AB342: Bill Text Engrossed

LRB-4242/1

JEO:jlg:ch

1997 - 1998 LEGISLATURE

Engrossed 1997 Assembly BILL 342

November 6, 1997 - Printed by direction of Assembly Chief Clerk.

AB342-engrossed,2,10 An Act to repeal 950.04 (6), 950.04 (10), 950.045, 950.05 (title), 950.05 (1) (intro.), 950.05 (2), 950.06 (1), 950.06 (2m) and 972.14 (1) (a); to renumber 950.04 (2), 950.04 (2m), 950.04 (3), 950.04 (5), 950.04 (7) and 950.05 (1) (a) to (i); to renumber and amend 906.15, 950.02 (4), 950.04 (intro.), 950.04 (1), 950.04 (4), 950.04 (8) and 950.04 (9); to amend 51.37 (10) (dg), 301.046 (4) (b) (intro.), 301.048 (4m) (b) (intro.), 301.38 (2) (intro.), 301.46 (3) (b), 302.115 (2) (intro.), 303.068 (4m) (b) (intro.), 304.06 (1) (c) (intro.), 304.063 (2) (intro.), 304.09 (3), 938.02 (21), 938.24 (5), 938.27 (4m), 938.273 (2), 938.31 (2), 938.315 (2), 938.32 (1) (b) 1., 938.32 (1) (b) 2., 938.331, 938.335 (3m) (a), 938.335 (3m) (b), 938.346 (1) (d) 1., 938.346 (1m), 938.346 (3), 938.346 (4), 938.346 (5), 938.396 (1g), 938.396 (1t), 938.396 (2) (f), 938.396 (2) (fm), 938.51 (1) (intro.), 938.51 (1) (c), 938.51 (1m), 938.51 (2), 938.51 (4) (intro.), 938.51 (4) (a), 950.02 (1m), 950.055 (2) (intro.), 950.055 (3), 950.06 (title), 950.06 (2), 950.06 (4), 950.08 (title), 950.08 (3), 971.17 (4m) (b), 971.17 (6m) (b), 972.14 (3) (a), 972.14 (3) (b), 972.15 (2m), 980.11 (2) (intro.), 980.11 (2) (am) (intro.) and 980.11 (2) (bm); and to create 15.255 (2), 906.15 (2) (d), 938.02 (20m), 938.067 (6g), 938.24 (5m), 938.245 (1m), 938.25 (2m), 938.265, 938.296 (1) (e), 938.2965, 938.30 (4m), 938.312, 938.32 (1) (am), 938.32 (1) (b) 1m., 938.335 (3m) (am), 938.346 (1) (em), 938.346 (1) (fm), 938.346 (1) (h), 950.02 (1t), 950.02 (2m), 950.02 (3m), 950.02 (4) (a) 2., 3., 4. and 5., 950.02 (4) (b), 950.04 (1v), 950.04 (2w) (f), 950.06 (1m) (intro.), 950.08 (1) (title), 950.08 (2) (title), 950.08 (2g), (2r) and (2s), 950.09, 950.095, 950.10, 950.11, 967.10, 971.08 (1) (d), 971.095, 971.10 (3) (b) 3., 971.315, 972.14 (1) (ag) and 972.14 (2m) of the statutes; relating to: rights of 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 Section 1. 15.255 (2) of the statutes is created to read:

AB342-engrossed,4,3 15.255 (2) Crime victims rights board. (a) There is created a crime victims rights board which is attached to the department of justice under s. 15.03.

AB342-engrossed,5,1 (b) The crime victims rights board shall be composed of 5 members as follows:

AB342-engrossed,5,2 1. One district attorney holding office in this state.

AB342-engrossed,5,3 2. One representative of local law enforcement in this state.

AB342-engrossed,5,5 3. One person who is employed or contracted by a county board of supervisors under s. 950.06 to provide services for victims and witnesses of crimes.

AB342-engrossed,5,7 4. Two members, not employed in law enforcement, by a district attorney or as specified in subd. 3., who are citizens of this state.

AB342-engrossed,5,12 (c) The members of the crime victims rights board specified in par. (b) 2. and 3. shall be appointed by the attorney general. One of the members specified in par. (b) 4. shall be appointed by the crime victims council and the other member shall be appointed by the governor. The member specified in par. (b) 1. shall be appointed by the Wisconsin District Attorneys' Association.

AB342-engrossed,5,16 (d) The members of the crime victims rights board under par. (a) shall be appointed for 4-year terms, but no member shall serve beyond the time when the member ceases to hold the office or employment by reason of which the member was initially eligible for appointment.

AB342-engrossed,5,20 (e) Notwithstanding the provisions of any statute, ordinance, local law or charter provision, membership on the crime victims rights board does not disqualify any member from holding any other public office or employment, or cause the forfeiture thereof.

AB342-engrossed, s. 2 Section 2. 51.37 (10) (dg) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB342-engrossed,5,24 51.37 (10) (dg) If the department grants a patient an extended home visit or leave under this subsection, the department shall notify do all of the following, if they can be found, in accordance with par. (dm):

AB342-engrossed,5,25 1. The Notify the office of the judge who committed the patient.

AB342-engrossed,6,2 2. The Notify the office of the district attorney who participated in the commitment proceedings.

AB342-engrossed,6,6 3. The Make a reasonable attempt to notify the victim of the crime committed by the patient or, if the victim died as a result of the crime, an adult member of the victim's family or, if the victim is younger than 18 years old, the victim's parent or legal guardian, after the submission of a card under par. (dx) requesting notification.

AB342-engrossed, s. 3 Section 3. 301.046 (4) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB342-engrossed,6,12 301.046 (4) (b) (intro.) Before a prisoner is confined under sub. (1) for a violation of s. 940.03, 940.05, 940.225 (1) or (2), 948.02 (1) or (2), 948.025, 948.06 or 948.07, the department shall make a reasonable effort attempt to notify all of the following persons, if they can be found, in accordance with par. (c) and after receiving a completed card under par. (d):

AB342-engrossed, s. 4 Section 4. 301.048 (4m) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB342-engrossed,6,19 301.048 (4m) (b) (intro.) As soon as possible after a prisoner, probationer or parolee who has violated s. 940.03, 940.05, 940.225 (1) or (2), 948.02 (1) or (2), 948.025, 948.06 or 948.07 enters the intensive sanctions program, the department shall make a reasonable effort attempt to notify all of the following persons, if they can be found, in accordance with par. (c) and after receiving a completed card under par. (d):

AB342-engrossed, s. 5 Section 5. 301.38 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB342-engrossed,6,24 301.38 (2) (intro.) If a prisoner escapes from a Type 1 prison, the department shall make a reasonable effort attempt to notify all of the following persons, if they can be found, in accordance with sub. (3) and after receiving a completed card under sub. (4):

AB342-engrossed, s. 6 Section 6. 301.46 (3) (b) of the statutes, as created by 1995 Wisconsin Act 440, is amended to read:

AB342-engrossed,7,8 301.46 (3) (b) When a person is registered under s. 301.45 (2) or when the person informs the department of a change in information under s. 301.45 (4), the department shall make a reasonable attempt to notify the victim or a member of the victim's family who has, according to the records of the department or the information provided under par. (d), requested to be notified about a person required to register under s. 301.45.

AB342-engrossed, s. 7 Section 7. 302.115 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB342-engrossed,7,15 302.115 (2) (intro.) Before an inmate who is in a prison serving a sentence for a violation of s. 940.01, 940.03, 940.05, 940.225 (1) or (2), 948.02 (1) or (2), 948.025, 948.06 or 948.07 is released from imprisonment because he or she has reached the expiration date of his or her sentence, the department shall make a reasonable effort attempt to notify all of the following persons, if they can be found, in accordance with sub. (3) and after receiving a completed card under sub. (4):

AB342-engrossed, s. 8 Section 8. 303.068 (4m) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB342-engrossed,7,21 303.068 (4m) (b) (intro.) Before an inmate who is imprisoned for a violation of s. 940.01, 940.03, 940.05, 940.225 (1) or (2), 948.02 (1) or (2), 948.025, 948.06 or 948.07 is released on leave under this section, the department shall make a reasonable effort attempt to notify all of the following persons, if they can be found, in accordance with par. (c) and after receiving a completed card under par. (d):