High School; Parents Demand Transparency

Paddock Lake, Wis. — A counselor at Westosha Central High School is currently on leave, and parents are once again demanding transparency from school leadership. Kenosha County Eye has confirmed through multiple sources that the counselor is accused of inappropriate communication with a student. According to individuals familiar with the situation, the counselor allegedly used his or her personal cellphone to communicate with a student and is also believed to have given the student a ride

Read More »
MORE TOP STORIES

Kenosha Cop Sues City, Claims Anti-Gay Discrimination Over Missed Promotion

Kenosha, Wis. — A longtime Kenosha police officer who was once accused—but never charged—of rape has filed a federal lawsuit claiming the city and its police chiefs passed him over for promotion because he is gay. Officer Pep Moretti, who has worked for the Kenosha Police Department since 2009, filed the Title VII discrimination lawsuit in late March against the City of Kenosha, former Chief Eric Larsen, and current Chief Patrick Patton. In his complaint, Moretti

Read More »

Wilmot High School Quiz on Trump Tariffs Draws Parental Criticism

Kenosha, Wis. — Some Wilmot Union High School parents are speaking out this week, accusing a 10th grade World History teacher of pushing a politically biased message in the classroom. The criticism centers on a quiz that students were given concerning the economic impacts of former President Donald Trump’s tariff policies — a quiz many say unfairly portrays Trump in a negative light. The assignment, titled “The Consequences of Black Friday,” includes four questions directly targeting

Read More »

Kenosha Law Enforcement Agencies Diverge on Radio Dispatch Policy Changes

Kenosha, Wis. — A recent shift in radio dispatch protocols by the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office has sparked discussion among local law enforcement leaders, with the Kenosha Police Department opting not to follow suit. As of April 1, the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office has implemented a revised dispatch policy for non-emergency and low-priority calls. The change, outlined in a March 11 email by Captain Eric Klinkhammer, is aimed at enhancing privacy and reducing radio clutter while

Read More »

Convicted Child Predator Extradited to Kenosha for New Sexual Assault Charge

Kenosha, Wis. — A Racine County man already serving 30 years in state prison for sexually assaulting a 4-year-old girl was extradited to Kenosha County this week to face a new charge involving a different child victim. Seth C. Beining, 23, of Wilmot, is now charged in Kenosha County with first-degree sexual assault of a child under 13. According to the criminal complaint, Beining allegedly assaulted an 11-year-old girl in June 2022 while the two were

Read More »

Kenosha County Scanner Admin Harasses Young Woman for Sharing Post, Reigniting Concerns Over His Criminal Past

Kenosha, Wis. — A 21-year-old Kenosha County woman says she is being harassed by a convicted serial arsonist after sharing one of his Facebook posts in a community thread. The man at the center of the controversy, 48-year-old Allen M. Dunski, Jr, co-manages the Kenosha County Scanner Facebook page with his partner John Broemelkamp. The page charges subscribers $4.99 per month to view posts, which often summarize local police and fire activity. Dunski has previously claimed—without

Read More »

Three Kenosha Police Officers Honored With Life Saving Awards After Reviving Unresponsive Man

Kenosha, Wis. — Three Kenosha Police Department officers were recognized Tuesday morning for their heroic actions that saved a man’s life during a critical medical emergency earlier this year. Officers Kyle Toppel, Charles Lyons, and Matthew Lovell were each presented with the department’s Life Saving Award during the Kenosha Police and Fire Commission meeting today. Their swift and coordinated response on February 15, 2025, helped resuscitate a 59-year-old man who was found unresponsive and not breathing

Read More »

High-Speed Chase Ends in Rollover Crash, Injuries and Felony Charges for Kenosha Man

Kenosha, Wis. — A Kenosha man with a lengthy criminal record is facing 14 new criminal charges, including multiple counts of reckless injury and endangerment, after he allegedly led police on a dangerous, high-speed chase through city streets Friday evening, causing a rollover crash that seriously injured at least two passengers. Joshua J. McCarthy, 38, appeared in court Monday afternoon where a court commissioner set his cash bail T $75,000. McCarthy is on a probation hold,

Read More »

Racine County Sheriff’s Deputy Arrested in Domestic Incident in Somers

Somers, Wis. — A Racine County Sheriff’s Deputy is under internal investigation after he was arrested earlier this month for allegedly assaulting his wife during an alleged drunken domestic dispute at their home. According to law enforcement records obtained by Kenosha County Eye, Kenosha County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to a Somers residence around 10:26 p.m. on April 4, 2025, for a welfare check. Deputies arrived to find what they determined to be a physical domestic

Read More »

Receptionist Resigned Amid Allegations of Attendance Record Tampering, District Records Show

Kenosha, Wis. — A receptionist at Indian Trail High School and Academy resigned last month while under investigation for improperly altering student attendance records, according to newly released internal documents from the Kenosha Unified School District. Danielle Nixon, who worked at the school’s front desk and had access to pupil databases, left her position on March 7, 2025, just days after being questioned about potentially unauthorized modifications to student absences. The district’s records, obtained by Kenosha

Read More »

Flag Protest Sparks Vandalism Probe in Kenosha Neighborhood — But No Charges Filed

Kenosha, Wis. — A neighborhood quarrel over a politically inverted American flag spiraled into a month-long police investigation in the St. Peter’s Park neighborhood — and ended with no arrests, no charges, and rising tensions between residents. The dispute began early on March 1, when a couple living on 22nd Street, just behind St. Peter’s Catholic Church on 30th Avenue, called police to report that both of their vehicles had been vandalized. Windshield wipers were bent

Read More »
Categories
Archives
Authors

23 Responses

  1. For once government isn’t making info harder to find. Good on Sheriff Zoerner for not allowing this change. About time an elected official stood up to a bunch of unelected bureaucrats!

    16
    1
  2. The ‘criminal’ should be able to get a copy of their police report unredacted without having to ask and to pay an attorney to get it.
    Another of Beth’s’ making it harder to defend one’s self’ action. Smh

    6
    8
  3. It should be the duty of the sheriffs department to remove info of people they wrongly accused or found not guilty. As someone who has been the victim of a false arrest due to a fucking idiot that is no longer on the force, I have to jump through hoops to clear my name.

    14
    6
  4. I can see a big issue arising from the personal info being shown. Sure, show a pic and the charges, etc…..but they publish actual addresses.

    Would seem to be a very easy way to find someone in the wrong hands in terms of identity theft. They probably should at least remove that information.

    1
    4
    1. When you are arrested, and especially charged with a crime, you lose privacy. People who commit crimes have their addresses dates of birth and other personal identifying information posted publicly on the Circuit Court access site and all of their information is a matter of public record

      13
      7
      1. Kevin, also, the archived (prior to 2017) roster now shows this….thus I assume he has made his mind up on the archived rosters?

        Beginning August 17, 2023, the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department Inmate Search will display in-custody inmates only.

        You can access the in-custody inmate search at inmate.kenoshajs.org

        The removal of the released inmate search archive page does not affect the Sheriff’s Department policy on record retention.

        If you require incarceration dates, that information can be given to you by calling the Jail information telephone number.

      2. “People who commit crimes have their addresses dates of birth and other personal identifying information posted publicly on the Circuit Court access site and all of their information is a matter of public record”

        Sadly, the same goes for people who DON’T commit crimes but are charged.

        1
        1
        1. Very good point. I moved out of Krapnosha some time back, but I was falsely accused (By a guy who has been ‘featured’ by Kevin Matthewson as a long time criminal and fraud on this site) of a variety of crimes, despite being, proven beyond shadow of doubt, to have been in the north woods visiting friends when this supposed ‘rampage of destruction’ that no one else ever saw, supposedly happened. I’ve tried, to no avail, to have the arrest info purged, and three times before moving out of Kraptacular Kenosha I had guys who tracked me down, presumably through jail records, trying to strongarm money and property from me.

      1. @Fake

        OK, but that doesn’t change the fact that they still provide addresses for a high majority of people. If they stopped doing it recently, then there is obviously a reason for that. They should erase it from all of them.

        CCAP also used to print license plate numbers for traffic citations……they obviously removed that years ago.

  5. Good for the sheriff, POS district attorneys like our own Gravely have insured that this information must be published, since there’s a good chance that they will be not prosecuted due to wolkness and complete disdain for the law.

    5
    1
  6. should also be required to publish a follow up once case disposition is complete. Including, amended charges, sentence and both attorneys and judges name.

Add a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

LATEST NEWS
Categories
Archives
Authors

Subscribe to updates

Get notified of new articles. We'll never share your email address.