Racine County Criminal Defense Attorney
Racine County criminal defense, circuit court practice, municipal courts across 7 cities, and every law enforcement agency in the county. Since 1994.
Racine County, Criminal Defense Since 1994
Cafferty & Scheidegger has defended clients in Racine County Circuit Court and every municipal court in the county since 1994. Our main office is at 840 Lake Avenue, two blocks from the Racine County Courthouse. We know the branches, the prosecutors, and the procedural rhythms that shape a case’s outcome in this county.
Racine County’s criminal-case volume is driven by three factors: the I-94 corridor (Wisconsin’s busiest highway for OWI and speeding enforcement), the Racine-Mount Pleasant-Sturtevant industrial belt (including the Foxconn complex with its work-zone penalties), and the urban core of the City of Racine itself.
Why the City Matters in Your Case
Where in Racine County the alleged offense occurred can affect the entire prosecution posture:
- Arrests inside the City of Racine are prosecuted at the City Municipal Court (ordinance level) or at the County Courthouse (criminal level). The Racine PD and Racine County Sheriff both file here.
- Arrests in Mount Pleasant, Caledonia, Sturtevant, Burlington, Union Grove, and Waterford go to that village/city’s municipal court if it’s an ordinance violation; to the County Courthouse if criminal.
- I-94 arrests typically involve State Patrol and are prosecuted at the county level.
- Federal matters (major drug trafficking, firearms under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g), federal white-collar crimes) move to the Eastern District of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.
Our Racine County Practice
- OWI/DUI defense, We handle 1st through felony 5th-offense OWI, CDL-OWI, and § 940.09 vehicular homicide. See our OWI practice and dedicated microsite racineowi.com.
- Homicide defense, Every degree under Chapter 940. See our homicide hub.
- Drug charges, Cocaine, meth, marijuana, heroin, prescription, federal conspiracy. See our drug defense overview.
- Weapons charges, Felon in possession, CCW, federal firearms. See our gun and weapons hub.
- Traffic, All traffic violations, especially CDL and license-suspension matters. Dedicated microsite: racineticket.com.
- Disorderly conduct, domestic violence, theft, white collar, full practice.
Most Common Criminal Charges in Racine County
- OWI/DUI, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th-offense under Wis. Stat. § 346.63
- Speeding and reckless driving (§§ 346.57, 346.62)
- Drug possession and PWID (Chapter 961)
- Disorderly conduct (§ 947.01), one of the most frequently filed county-wide
- Domestic violence / DC with DV modifier
- Theft and retail theft (§§ 943.20, 943.50)
- Weapons charges, felon in possession (§ 941.29), CCW (§ 941.23)
- Federal charges, white collar, drug conspiracy, firearms
Courts in Racine County
Racine County Circuit Court
730 Wisconsin Avenue, Racine, WI 53403
Phone: (262) 636-3333
All felony matters and most misdemeanor cases in Racine County are filed here. Branches 1 through 10 hear criminal calendars. Arraignments typically on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Law Enforcement Agencies Serving Racine County
Racine County Sheriff's Office
County-wide; primary agency for unincorporated townships and I-94 enforcement
Non-emergency: (262) 636-3213
Operates the Racine County Jail and Detention Center. Deputies work multiple drug, traffic, and OWI task forces with neighboring agencies.
Wisconsin State Patrol, Post 4 (Waukesha)
Interstate highway enforcement (I-94, I-894), CDL inspections
Non-emergency: (262) 544-0441
Primary state OWI and commercial-vehicle enforcement on I-94 through Racine County.
FBI, Milwaukee Field Office
Federal offenses (white collar, major drug, firearms, public corruption)
Non-emergency: (414) 276-4684
High-Enforcement Corridors
- I-94 from the Illinois state line north through Sturtevant and Racine to the Milwaukee County line, the single most-cited stretch in Racine County for speeding and OWI.
- Highway 20 (Washington Ave), primary east-west corridor connecting Racine to Burlington.
- Highway 11 (Durand Ave), Racine city limits through Mount Pleasant and Sturtevant; heavy work-zone-doubling enforcement near the Foxconn complex.
- Highway 32 (Main St), north-south through eastern Racine County along Lake Michigan.
- Highway 38, Caledonia-to-Milwaukee corridor.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Charged in Racine County? We defend across Racine County.
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