LRB-4242/1
JEO:jlg:ch
1997 - 1998 LEGISLATURE
November 6, 1997 - Printed by direction of Assembly Chief Clerk.
AB342-engrossed,2,10 1An Act to repeal 950.04 (6), 950.04 (10), 950.045, 950.05 (title), 950.05 (1)
2(intro.), 950.05 (2), 950.06 (1), 950.06 (2m) and 972.14 (1) (a); to renumber
3950.04 (2), 950.04 (2m), 950.04 (3), 950.04 (5), 950.04 (7) and 950.05 (1) (a) to
4(i); to renumber and amend 906.15, 950.02 (4), 950.04 (intro.), 950.04 (1),
5950.04 (4), 950.04 (8) and 950.04 (9); to amend 51.37 (10) (dg), 301.046 (4) (b)
6(intro.), 301.048 (4m) (b) (intro.), 301.38 (2) (intro.), 301.46 (3) (b), 302.115 (2)
7(intro.), 303.068 (4m) (b) (intro.), 304.06 (1) (c) (intro.), 304.063 (2) (intro.),
8304.09 (3), 938.02 (21), 938.24 (5), 938.27 (4m), 938.273 (2), 938.31 (2), 938.315
9(2), 938.32 (1) (b) 1., 938.32 (1) (b) 2., 938.331, 938.335 (3m) (a), 938.335 (3m)
10(b), 938.346 (1) (d) 1., 938.346 (1m), 938.346 (3), 938.346 (4), 938.346 (5),
11938.396 (1g), 938.396 (1t), 938.396 (2) (f), 938.396 (2) (fm), 938.51 (1) (intro.),
12938.51 (1) (c), 938.51 (1m), 938.51 (2), 938.51 (4) (intro.), 938.51 (4) (a), 950.02
13(1m), 950.055 (2) (intro.), 950.055 (3), 950.06 (title), 950.06 (2), 950.06 (4),
14950.08 (title), 950.08 (3), 971.17 (4m) (b), 971.17 (6m) (b), 972.14 (3) (a), 972.14

1(3) (b), 972.15 (2m), 980.11 (2) (intro.), 980.11 (2) (am) (intro.) and 980.11 (2)
2(bm); and to create 15.255 (2), 906.15 (2) (d), 938.02 (20m), 938.067 (6g), 938.24
3(5m), 938.245 (1m), 938.25 (2m), 938.265, 938.296 (1) (e), 938.2965, 938.30
4(4m), 938.312, 938.32 (1) (am), 938.32 (1) (b) 1m., 938.335 (3m) (am), 938.346
5(1) (em), 938.346 (1) (fm), 938.346 (1) (h), 950.02 (1t), 950.02 (2m), 950.02 (3m),
6950.02 (4) (a) 2., 3., 4. and 5., 950.02 (4) (b), 950.04 (1v), 950.04 (2w) (f), 950.06
7(1m) (intro.), 950.08 (1) (title), 950.08 (2) (title), 950.08 (2g), (2r) and (2s),
8950.09, 950.095, 950.10, 950.11, 967.10, 971.08 (1) (d), 971.095, 971.10 (3) (b)
93., 971.315, 972.14 (1) (ag) and 972.14 (2m) of the statutes; relating to: rights
10of victims of crime, granting rule-making authority and providing a penalty.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Engrossment information:
The text of Engrossed 1997 Assembly Bill 342 consists of the following
documents adopted in the assembly on November 6, 1997: the bill as affected by
Assembly Amendment 1 (as affected by Assembly Amendment 1 thereto), Assembly
Amendment 2, Assembly Amendment 3, Assembly Amendment 4, Assembly
Amendment 5, Assembly Amendment 9 and Assembly Amendment 10. The text also
includes the June 9, October 27, and November 7, 1997, chief clerk's corrections to
the bill.
Content of Engrossed 1997 Assembly Bill 342:
Currently, both the statutes and the state constitution provide various rights
to victims of a crime. Currently, "crime" generally includes an act by a juvenile that
would be a crime if committed by an adult. In addition, in certain cases "crime victim"
includes family members of a victim who died as a result of the crime and parents
or guardians of a victim who is a child.
Among the rights provided to crime victims under current statutes are the
following: the right to a speedy disposition of the case in which he or she is involved
as a victim; the right to have stolen or other personal property returned expeditiously
once it is no longer needed as evidence; the right to information concerning financial
assistance and other social services available to crime victims; the right to provide
statements to the court concerning sentencing, disposition or parole; the right to seek
restitution from the offender and compensation from the state crime victim
compensation program; and the right to be informed of the final disposition of the
case. In addition, crime victims who have requested such notification have the right
to be notified about certain court proceedings that are scheduled in the case in which

he or she is involved as a victim and about release to the community of a person who
committed a crime against the victim, whether that release is to community
confinement, to parole or other conditional or supervised release or at the conclusion
of the person's sentence or commitment to a mental health institution.
The state constitution provides that crime victims are entitled to the rights
provided under current statutes as well as to the following rights: the opportunity
to attend court proceedings unless the trial court finds sequestration is necessary to
a fair trial for the defendant; reasonable protection from the accused throughout the
criminal justice process; and the opportunity to confer with the prosecution. The
constitution also requires the legislature to provide remedies for the violation of the
rights of crime victims guaranteed by the constitution.
Currently, prosecutors and, in juvenile delinquency cases, court intake workers
are responsible for notifying victims of certain of their rights and providing
information on how to exercise those rights. In addition, counties are encouraged but
not required to enforce crime victims' rights and to provide various services to crime
victims. If a county undertakes to enforce victims' rights and provide services to
crime victims, the county must bear the costs of the enforcement and services, though
it may be eligible to receive reimbursement from the state for providing services to
crime victims. In addition, the department of justice (DOJ) must provide
information about and referral to crime victim services, crisis counseling and
emotional support for crime victims and assistance in securing resources and
protection for crime victims. DOJ may also receive and mediate complaints
regarding the treatment of crime victims by public officials, employes or agencies or
crime victim assistance programs.
This bill does all of the following relating to the rights of victims of crime:
1. The bill provides that county boards do not have the primary responsibility
for enforcing victims rights (though county boards will be responsible for providing
some services necessary to provide victims their rights and, as under current law,
counties will be eligible for reimbursement for the provision of certain services).
Instead, the bill specifies that law enforcement agencies and prosecutors or their
designees or, in juvenile delinquency cases, court intake workers are responsible for
notifying victims of their rights and providing information on how to exercise those
rights. In addition, the bill creates a crime victims rights board (board), which
consists of a district attorney, a representative of local law enforcement agencies, a
person employed or contracted by a county to provide services to victims and
witnesses and 2 public members. At the request of one of the parties involved, the
board may review a complaint made to DOJ regarding a violation of the rights of a
crime victim since DOJ has completed its action on the complaint. Based on its
review of the complaint, the board may do any of the following: a) issue private or
public reprimands of public officials, employes or agencies that violate the rights of
crime victims; b) refer violations of the rights of crime victims by judges to the judicial
commission; c) seek appropriate equitable relief on behalf of a victim if such relief is
necessary to protect the rights of the victim; or d) bring a civil action to assess a
forfeiture of not more than $1,000. The board may also issue reports and

recommendations concerning the securing and provision of crime victim rights and
services.
2. The bill expands the statutory definition of "crime victim" that is used for
purposes of providing most rights and services to crime victims. Under the bill,
"crime victim" includes, in addition to the person against whom the crime is
committed, all of the following persons: a) a parent, guardian or legal custodian of
the victim, if the victim is a child; b) a family member of the victim or another person
designated by the victim, if the victim is physically or emotionally unable to exercise
his or her rights; c) a family member of the victim or a person who resided with the
victim, if the victim is deceased; and d) the guardian of the victim, if the victim has
been found incompetent and had a guardian appointed for him or her by a court.
3. The bill requires prosecutors and, in juvenile delinquency cases, court intake
workers to confer with a crime victim concerning the case or certain actions being
taken in the case, if the victim has requested the opportunity to confer. In juvenile
cases a court intake worker must confer with victims concerning deferred
prosecution agreements, while a prosecutor of a juvenile delinquency case must
confer with victims concerning proposed consent decrees and the possible outcomes
of the delinquency proceeding. In adult criminal cases, a prosecutor must confer with
victims concerning the prosecution of the case and the possible outcomes of the
prosecution. The bill also specifies that the duty to confer does not limit the
obligation that prosecutors and court intake workers must exercise discretion or
otherwise fulfill their duties.
4. The bill requires notices to victims concerning certain actions taken in a case.
Specifically, the bill requires a prosecutor in an adult criminal case to provide, to
victims who have requested it, notice of the date, time and place of scheduled court
proceedings in the case (other than bail hearings scheduled before the initial
appearance in court of the accused). The bill also requires prosecutors and, in
juvenile delinquency cases, court intake workers to notify victims if a case is being
closed without a person being charged or if a case in which a person was charged is
dismissed.
5. The bill specifies that any victim notification requirement that exists under
current law or that is created by the bill is satisfied if the person required to provide
the notification makes a reasonable attempt to provide the required notice.
6. The bill prohibits a court from excluding a victim from the courtroom during
a trial or juvenile delinquency fact-finding hearing unless exclusion is necessary to
provide a fair trial or fair fact-finding hearing.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB342-engrossed, s. 1 1Section 1. 15.255 (2) of the statutes is created to read:
AB342-engrossed,4,32 15.255 (2) Crime victims rights board. (a) There is created a crime victims
3rights board which is attached to the department of justice under s. 15.03.
AB342-engrossed,5,1
1(b) The crime victims rights board shall be composed of 5 members as follows:
AB342-engrossed,5,22 1. One district attorney holding office in this state.
AB342-engrossed,5,33 2. One representative of local law enforcement in this state.
AB342-engrossed,5,54 3. One person who is employed or contracted by a county board of supervisors
5under s. 950.06 to provide services for victims and witnesses of crimes.
AB342-engrossed,5,76 4. Two members, not employed in law enforcement, by a district attorney or as
7specified in subd. 3., who are citizens of this state.
AB342-engrossed,5,128 (c) The members of the crime victims rights board specified in par. (b) 2. and
93. shall be appointed by the attorney general. One of the members specified in par.
10(b) 4. shall be appointed by the crime victims council and the other member shall be
11appointed by the governor. The member specified in par. (b) 1. shall be appointed by
12the Wisconsin District Attorneys' Association.
AB342-engrossed,5,1613 (d) The members of the crime victims rights board under par. (a) shall be
14appointed for 4-year terms, but no member shall serve beyond the time when the
15member ceases to hold the office or employment by reason of which the member was
16initially eligible for appointment.
AB342-engrossed,5,2017 (e) Notwithstanding the provisions of any statute, ordinance, local law or
18charter provision, membership on the crime victims rights board does not disqualify
19any member from holding any other public office or employment, or cause the
20forfeiture thereof.
AB342-engrossed, s. 2 21Section 2. 51.37 (10) (dg) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB342-engrossed,5,2422 51.37 (10) (dg) If the department grants a patient an extended home visit or
23leave under this subsection, the department shall notify do all of the following, if they
24can be found,
in accordance with par. (dm):
AB342-engrossed,5,2525 1. The Notify the office of the judge who committed the patient.
AB342-engrossed,6,2
12. The Notify the office of the district attorney who participated in the
2commitment proceedings.
AB342-engrossed,6,63 3. The Make a reasonable attempt to notify the victim of the crime committed
4by the patient or, if the victim died as a result of the crime, an adult member of the
5victim's family or, if the victim is younger than 18 years old, the victim's parent or
6legal guardian, after the submission of a card under par. (dx) requesting notification.
AB342-engrossed, s. 3 7Section 3. 301.046 (4) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB342-engrossed,6,128 301.046 (4) (b) (intro.) Before a prisoner is confined under sub. (1) for a violation
9of s. 940.03, 940.05, 940.225 (1) or (2), 948.02 (1) or (2), 948.025, 948.06 or 948.07, the
10department shall make a reasonable effort attempt to notify all of the following
11persons, if they can be found, in accordance with par. (c) and after receiving a
12completed card under par. (d):
AB342-engrossed, s. 4 13Section 4. 301.048 (4m) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB342-engrossed,6,1914 301.048 (4m) (b) (intro.) As soon as possible after a prisoner, probationer or
15parolee who has violated s. 940.03, 940.05, 940.225 (1) or (2), 948.02 (1) or (2),
16948.025, 948.06 or 948.07 enters the intensive sanctions program, the department
17shall make a reasonable effort attempt to notify all of the following persons, if they
18can be found, in accordance with par. (c) and after receiving a completed card under
19par. (d):
AB342-engrossed, s. 5 20Section 5. 301.38 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB342-engrossed,6,2421 301.38 (2) (intro.) If a prisoner escapes from a Type 1 prison, the department
22shall make a reasonable effort attempt to notify all of the following persons, if they
23can be found, in accordance with sub. (3) and after receiving a completed card under
24sub. (4):
AB342-engrossed, s. 6
1Section 6. 301.46 (3) (b) of the statutes, as created by 1995 Wisconsin Act 440,
2is amended to read:
AB342-engrossed,7,83 301.46 (3) (b) When a person is registered under s. 301.45 (2) or when the
4person informs the department of a change in information under s. 301.45 (4), the
5department shall make a reasonable attempt to notify the victim or a member of the
6victim's family who has, according to the records of the department or the
7information provided under par. (d), requested to be notified about a person required
8to register under s. 301.45.
AB342-engrossed, s. 7 9Section 7. 302.115 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB342-engrossed,7,1510 302.115 (2) (intro.) Before an inmate who is in a prison serving a sentence for
11a violation of s. 940.01, 940.03, 940.05, 940.225 (1) or (2), 948.02 (1) or (2), 948.025,
12948.06 or 948.07 is released from imprisonment because he or she has reached the
13expiration date of his or her sentence, the department shall make a reasonable effort
14attempt to notify all of the following persons, if they can be found, in accordance with
15sub. (3) and after receiving a completed card under sub. (4):
AB342-engrossed, s. 8 16Section 8. 303.068 (4m) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB342-engrossed,7,2117 303.068 (4m) (b) (intro.) Before an inmate who is imprisoned for a violation of
18s. 940.01, 940.03, 940.05, 940.225 (1) or (2), 948.02 (1) or (2), 948.025, 948.06 or
19948.07 is released on leave under this section, the department shall make a
20reasonable effort attempt to notify all of the following persons, if they can be found,
21in accordance with par. (c) and after receiving a completed card under par. (d):
AB342-engrossed, s. 9 22Section 9. 304.06 (1) (c) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB342-engrossed,7,2523 304.06 (1) (c) (intro.) If an inmate applies for parole under this subsection, the
24parole commission shall make a reasonable attempt to notify the following, if they
25can be found, in accordance with par. (d):
AB342-engrossed, s. 10
1Section 10. 304.063 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB342-engrossed,8,62 304.063 (2) (intro.) Before a prisoner is released on parole under s. 302.11,
3304.02 or 304.06, if applicable, for a violation of s. 940.01, 940.03, 940.05, 940.225 (1)
4or (2), 948.02 (1) or (2), 948.025, 948.06 or 948.07, the department shall make a
5reasonable effort attempt to notify all of the following persons, if they can be found,
6in accordance with sub. (3) and after receiving a completed card under sub. (4):
AB342-engrossed, s. 11 7Section 11. 304.09 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB342-engrossed,8,218 304.09 (3) The notice shall inform the persons under sub. (2) of the manner in
9which they may provide written statements or participate in any applicable hearing.
10The applicant shall serve notice on the persons under sub. (2) (a) and (b) and the at
11least 3 weeks before the hearing of the application. The governor shall make a
12reasonable attempt to
serve notice on the person under sub. (2) (c). Each such notice
13shall be served
at least 3 weeks before the hearing of the application. The notice shall
14be published at least once each week for 2 successive weeks before the hearing in a
15newspaper of general circulation in the county where the offense was committed. If
16there is no such newspaper, the notice shall be posted in a conspicuous place on the
17door of the courthouse of the county for 3 weeks before the hearing and published
18once each week for 2 consecutive weeks before the hearing in a newspaper published
19in an adjoining county. Publication as required in this subsection shall be completed
20by a date designated by the governor. The date shall be a reasonable time prior to
21the hearing date.
AB342-engrossed, s. 12 22Section 12. 906.15 of the statutes is renumbered 906.15 (1) and amended to
23read:
AB342-engrossed,9,224 906.15 (1) At the request of a party, the judge or court commissioner shall order
25witnesses excluded so that they cannot hear the testimony of other witnesses, and

1the
. The judge or court commissioner may also make the order of his or her own
2motion. This section
AB342-engrossed,9,3 3(2) Subsection (1) does not authorize exclusion of (1) a any of the following:
AB342-engrossed,9,4 4(a) A party who is a natural person, or (2) an.
AB342-engrossed,9,6 5(b) An officer or employe of a party which is not a natural person designated
6as its representative by its attorney, or (3) a.
AB342-engrossed,9,8 7(c) A person whose presence is shown by a party to be essential to the
8presentation of the party's cause.
AB342-engrossed,9,12 9(3) The judge or court commissioner may direct that all such excluded and
10non-excluded witnesses be kept separate until called and may prevent them from
11communicating with one another until they have been examined or the hearing is
12ended.
AB342-engrossed, s. 13 13Section 13. 906.15 (2) (d) of the statutes is created to read:
AB342-engrossed,9,2014 906.15 (2) (d) A victim, as defined in s. 950.02 (4), in a criminal case or a victim,
15as defined in s. 938.02 (20m), in a delinquency proceeding under ch. 938, unless the
16judge or court commissioner finds that exclusion of the victim is necessary to provide
17a fair trial for the defendant or a fair fact-finding hearing for the juvenile. The
18presence of a victim during the testimony of other witnesses may not by itself be a
19basis for a finding that exclusion of the victim is necessary to provide a fair trial for
20the defendant or a fair fact-finding hearing for the juvenile.
AB342-engrossed, s. 14 21Section 14. 938.02 (20m) of the statutes is created to read:
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