How to Find Recently Released Brown County Inmates
The Brown County Jail Inmate Lookup Tool covers released inmates, not just current ones. The county instruction is simple: to search for released inmates, check the Include Release Inmates box. The same name and identifier fields apply. When a person has left custody, the result can show a Release Date, while active entries leave that column blank. The Sheriff's Office runs the roster, and its broader mission covers detention, transport, and records.
If the online result is unclear, call the source. The Brown County Jail Division at 920-448-4250 can confirm a custody change during administrative hours. Records can lag a live release by a short time, so a phone check is the backstop when the roster looks ambiguous. The Sheriff's Office about page outlines the office that keeps these records.
Release also involves money and property in Brown County. Any positive balance left in an inmate trust account is mailed by check to the address given at booking, and that process can take up to 15 business days. The jail does not issue release checks in person. If an account is not cleared within 30 days, it may go to collection or tax intercept. Personal items such as a wallet, phone, jewelry, and keys can be released to an outside person within 72 hours of booking, with a property release form and a photo ID. Knowing these timelines helps families plan for a Brown County release.
Setting Up Release Notifications
VINELink is a free service that alerts you when a person's custody status changes. It is the best tool when you want to know about a release in advance rather than checking the roster over and over. You register a phone number or email, choose Wisconsin, and find the offender. The service then sends an alert on a custody event.
- Visit vinelink.com and select Wisconsin.
- Search by the offender's name or ID and open the record.
- Register for alerts by phone, email, or text and set a PIN.
Keep your contact details current so an alert reaches you. VINELink works alongside the county roster and the state and federal locators below.
Searching the Wisconsin Department of Corrections
Once a person is sentenced to state prison or placed on community supervision, the county jail roster no longer tracks them. The Wisconsin Department of Corrections runs a public locator for that stage. It covers people in state prison, on parole, on probation, or on extended supervision. Search the Wisconsin DOC locator by name or DOC number.
| Field Label | Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last Name | Text | Yes | Main field for a name search. |
| First Name | Text | No | Narrows the result list. |
| DOC Number | Text | No | Use the state ID number if known. |
| Filters | Filters | No | Gender, age, or facility where shown. |
Federal Bureau of Prisons Locator
People held in federal custody do not appear on county or state tools. The federal Bureau of Prisons keeps a nationwide locator for inmates held from 1982 to the present. Search the BOP locator by name or by a federal register number. Release dates can shift as First Step Act credits are reviewed, so treat a listed date as an estimate.
| Field Label | Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last Name | Text | Yes | Required on the Find By Name tab. |
| First Name | Text | No | Narrows the search. |
| BOP Register # | Text | No | Format #####-###, on the Find By Number tab. |
| Type of Number | Dropdown | No | BOP, DCDC, FBI, or INS number. |
Verifying Release in Person or By Phone
Some questions need a person, not a portal. For a county release, call the Brown County Jail Division at 920-448-4250 during administrative hours, Monday through Friday. The Sheriff's non-emergency dispatch line at 920-391-7450 can help outside those hours for general custody questions. Records staff cannot give legal advice, but they can confirm whether a name shows as released.
For state custody, the Wisconsin DOC locator is the official source, and DOC field offices supervise community cases. For federal custody, the BOP locator is the reference. Going to the right office first saves time, since each agency only holds the records for its own stage of custody.
Wisconsin Sex Offender Registry
The Wisconsin Sex Offender Registry is a separate public-safety tool. It lists registered offenders and supports searches by name or by geographic area. People can also register for email alerts tied to an address or ZIP code. The state registry is run by the Department of Corrections.
| Field Label | Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Name Search | Text | No | Search by last name; add first to narrow. |
| Geographic Search | Address / ZIP / Radius | No | Search by location where supported. |
| Email Notification | Registration | No | Alerts near a chosen address or ZIP. |
Parole and Probation Information
After release from prison, many people remain under supervision. In Wisconsin, the Department of Corrections oversees parole, probation, and extended supervision, and an agent monitors compliance with the conditions a court or the department sets. A violation can lead to a hold or a return to custody, which may then show up again on the county jail roster as a detainer. Supervision is a stage between full custody and a clean release, so a person can appear released on one tool while still being supervised on another.
Brown County Criminal Justice Services also plays a role at the local level. It runs treatment courts, pretrial services, and re-entry services, with a goal of monitoring court-involved people and connecting them to evidence-based support. That local layer works alongside state supervision rather than replacing it.
Reentry Resources in Brown County
Brown County offers several reentry supports for people leaving custody. Treatment, housing help, and benefits assistance can all ease the move back into the community. National reentry research, including data published by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, shows that steady treatment and support reduce repeat contact with the justice system.
The Bureau of Justice Statistics publishes that national context, while the county offers concrete local services.
Brown County Community Treatment Center
3150 Gershwin Drive
Green Bay, WI 54311
920-391-4723
AODA and dual-diagnosis services
Brown County Veterans' Services
305 East Walnut Street, Room 300
Green Bay, WI 54301
920-448-4450
Veteran benefits and reentry referrals
The Community Treatment Center is a deep resource for people leaving Brown County custody. It provides substance abuse treatment, mental health and dual-diagnosis services, OWI assessments, discharge planning, aftercare, case management, and benefits and housing help. Counselors work in several languages, including Spanish, Hmong, and Laotian, and the center accepts Medicaid, Medicare, private insurance, and cash on a sliding scale. The main reentry supports a released person is likely to use are listed below.
- Treatment and AODA - substance abuse and dual-diagnosis care through the Community Treatment Center.
- Veterans' Services - benefits, referrals, and Veterans Court Team support.
- Criminal Justice Services - treatment courts, pretrial, and re-entry monitoring.
Civil Rights Restoration After Release
Release does not restore every right at once. In Wisconsin, voting rights are generally restored after a person completes the full sentence, including any incarceration, parole, probation, and extended supervision. Confirm status with the Wisconsin Elections Commission before relying on it. Firearm rights are more restrictive and usually require a legal review, a court process, or a pardon, depending on the conviction. Employment rights and licensing can also be affected, so a person leaving Brown County custody should check each area separately rather than assuming a single clean slate. A Brown County reentry case manager can point a released person toward the right office for each question.