Vilas County, WI Sheriff's Office, Jails and Inmate Lookup

About the County 

Vilas County is located on the northern side of Wisconsin. Prior to 1875, this county was part of three counties: Marathon, Lincoln, and Oneida. However, the Wisconsin legislature drafted an Act to separate the counties, where authorities opted for a phase-by-phase separation, starting with detachment from Marathon County in 1875. The break from Lincoln and Oneida Counties followed in 1885 and 1893, respectively, forming an independent Vilas County.  

During this time, there were only two towns in the county: Eagles River and Minocqua. Authorities opted for Eagles River to be the county seat mainly because it was strategically located and was the central location for logging operations.  

Today, the county seat remains in Eagles River. Additionally, the 2020 census results indicate that the county has a population of 23,047, a 7.2% increase from 2010. The United States Census Bureau further shows that the county extends to 1,018 square miles, 857 of the area being land and the rest being water.  

About the County Sheriff’s Office 

The Vilas County Sheriff’s Office is located at 330 Court Street, Eagle River, WI  54521. The Sheriff heads the office and is primarily responsible for making the county environment safe for the citizens. Additionally, the department ensures the residents receive vital government services, including access to records and incident reports.  

The Patrol Division  

The Patrol Division’s Offices are located in the Vilas County Justice Center and comprise the following staff members: 

• Sworn Deputies (20) 
• Lieutenants (5) 

Most of the officers in this division are uniformed and are the most visible staff member of the Sheriff’s Department. Some of the services within the jurisdiction of this office include: 

• Inmate Transportation. This case applies to inmates attending court cases. 
• Investigation on Non-Complex Offenses. Primarily, this role focuses on car crashes in the county. 

Additionally, the Emergency Response Team is part of the Patrol Division, comprising nine officers. This team undergoes special training to help in the event of emergencies and rescue operations, including: 

• County Riot Control 
• Rescue of Hostages  
• Rescue of Wounded and Abducted Police Officers  
• Protecting Dignitaries by Offering Perimeter Security  
• Counter Terrorism Activities  

Civil Process Division 

The Sheriff’s Office oversees all county civil processes, including eviction papers, foreclosures, and any other civil actions. Foreclosures are court-ordered auction sales that take place at the Sheriff’s Office at stipulated timelines, usually on weekends. During these sales, successful bidders must pay at least 15% of the successful bid amount in cash or cashier’s checks. Afterward, the bidder will pay the rest of the money within ten days after confirming the sale status with the court, usually the Circuit Court. Follow this link to learn about the pending Sheriff sales.  

For other records, contact the Sheriff’s Office Records Division at 715-479-0613 or visit the Wisconsin DOT site for accident reports. Remember to provide essential details when making the application, including the assigned case number and the date of the accident occurrence.  

Corrections Division  

The Vilas County Sheriff’s Office manages the Vilas County Jail, a correctional facility with an inmate capacity of 125. The housing units have pond designs and are nine in number to house between four to 20 inmates each. Additionally, the Sheriff contracts with local medical staff to provide medical care to inmates when necessary.  

Currently, the daily inmate population is 100, both male and female, most of whom are awaiting trial or sentencing.  

County Inmate Search 

Learning about an offender’s whereabouts can be tiring, especially if you don’t know where to begin. The enactment of the Freedom of Information Act played a crucial role in ensuring that inmate information is easily accessible to the general public. The Act classifies offender information under public records, requiring correctional facilities and other agencies to devise means for easy record access.  

The Vilas County Jail complies with this requirement by providing an online jail roster containing information on current inmates. This public website includes the following offender information: 

• Names of the Offenders (Alphabetically Arranged) 
• Offense Committed  
• Booking Number 

However, the Sheriff’s Office doesn’t guarantee the accuracy of the information on the jail roster. As such, it’s not liable for any losses or damages that result from relying on the information.  

Alternatively, you can conduct a county inmate search by reviewing the jail roster at the Sheriff’s Office in person or by calling 715-479-0628.  

Inmate Search through the DOC’s Website  

At the county level, there are two reasons an inmate would transfer from the Vilas County Jail to state-run correctional facilities; 

• After the Sheriff’s Recommendation. Usually, this case happens after an inmate’s security status changes to a level only manageable at the state level.  
• Following a Court’s Ruling. An inmate may be at the Vilas County Jail awaiting trial or sentencing. The ruling of such a case may result in the prisoner’s transfer to a DOC facility.  

If you experience any of the abovementioned cases, visit the Wisconsin DOC website to locate the whereabouts of your loved one. The site has the following search options: 

• Name Search  
• Address Search  
• Search by Incarceration Number  

The Name Search option requires you to provide the prisoner’s first and last name in conjunction for accurate results. However, you can also use them separately, although the search results will be broad. On the other hand, the Address Search allows you to narrow the search results to the county level for DOC facilities in the particular county.  

Vilas County Sheriff's Office

Address

330 Court Street, Eagle River, Wisconsin, 54521

Phone

715-479-4441

Fax

715-479-0621

Website

website

County Jails in Vilas County, WI

Police Departments in Vilas County, WI

Vilas County, WI Incarceration Statistics

Vilas County, WI Jail Inmate Population, Jail Pretrial Population and Confined Population, for 2010-2015 years

Vilas County, WI Female Population, Rate & Count for 2010-2015 years

Vilas County, WI Male Population, Rate & Count for 2010-2015 years

Vilas County, WI Incarceration Rates by Race, for 2010-2015 years