Public Records Requests
To improve the customer experience, we've enhanced our records request process. Customers can use our new MyCounty Customer Portal to quickly, easily and accurately submit records requests. You can also track your request throughout the process and have access to all your public record requests from the portal. The MyCounty Customer Portal is recommended for convenience but its use is not required.
Milwaukee County is committed to openness in government and to making records available to the public under Wisconsin’s Public Records Law, Wis. Stat. §§ 19.31 – 19.39.
Milwaukee County will acknowledge in writing receipt of all written public records requests. Requests will then be reviewed and answered as soon as practicable and without delay. Wis. Stat. § 19.35(4)(a). In the event that there is a cost associated with locating responsive records, you will be provided with a cost estimate if that amount is anticipated to exceed $50. Wis. Stat. § 19.35(3)(c), (f). If responsive records exist, they will be vetted according to public records law to exclude non-public material such as social security numbers, private employee information, personal medical information, and attorney-client communication. You will then be advised of the actual cost of reproducing responsive records and any postage costs. Wis. Stat. § 19.35(3)(a), (d).
Requests for public records maintained by Milwaukee County may be made in person at the department’s office, by U.S. mail, by phone, by email, or through the MyCounty Customer Portal.
The following departments deal directly with their own public record requests and do not use the MyCounty Customer Portal. Use the links below to file requests with those departments.
- Community Reintegration Center (CRC)
- Medical Examiner
- Sheriff
- District Attorney
- County Board of Supervisors:
- District 1: Anne O'Connor
- District 2: Willie Johnson Jr.
- District 4: Jack Eckblad
- District 5: Leevan D. Roundtree
- District 6: Shawn Rolland
- District 7: Felesia A. Martin
- District 8: Steven Shea
- District 9: Patti Logsdon
- District 10: Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson-Bovell
- District 11: Kathleen Vincent
- District 12: Juan Miguel Martinez
- District 13: Priscilla E. Coggs-Jones
- District 14: Caroline Gomez-Tom
- District 15: Sky Z. Capriolo
- District 16: Justin Bielinski
- District 17: Steve F. Taylor
- District 18: Deanna Alexander
- For vital records and real estate documents, contact the Register of Deeds Office.
Looking for Records from Another Government Agency?
Milwaukee County can only provide public records maintained by Milwaukee County. If the records you are seeking are maintained by another government agency, you will need to submit your request directly to that agency.
Below are links to some of the agencies that commonly receive public records requests:
Milwaukee Police Department (MPD)
For police reports, crash reports, citations, CAD records, body-worn camera or other Milwaukee Police Department records, contact the Milwaukee Police Department Open Records Section.
Request records from the Milwaukee Police Department
City of Milwaukee
For records maintained by the City of Milwaukee or its departments, including city property, building and development records, permits, licenses, public safety records, and other City records, submit your request directly to the City of Milwaukee.
Request records from the City of Milwaukee
Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS)
For records maintained by the Milwaukee County Transit System, including transit-related records, submit your request directly to MCTS.
Other Agencies
If you are looking for records from another government agency, please contact that agency directly. Examples include:
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Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) – school and district records
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State of Wisconsin – state agency records
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Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) – state transportation and certain crash records
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Other municipalities – city, village or town records