Wisconsin Department of Children and Families - Division of Early Care and Education
Bureau of Early Care Regulation
Child Care Background Check Procedures
Law enforcement arrest records often contain details that are important for the CBU, BECR regional office, or the certification worker to know. For example, helpful information includes whether children were present at the scene, the condition of the premise, who said what, the size and severity of wounds, etc. In some cases, an arrest record may be the only record available about an incident. When regulatory approval is being denied or revoked or background check ineligible determination is made based on a substantiated finding of child abuse or neglect, any arrest records related to the situation are vital. When arrest records indicate that the case was referred for prosecution, the CBU should obtain any court records that exist.
Law enforcement records regarding adults are subject to the open records law and the CBU can obtain information from the appropriate jurisdiction, usually at no charge. Juvenile arrest records are not subject to open records law. However, under Wis. Stat. § 48.78(2) (b), the CBU staff should be given access to these records as well. In some counties, law enforcement may require a judge’s signature authorizing release of a juvenile’s record. Police records can be requested by the name of the person and date of the incident or the CBU can request a jacket activity or police contact sheet and then choose which records to request.
This page last updated 10/2019.