Under current law, no state crime is punishable by the death penalty. This bill
provides for either a death penalty (by lethal injection) or life imprisonment (with or
without parole eligibility restrictions) for any first-degree intentional homicide
committed by a person who is 16 years old or older against a child who is younger
than 16 years old. Other first-degree homicides remain punishable by life
imprisonment.
The procedure for determining whether or not the death penalty would be
imposed is the subject of a proceeding that is separate from the regular trial. After
a conviction finding that a first-degree homicide of a child younger than 16 years old

had occurred, the court reconvenes the trial jury, or, if there was no jury trial or the
trial jury is unable to continue, a new jury is summoned. The defendant may waive
the right to a jury. Evidence is then presented regarding various aggravating or
mitigating circumstances relating to the crime and the defendant.
The jury hears the evidence, and then gives an advisory sentence, to the court,
of either life imprisonment or death. If the jury recommends life imprisonment, it
may further recommend a complete or substantial restriction of the defendant's
parole eligibility. The court, not bound by the advisory sentence, then weighs the
aggravating and mitigating circumstances and enters the sentence of either life
imprisonment or death. If life imprisonment is imposed, the court may completely
or substantially restrict the defendant's parole eligibility. If the court chooses the
death sentence it must set forth its findings in writing. Any death sentence is subject
to automatic appellate review by the supreme court.
The court that imposes the death sentence sets the execution date. The
secretary of corrections designates the executioner. One physician and 12 citizen
witnesses must be present at the execution.
This bill applies only to those offenses committed on or after its effective date
(the day after publication).
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB1, s. 1 1Section 1. 161.335 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB1,3,22 161.335 (1) Upon Except as provided in sub. (1m), upon application, the
3controlled substances board may issue a permit authorizing a person to
4manufacture, obtain, possess, use, administer or dispense a controlled substance for
5purposes of scientific research, instructional activities, chemical analysis or other
6special uses, without restriction because of enumeration. No person shall may
7engage in any such activity without a permit issued under this section, except that
8an individual may be designated and authorized to receive the permit for a college
9or university department, research unit or similar administrative organizational
10unit and students, laboratory technicians, research specialists or chemical analysts

1under his or her supervision may be permitted possession and use of controlled
2substances for these purposes without obtaining an individual permit.
SB1, s. 2 3Section 2. 161.335 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:
SB1,3,64 161.335 (1m) Upon the application of the secretary of corrections for a permit
5to obtain a controlled substance for purposes of an execution under s. 973.017, the
6controlled substances board shall issue a permit under this section.
SB1, s. 3 7Section 3. 301.046 (3) (cm) of the statutes is created to read:
SB1,3,88 301.046 (3) (cm) The prisoner is not awaiting imposition of a death sentence.
SB1, s. 4 9Section 4. 301.048 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB1,3,1210 301.048 (2) (b) He or she is a prisoner serving a felony sentence for a felony not
11punishable by death or life imprisonment and the department directs him or her to
12participate in the program.
SB1, s. 5 13Section 5. 302.11 (1m) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB1,3,1714 302.11 (1m) An inmate serving a life term is not entitled to mandatory release.
15Except as provided in ss. 304.06 (1t), 939.62 (2m) and 973.014, the parole commission
16may parole the inmate as specified in s. 304.06 (1). An inmate awaiting imposition
17of a death sentence is not eligible for parole.
SB1, s. 6 18Section 6. 303.065 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB1,3,2419 303.065 (1) The department may grant work release privileges to any person
20incarcerated within the state prisons, except that no person serving a life sentence
21may be considered for work release until he or she has reached parole eligibility
22under s. 304.06 (1) (b) or (1t) or 973.014, whichever is applicable, and no person
23serving a life sentence under s. 939.62 (2m) or awaiting imposition of a death
24sentence
may be considered for work release.
SB1, s. 7 25Section 7. 304.02 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB1,4,3
1304.02 (5) Notwithstanding subs. (1) to (3), a prisoner who is serving a life
2sentence under s. 939.62 (2m) or awaiting imposition of a death sentence is not
3eligible for release to parole supervision under this section.
SB1, s. 8 4Section 8. 304.06 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB1,4,205 304.06 (1) (b) Except as provided in sub. (1m) or s. 161.49 (2), 302.045 (3) or
6973.0135, the parole commission may parole an inmate of the Wisconsin state
7prisons or any felon or any person serving at least one year or more in a county house
8of correction or a county reforestation camp organized under s. 303.07, when he or
9she has served 25% of the sentence imposed for the offense, or 6 months, whichever
10is greater. Except as provided in sub. (1t) or s. 939.62 (2m) or 973.014, the parole
11commission may parole an inmate serving a life term when he or she has served 20
12years, as modified by the formula under s. 302.11 (1) and subject to extension using
13the formulas under s. 302.11 (2). The person serving the life term shall be given
14credit for time served prior to sentencing under s. 973.155, including good time under
15s. 973.155 (4). The secretary may grant special action parole releases under s.
16304.02. The department or the parole commission shall not provide any convicted
17offender or other person sentenced to the department's custody any parole eligibility
18or evaluation until the person has been confined at least 60 days following
19sentencing. The parole commission may not parole an inmate who is awaiting
20imposition of a death sentence.
SB1, s. 9 21Section 9. 304.06 (1t) of the statutes is created to read:
SB1,4,2422 304.06 (1t) If the prisoner is serving a life term imposed under s. 973.015, the
23prisoner is eligible for parole only when authorized by the sentencing court under s.
24973.015 (3) (b).
SB1, s. 10 25Section 10. 304.071 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB1,5,3
1304.071 (2) If a prisoner is not eligible for parole under s. 161.49 (2), 304.06 (1)
2(b) or (1t),
939.62 (2m) or 973.032 (5), he or she is not eligible for parole under this
3section.
SB1, s. 11 4Section 11. 939.22 (7) of the statutes is created to read:
SB1,5,65 939.22 (7) "Crime punishable by death or life imprisonment" means a crime for
6which one or more of the possible penalties is death or life imprisonment.
SB1, s. 12 7Section 12. 939.30 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB1,5,108 939.30 (2) For a solicitation to commit a crime for which the penalty is
9punishable by death or life imprisonment, the actor is guilty of a Class C felony. For
10a solicitation to commit a Class E felony, the actor is guilty of a Class E felony.
SB1, s. 13 11Section 13. 939.31 of the statutes is amended to read:
SB1,5,18 12939.31 Conspiracy. Except as provided in ss. 161.41 (1x), 940.43 (4) and
13940.45 (4), whoever, with intent that a crime be committed, agrees or combines with
14another for the purpose of committing that crime may, if one or more of the parties
15to the conspiracy does an act to effect its object, be fined or imprisoned or both not
16to exceed the maximum provided for the completed crime; except that for a
17conspiracy to commit a crime for which the penalty is punishable by death or life
18imprisonment, the actor is guilty of a Class B felony.
SB1, s. 14 19Section 14. 939.32 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB1,5,2120 939.32 (1) (a) Whoever attempts to commit a crime for which the penalty is
21punishable by death or life imprisonment is guilty of a Class B felony.
SB1, s. 15 22Section 15. 939.50 (1) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 939.50 (1) (am).
SB1, s. 16 23Section 16. 939.50 (1) (ag) of the statutes is created to read:
SB1,5,2424 939.50 (1) (ag) Class AA felony.
SB1, s. 17 25Section 17. 939.50 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB1,6,2
1939.50 (2) A felony is a Class AA, A, B, C, D or E felony when it is so specified
2in chs. 939 to 951.
SB1, s. 18 3Section 18. 939.50 (3) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 939.50 (3) (am).
SB1, s. 19 4Section 19. 939.50 (3) (ag) of the statutes is created to read:
SB1,6,65 939.50 (3) (ag) For a Class AA felony, life imprisonment or death, as determined
6under s. 973.015.
SB1, s. 20 7Section 20. 939.60 of the statutes is amended to read:
SB1,6,10 8939.60 Felony and misdemeanor defined. A crime punishable by death or
9imprisonment in the Wisconsin state prisons is a felony. Every other crime is a
10misdemeanor.
SB1, s. 21 11Section 21. 939.624 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB1,6,1712 939.624 (2) If a person has one or more prior convictions for a serious violent
13crime or a crime punishable by death or life imprisonment and subsequently
14commits a serious violent crime, the court shall sentence the person to not less than
155 years' imprisonment, but otherwise the penalties for the crime apply, subject to any
16applicable penalty enhancement. The court shall not place the defendant on
17probation.
SB1, s. 22 18Section 22. 939.625 (1) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB1,6,2119 939.625 (1) (b) 2. If the maximum term of imprisonment for a felony is more
20than 5 years or is a life term or the felony is punishable by death, the maximum term
21of imprisonment for the felony may be increased by not more than 5 years.
SB1, s. 23 22Section 23. 939.63 (1) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB1,6,2523 939.63 (1) (a) 2. If the maximum term of imprisonment for a felony is more than
245 years or is a life term or the felony is punishable by death, the maximum term of
25imprisonment for the felony may be increased by not more than 5 years.
SB1, s. 24
1Section 24. 940.01 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 940.01 (1) (a) and
2amended to read:
SB1,7,53 940.01 (1) (a) Except as provided in par. (b) and sub. (2), whoever causes the
4death of another human being with intent to kill that person or another is guilty of
5a Class A felony.
SB1, s. 25 6Section 25. 940.01 (1) (b) of the statutes is created to read:
SB1,7,97 940.01 (1) (b) Except as provided in pars. (c) and (d) and sub. (2), whoever
8causes the death of another human being with intent to kill that person or another
9is guilty of a Class AA felony if the victim has not attained the age of 16 years.
SB1, s. 26 10Section 26. 940.01 (1) (c) of the statutes is created to read:
SB1,7,1211 940.01 (1) (c) Notwithstanding s. 939.05, a person is subject to par. (b) as a party
12to a crime only if that person had intended that a person be killed.
SB1, s. 27 13Section 27. 940.01 (1) (d) of the statutes is created to read:
SB1,7,1514 940.01 (1) (d) A person is subject to par. (b) only if the person is 16 years old
15or older when he or she commits the offense.
SB1, s. 28 16Section 28. 967.02 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:
SB1,7,1817 967.02 (1m) "Crime punishable by death or life imprisonment" has the
18meaning given in s. 939.22 (7).
SB1, s. 29 19Section 29. 971.17 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB1,8,420 971.17 (1) Commitment period. When a defendant is found not guilty by reason
21of mental disease or mental defect, the court shall commit the person to the
22department of health and social services for a specified period not exceeding
23two-thirds of the maximum term of imprisonment that could be imposed under s.
24973.15 (2) (a) against an offender convicted of the same crime or crimes, including
25imprisonment authorized by ss. 161.48, 939.62, 939.621, 939.63, 939.635, 939.64,

1939.641 and 939.645 and other penalty enhancement statutes, as applicable, subject
2to the credit provisions of s. 973.155. If the maximum term of imprisonment is life
3crime is punishable by death or life imprisonment, the commitment period specified
4by the court may be life, subject to termination under sub. (5).
SB1, s. 30 5Section 30. 972.03 of the statutes is amended to read:
SB1,8,18 6972.03 Peremptory challenges. Each side is entitled to only 4 peremptory
7challenges except as otherwise provided in this section. When the crime charged is
8punishable by death or life imprisonment the state is entitled to 6 peremptory
9challenges and the defendant is entitled to 6 peremptory challenges. If there is more
10than one defendant, the court shall divide the challenges as equally as practicable
11among them; and if their defenses are adverse and the court is satisfied that the
12protection of their rights so requires, the court may allow the defendants additional
13challenges. If the crime is punishable by death or life imprisonment, the total
14peremptory challenges allowed the defense shall not exceed 12 if there are only 2
15defendants and 18 if there are more than 2 defendants; in other cases 6 challenges
16if there are only 2 defendants and 9 challenges if there are more than 2. Each side
17shall be allowed one additional peremptory challenge if additional jurors are to be
18impaneled under s. 972.04 (1).
SB1, s. 31 19Section 31. 972.13 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB1,8,2020 972.13 (6) The following forms may be used for judgments:
SB1,8,2121 STATE OF WISCONSIN
SB1,8,2222 .... County
SB1,8,2423 In .... Court
24 The State of Wisconsin
SB1,8,2525 vs.
SB1,9,1
1....(Name of defendant)
SB1,9,22 UPON ALL THE FILES, RECORDS AND PROCEEDINGS,
SB1,9,83 IT IS ADJUDGED That the defendant has been convicted upon the defendant's
4plea of guilty (not guilty and a verdict of guilty) (not guilty and a finding of guilty)
5(no contest) on the .... day of ...., 19.., of the crime of .... in violation of s. ....; and the
6court having asked the defendant whether the defendant has anything to state why
7sentence should not be pronounced, and no sufficient grounds to the contrary being
8shown or appearing to the court.
SB1,9,99 *IT IS ADJUDGED That the defendant is guilty as convicted.
SB1,9,10 10*IT IS ADJUDGED That the defendant shall be executed by lethal injection.
SB1,9,1211 *IT IS ADJUDGED That the defendant is hereby committed to the Wisconsin
12state prisons (county jail of .... county) for an indeterminate term of not more than.....
SB1,9,1513 *IT IS ADJUDGED That the defendant is placed in the intensive sanctions
14program subject to the limitations of section 973.032 (3) of the Wisconsin Statutes
15and the following conditions:....
SB1,9,1816 *IT IS ADJUDGED That the defendant is hereby committed to detention in
17(the defendant's place of residence or place designated by judge) for a term of not
18more than....
SB1,9,2019 *IT IS ADJUDGED That the defendant is ordered to pay a fine of $.... (and the
20costs of this action).
SB1,9,2121 *IT IS ADJUDGED That the defendant pay restitution to....
SB1,9,2322 *IT IS ADJUDGED That the defendant is restricted in his or her use of
23computers as follows:....
SB1,9,2524 *The .... at .... is designated as the Reception Center to which the defendant
25shall be delivered by the sheriff.
SB1,10,2
1*IT IS ORDERED That the clerk deliver a duplicate original of this judgment
2to the sheriff who shall forthwith execute the same and deliver it to the warden.
SB1,10,33 Dated this .... day of ...., 19...
SB1,10,44 BY THE COURT ....
SB1,10,55 Date of Offense ....,
SB1,10,66 District Attorney ....,
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