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Cafferty & Scheidegger, S.C.
Criminal Defense in Whitewater

Whitewater, WI Criminal Defense Attorney

Criminal defense in Whitewater, UW-Whitewater student cases, Whitewater PD, Walworth County Circuit Court, US-12 / Highway 59 / 89 corridors.

Free Case Review Call (262) 632-5000
14,000+ Population U.S. Census 2023 est.
11,000+ UW-Whitewater enrollment UW System
Walworth + Jefferson Counties City boundary
US-12, 59, 89 Highway hub WisDOT

Criminal Defense in Whitewater

Whitewater is a university city, UW-Whitewater dominates the enforcement and case-volume profile, with 11,000+ students generating a distinctive mix of underage drinking, Absolute Sobriety OWI, disorderly conduct, and Title IX-adjacent matters. The city’s location straddling the Walworth-Jefferson county line adds venue complexity.

Our Whitewater Practice

Most Common Criminal Charges in Whitewater

  • Underage possession of alcohol, UW-Whitewater student volume
  • Absolute Sobriety OWI, under-21 drivers with any detectable BAC
  • Disorderly conduct, campus-area cases
  • OWI, US-12 and Highway 59 corridors
  • Drug possession, student and off-campus housing
  • Sexual assault, campus cases (Title IX + criminal tracks)
  • Academic discipline overlap

Courts in Whitewater

Walworth County Circuit Court

1800 County Highway NN, Elkhorn, WI 53121

Phone: (262) 741-7012

Official website →

Whitewater's Walworth County portion, most of the city, routes criminal cases to Elkhorn, 20 minutes east. Whitewater straddles the Walworth-Jefferson county line; cases from the Jefferson portion go to Jefferson County Circuit Court.

Whitewater Municipal Court

312 West Whitewater Street, Whitewater, WI 53190

Phone: (262) 473-0100

Official website →

City ordinance violations.

Law Enforcement Agencies Serving Whitewater

Whitewater Police Department

City of Whitewater

Non-emergency: (262) 473-0555

Official website →

Full-service city department with substantial UW-Whitewater focus.

UW-Whitewater Police Department

University campus

Non-emergency: (262) 472-4660

Official website →

On-campus first responder for most student incidents. Refers criminal matters to Whitewater PD or Walworth County Sheriff.

Walworth County Sheriff's Office

Walworth County portion of Whitewater

Non-emergency: (262) 741-4400

Official website →

Jefferson County Sheriff's Office

Jefferson County portion of Whitewater (small area)

Non-emergency: (920) 674-7310

Wisconsin State Patrol

US-12, Highway 59, Highway 89

High-Enforcement Corridors

  • US-12, east-west through Whitewater connecting to Elkhorn
  • Highway 59, north-south through campus area
  • Highway 89, west to Jefferson County
  • UW-Whitewater campus, on-campus and adjacent housing

Frequently Asked Questions

Whitewater straddles two counties. Which circuit court hears my case?
Walworth County Circuit Court in Elkhorn handles cases from the Walworth County portion of Whitewater (most of the city, including the downtown and most of UW-Whitewater). Cases from the Jefferson County portion go to Jefferson County Circuit Court in Jefferson. Venue depends on where the conduct occurred, the university campus itself spans both counties.
What's the parallel Title IX + criminal process for UW-Whitewater cases?
Serious student-conduct incidents (sexual misconduct, drug violations, violence) can trigger both a university disciplinary proceeding (Title IX or student-conduct code) AND a criminal prosecution. The processes run in parallel with different burdens of proof and different stakes. Defense strategy must coordinate both, statements made in one proceeding can be used in the other. We handle both tracks together.
Are UW-Whitewater cases really a large portion of Walworth County's criminal caseload?
Yes. UW-Whitewater's 11,000+ student population generates a disproportionate share of Walworth County's misdemeanor caseload, particularly underage drinking under Wis. Stat. § 125.07, Absolute Sobriety OWI, disorderly conduct, and drug possession. The caseload pattern is seasonal, spiking during fall welcome-back, homecoming, and spring events.

Charged in Whitewater? We defend across Walworth County.

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