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

Washburn County is situated in the “Northwoods” area of northwest Wisconsin, about 40 miles 75 miles northeast of Minneapolis, Minnesota. It borders Barron County to the south, Douglas County to the north, Sawyer County to the east, and Burnett County to the west. This county has two cities, two villages, and 21 unincorporated communities. 

The county was named Washburn in honor of Governor Cadwallader C. Washburn. It has a total area of 853 square miles, of which 56 square miles is water and 797 square miles are land. 

The county was established in 1883 and currently has 16,623 residents, according to the 2020 US Census Bureau, with 2,653 people in the City of Spooner, the biggest community. However, it utilizes Shell Lake as the county seat. Its population comprises whites, African-Americans, Native Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Hispanics/Latino.   

Washburn County Sheriff’s Office, WI 

The Washburn County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) is located at 421 Highway 63, Shell Lake, WI, 54871. The office was established in 1883, and the current sheriff since 2019 is Sheriff Dennis Stuart. WCSO believes in putting the residents and their properties first. Its mission and goal are to maintain public peace and order, to guarantee everyone’s right to freedom as guaranteed by the US Constitution, regardless of gender, race, creed, or color, to enforce local, state, and federal laws, and to carry out the sheriff’s statutorily assigned duties. 

To ensure they attain their primary goal and mission, WCSO works with the other local law enforcement agencies, the courts, and the Wisconsin Department of Corrections. 

WCSO Contact Information 

Address: 421 Highway 63, Shell Lake, Wisconsin 54871 

WCSO Administration: (715) 468-4700 

Tip line (715) 468-2720. 

Emergency: 911. 

WCSO Functions 

The sheriff, the county’s primary law enforcement official and is legally elected, has legal obligations to “keep the peace,” uphold all laws and local regulations, maintain a safe and secure prison, serve legal process, and serve the court. 

WCSO carries out the following duties with diligence, courtesy, and pride: 

Security Functions 

• Maintains a 24-hour presence or availability of police enforcement. 
• Responds to criminal activity, traffic accidents, and other legitimate requests for law enforcement assistance are timely and swift. 
• Investigates criminal crimes and captures the suspects. 
• Maintains a safe, orderly, and fluid traffic flow. 

Court Functions 

In addition to offering security to court, inmates in court, and keeping order, WCSO is primarily responsible for ensuring court processes operate speedily and efficiently. It also serves the court in; 

• Issuing out and executing all court documents and warrants. 
• Ensuring that inmates in their custody attend the court hearing. 
• Rehabilitating inmates as per court orders. 
• Attending court sessions upon request by the court. 
• Serving both criminal and civil purposes of the court. 

Community Functions 

WCSO offers various services to the community to serve those who live, work, play, or travel through Washburn County, including the following; 

• Fingerprinting and criminal background check services. 
• Licensing and permit services for hunting, fishing, DMV, and business. 
• Offers public education campaigns to enlist residents in crime prevention and to preserve public safety. 
• Children-crossing points. 
• Rescue and search services. 

Jail Functions 

WCSO is responsible for running the Washburn County Jail. This includes staffing the jail with trustees, volunteers, and correctional officers. It also transports inmates to and from the court and transfers them to federal and state facilities. 

Washburn County Inmate Search  

Washburn County Sheriff’s Office runs and maintains Washburn County Jail, a 30-bed institution built in 1991. The jail administrator is Captain Gretchen Nielsen and gets the help of 3 Sergeants, 13 full-time Deputies, two split-time Transportation Deputy, and 1 Licensed Nurse. The prison also subcontracts the cooking services to commercial businesses and employees. 

The jail detains all criminals in the county charged with violating county, state, and federal laws before receiving their verdicts. As a result, the Dispatch center is responsible for keeping records of all these inmates to ensure their information is safely stored. 

Again, the Wisconsin FOIA mandates the WCSO to keep records of these criminals and make the records accessible to the public. In return, performing a Washburn County Inmate Search is very simple. 

How to locate an inmate in Washburn County 

You can perform an inmate search online, in person, or by phone. 

Online 

WCSO maintains and updates an online Washburn county jail roster where it contains information on all criminals in the system. You can perform a search using a criminal’s full name. You will find the inmate’s mugshot, arrest records, and personal information on the inmate’s name. 

By Phone 

If you cannot locate the inmate on the jail roster, it may be because they are either not in the jail or have not completed their booking process. However, you can contact the jail at (715) 468-4720 to inquire about the whereabouts of an inmate. 

When using the phone, ensure you have all the information regarding the inmate at hand so that the dispatch center does not take long to locate the inmate. You can request records by mail. 

In-Person 

If you can visit the jail, it might be easier since you will provide all the information in detail. You can visit the jail at 421 Highway 63, Shell Lake, Wisconsin 54871. At the lobby, you can request to seek an inmate, and you shall be guided through the necessary steps for you to locate them. 

Wisconsin Statewide Inmate Search 

If you cannot still find an inmate using the above ways, you can visit the Wisconsin Statewide Inmate Search. You can search an inmate by ID or name. 

Washburn County Sex Offenders 

To locate a sex offender in the county, you can visit the Washburn County Sex Offender database locally managed by the WCSO. You can also contact the office at (715) 468-4700 or visit the office in person. 

Washburn County Sheriffs Department

Address

421 US Highway 63, Shell Lake, Wisconsin, 54871

Phone

715-468-4700

County Jails in Washburn County, WI

Police Departments in Washburn County, WI

Washburn County, WI Incarceration Statistics

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

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

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

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