AB1013: Bill Text

LRB-4651/1

PJH:emw

2015 - 2016 LEGISLATURE

2015 Assembly BILL 1013

March 29, 2016 - Introduced by Representatives Goyke, Barnes, Zamarripa, Brostoff, Spreitzer, Johnson and Zepnick. Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

AB1013,1,3 An Act to amend 20.455 (2) (em); and to create 165.953 of the statutes; relating to: a grant program for community prosecutors and making an appropriation.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill establishes a grant program, administered by the Department of Justice, that allows counties to create a community prosecutor program. Under the bill, each county that receives a grant shall designate one or more assistant district attorneys to operate as community prosecutors. Under the bill, community prosecutors engage civic leaders, law enforcement agencies, and community members to develop community outreach programs that are designed to prevent crime, to identify neighborhood nuisances and crimes affecting quality of life, and to reduce crime and eliminate the nuisances. Under the bill, community prosecutors prosecute violent crimes and, whenever possible, resolve nonviolent crimes with alternatives to prosecution or alternatives to incarceration.

For further information see the state and local 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:

AB1013,1 Section 1. 20.455 (2) (em) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1013,2,4 20.455 (2) (em) Alternatives to prosecution and incarceration for persons who use alcohol or other drugs; presentencing assessments; community prosecutors. The amounts in the schedule for making grants to counties under s. ss. 165.95 (2) and 165.953.

AB1013,2 Section 2. 165.953 of the statutes is created to read:

AB1013,2,8 165.953 Community prosecutors; grant program. (1) From the appropriation under s. 20.455 (2) (em), the department of justice shall provide grants to counties to establish and operate a community prosecutor program.

AB1013,2,11 (2) Each county that receives a grant under this section shall designate one or more assistant district attorneys to operate as community prosecutors whose duties include all of the following:

AB1013,2,16 (a) Using evidence-based practices to engage civic leaders, law enforcement agencies, and community members to develop community outreach programs that are designed to prevent crime by encouraging civic participation and collaboration among citizens, law enforcement agencies, and schools and other educational institutions.

AB1013,2,20 (b) Using evidence-based practices to engage civic leaders, law enforcement agencies, and community members to identify neighborhood nuisances and crimes that affect quality of life and develop a strategy to prosecute and prevent crime and eliminate neighborhood nuisances.

AB1013,2,22 (c) Prosecuting violent crimes and, whenever possible, resolving nonviolent crimes with alternatives to prosecution or alternatives to incarceration.

AB1013,2,23 (End)