Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under this bill, if a person is placed on parole, probation or other type of
supervised or conditional release after committing a child sex crime, the court or
agency releasing the person must must decide whether to restrict or prohibit the
person's use of or access to the internet as a condition of release. (The child sex crimes
covered by the bill are first and second degree sexual assault of a child, repeated
sexual assault of a child, sexual exploitation of a child, causing a child to view or
listen to sexual activity, child enticement, soliciting a child for prostitution, exposing
a child to harmful material or to harmful narrations or descriptions and possession
of child pornography.) The following sections of this analysis describe in more detail
both current law concerning these types of release and the changes made in current
law by this bill.

Persons placed on probation or released from state prison on parole or
extended supervision
Currently, a person convicted of a felony (a crime that carries a maximum
sentence of imprisonment of one or more years in state prison) may be sentenced to
imprisonment in state prison or may be placed on probation. If a person convicted
of a felony committed before December 31, 1999, is sentenced to imprisonment in
state prison, he or she is eligible for parole and will usually have three possible ways
of being released on parole: 1) discretionary parole granted by the parole commission
(for which a person is usually eligible after serving 25% of the sentence or six months,
whichever is greater); 2) mandatory release on parole (usually granted automatically
after the person serves two-thirds of the sentence); or 3) special action parole release
by the secretary of corrections (a program designed to relieve prison crowding). A
person released on parole is subject to conditions of parole established by the parole
commission and by the department of corrections (DOC).
If a person convicted of a felony committed on or after December 31, 1999, is
sentenced to imprisonment in state prison, he or she is not eligible for parole but will
be eligible for release to the community under extended supervision on a date set by
the court at the time of sentencing. A person released on extended supervision is
subject to conditions of extended supervision established by the sentencing court and
by DOC.
Finally, if a person convicted of a felony is not sentenced to prison but is instead
placed on probation, the person is subject to conditions of probation established by
the sentencing court and by DOC.
Under this bill, when the parole commission paroles a person from a prison
sentence imposed for a child sex crime, the parole commission must decide whether
to restrict or prohibit the person's use of or access to the internet as a condition of
parole. Likewise, if a court sentences a person to prison for a child sex crime
committed on or after December 31, 1999, the court must decide whether to restrict
or prohibit the person's use of or access to the internet as a condition of extended
supervision. Finally, if a court places a person on probation for a child sex crime, the
court must decide whether to restrict or prohibit the person's use of or access to the
internet as a condition of probation. If the parole commission or a court decides not
to impose such a condition of parole, extended supervision or probation, DOC may
impose the condition.
Persons released from institutional care after being found not guilty by
reason of mental disease or defect
Currently, if a person is found not guilty of a felony by reason of mental disease
or defect, he or she is committed to the custody of the department of health and family
services (DHFS). When committing a person found not guilty by reason of mental
disease or defect, a court must specify whether the person is to be placed in
institutional care or on conditional release. If a person is placed in institutional care,
he or she may petition for conditional release if at least six months have passed since
the initial commitment order was entered. A person on conditional release is subject
to the custody and control of DHFS and must abide by conditions set by the court and
by the rules of DHFS. Current law also provides that, under certain circumstances,

the director of a treatment facility at which a person is placed in institutional care
may allow the person to be discharged under supervision, to be conditionally
transferred to the custody of a legal guardian or other person or to take a temporary
home visit or temporary leave from the institution.
Under this bill, if a person who has been found not guilty of a child sex crime
by reason of mental disease or defect is placed on conditional release by a court, the
court must decide whether to restrict or prohibit the person's use of or access to the
internet as a condition of release and, if the court decides not to impose such a
condition of release, DHFS may impose the condition. In addition, if such a person
is conditionally transferred, discharged under supervision or given a temporary
home visit or leave, DHFS must decide whether to restrict or prohibit the person's
use of or access to the internet as a condition of release.
Persons released from institutional care after being found to be a sexually
violent person
Current law provides a procedure for the involuntary civil commitment of
sexually violent persons. A sexually violent person is a person who has committed
certain sexually violent offenses and who is dangerous because he or she suffers from
a mental disorder that makes it substantially probable that the person will engage
in acts of sexual violence. A person who has been found to be a sexually violent person
is committed to DHFS for control, care and treatment. The person may be committed
to institutional care in an appropriate facility or the court may order the person to
be placed on supervised release. In addition, a person initially committed to
institutional care may later be granted supervised release by a court if it is no longer
substantially probable that the person will engage in acts of sexual violence if he or
she is not confined in institutional care. A sexually violent person who is placed on
supervised release is subject to conditions of release set by the court and to the rules
of release established by DHFS.
This bill provides that if a court places a sexually violent person on supervised
release the court must decide whether to restrict or prohibit the person's use of or
access to the internet as a condition of supervised release. If the court decides not
to impose such a condition of supervised release, DHFS may impose the condition.
Persons paroled from a commitment under the sex crimes law
Under prior law, persons who were convicted of certain sex crimes could, upon
conviction, be committed to DHFS for specialized treatment in an appropriate
institution. Although no person could be committed under this prior law after July
1, 1980, there are persons committed before that date who remain in the custody of
DHFS. A person committed to DHFS for specialized care may be paroled if it appears
to DHFS that the person is capable of making an acceptable adjustment in society.
This bill provides that, if DHFS paroles a person convicted of a sex crime and
committed for specialized treatment, DHFS must decide whether to restrict or
prohibit the person's use of or access to the internet as a condition of parole.

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:
AB95, s. 1 1Section 1. 51.37 (9) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB95,5,42 51.37 (9) If in the judgment of the director of Mendota mental health institute,
3Winnebago mental health institute or the Milwaukee county mental health complex,
4any person who is committed under s. 971.14 or 971.17 is not in such condition as
5warrants his or her return to the court but is in a condition to receive a conditional
6transfer or discharge under supervision, the director shall report to the department
7of health and family services, the committing court and the district attorney of the
8county in which the court is located his or her reasons for the judgment. If the court
9does not file objection to the conditional transfer or discharge within 60 days of the
10date of the report, the director may, with the approval of the department of health
11and family services, conditionally transfer any person to a legal guardian or other
12person, subject to the rules of the department of health and family services. If the
13person being conditionally transferred or discharged under supervision was
14committed under s. 971.17 after being found not guilty by reason of mental disease
15or defect for a violation of s. 948.02, 948.025, 948.05, 948.055, 948.07, 948.08, 948.11
16or 948.12, the department of health and family services shall decide whether to
17restrict or prohibit the person's use of or access to the internet as a condition of the
18transfer or discharge.
Before a person is conditionally transferred or discharged
19under supervision under this subsection, the department of health and family
20services shall so notify the municipal police department and county sheriff for the
21area where the person will be residing. The notification requirement does not apply

1if a municipal department or county sheriff submits to the department of health and
2family services a written statement waiving the right to be notified. The department
3of health and family services may contract with the department of corrections for the
4supervision of persons who are transferred or discharged under this subsection.
AB95, s. 2 5Section 2. 51.37 (10) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB95,5,156 51.37 (10) (c) Any patient who is granted a home visit or leave under this
7subsection shall be restricted to the confines of this state unless otherwise
8specifically permitted. The patient may, in addition, be restricted to a particular
9geographic area. If a patient granted a home visit or leave was committed under s.
10971.17 or ch. 975 after being convicted of or found not guilty by reason of mental
11disease or defect for a violation of s. 948.02, 948.025, 948.05, 948.055, 948.07, 948.08,
12948.11 or 948.12, the department shall decide whether to restrict or prohibit the
13patient's use of or access to the internet as a condition of the home visit or leave.

14Other conditions appropriate to the person's treatment may also be imposed upon the
15home visit or leave.
AB95, s. 3 16Section 3. 302.045 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB95,6,317 302.045 (3) Parole eligibility. Except as provided in sub. (4), if the department
18determines that an inmate has successfully completed the challenge incarceration
19program, the parole commission shall parole the inmate under s. 304.06, regardless
20of the time the inmate has served, unless the person is serving a sentence imposed
21under s. 973.01. When the parole commission grants parole under this subsection,
22it must require the parolee to participate in an intensive supervision program for
23drug abusers as a condition of parole. If the inmate is serving a sentence for a
24violation of s. 948.11 or 948.12 and the parole commission grants parole under this
25subsection, the parole commission shall decide whether to restrict or prohibit the

1parolee's use of or access to the internet as a condition of parole. If the parole
2commission decides not to impose such a condition, the department may restrict or
3prohibit a parolee's use of or access to the internet as as condition of parole.
AB95, s. 4 4Section 4. 302.11 (5m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB95,6,65 302.11 (5m) (a) In this subsection, "child sex crime" means a violation of s.
6948.02, 948.025, 948.05, 948.055, 948.07, 948.08, 948.11 or 948.12.
AB95,6,97 (b) When an inmate serving a sentence for a child sex crime is released on
8parole under sub. (1) or (1g) (b), the department shall decide whether to restrict or
9prohibit the parolee's use of or access to the internet as a condition of parole.
AB95, s. 5 10Section 5. 302.114 (5) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB95,6,1811 302.114 (5) (d) If the court grants the inmate's petition for release to extended
12supervision, the court may impose conditions on the term of extended supervision.
13If the inmate is serving a sentence for a violation of s. 948.02, 948.025, 948.05,
14948.055, 948.07 or 948.08, the court shall decide whether to restrict or prohibit the
15inmate's use of or access to the internet as a condition of extended supervision. If the
16court decides not to impose such a condition, the department may restrict or prohibit
17the inmate's use of or access to the internet as as condition of extended supervision
18as provided under sub. (8).
AB95, s. 6 19Section 6. 304.02 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB95,6,2520 304.02 (2) The department shall promulgate rules for the special action release
21program, including eligibility criteria, procedures for the secretary to decide whether
22to grant a prisoner a special action release to parole supervision, procedures for
23notifying persons, offices or agencies under s. 304.06 (1) (c) and (g) of releases, and,
24subject to sub. (4g),
conditions of release. If applicable, the department shall also
25comply with s. 304.063.
AB95, s. 7
1Section 7. 304.02 (4g) of the statutes is created to read:
AB95,7,32 304.02 (4g) (a) In this subsection, "child sex crime" means a violation of s.
3948.02, 948.025, 948.05, 948.055, 948.07, 948.08, 948.11 or 948.12.
AB95,7,64 (b) When an inmate serving a sentence for a child sex crime is released on
5parole under this section, the department shall decide whether to restrict or prohibit
6the parolee's use of or access to the internet as a condition of parole.
AB95, s. 8 7Section 8. 304.06 (1s) of the statutes is created to read:
AB95,7,98 304.06 (1s) (a) In this subsection, "child sex crime" means a violation of s.
9948.02, 948.025, 948.05, 948.055, 948.07, 948.08, 948.11 or 948.12.
AB95,7,1510 (b) When the parole commission grants parole under sub. (1) to a person serving
11a sentence for a child sex crime, the parole commission shall decide whether to
12restrict or prohibit the parolee's use of or access to the internet as a condition of
13parole. If the parole commission decides not to impose such a condition, the
14department may restrict or prohibit a parolee's use of or access to the internet as a
15condition of parole.
AB95, s. 9 16Section 9. 971.17 (3) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB95,8,217 971.17 (3) (e) An order for conditional release places the person in the custody
18and control of the department of health and family services. A conditionally released
19person is subject to the conditions set by the court and to the rules of the department
20of health and family services. If the person being conditionally released was
21committed under this section after being found not guilty by reason of mental disease
22or defect for a violation of s. 948.02, 948.025, 948.05, 948.055, 948.07, 948.08, 948.11
23or 948.12, the court shall decide whether to restrict or prohibit the person's use of or
24access to the internet as a condition of conditional release. If the court decides not
25to impose such a condition, the department of health and family services may restrict

1or prohibit a person's use of or access to the internet as a condition of conditional
2release.
AB95,8,7 3(f) Before a person is conditionally released by the court under this subsection,
4the court shall so notify the municipal police department and county sheriff for the
5area where the person will be residing. The notification requirement under this
6paragraph does not apply if a municipal department or county sheriff submits to the
7court a written statement waiving the right to be notified.
AB95,9,2 8(g) If the department of health and family services alleges that a released
9person has violated any condition or rule, or that the safety of the person or others
10requires that conditional release be revoked, he or she may be taken into custody
11under the rules of the department. The department of health and family services
12shall submit a statement showing probable cause of the detention and a petition to
13revoke the order for conditional release to the committing court and the regional
14office of the state public defender responsible for handling cases in the county where
15the committing court is located within 48 hours after the detention. The court shall
16hear the petition within 30 days, unless the hearing or time deadline is waived by
17the detained person. Pending the revocation hearing, the department of health and
18family services may detain the person in a jail or in a hospital, center or facility
19specified by s. 51.15 (2). The state has the burden of proving by clear and convincing
20evidence that any rule or condition of release has been violated, or that the safety of
21the person or others requires that conditional release be revoked. If the court
22determines after hearing that any rule or condition of release has been violated, or
23that the safety of the person or others requires that conditional release be revoked,
24it may revoke the order for conditional release and order that the released person be

1placed in an appropriate institution under s. 51.37 (3) until the expiration of the
2commitment or until again conditionally released under this section.
AB95, s. 10 3Section 10. 973.01 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB95,9,114 973.01 (5) Extended supervision conditions. Whenever the court imposes a
5bifurcated sentence under sub. (1), the court may impose conditions upon the term
6of extended supervision. If a person is being given a bifurcated sentence for a
7violation of s. 948.02, 948.025, 948.05, 948.055, 948.07, 948.08, 948.11 or 948.12, the
8court shall decide whether to restrict or prohibit the person's use of or access to the
9internet as a condition of extended supervision. If the court decides not to impose
10such a condition, the department may restrict or prohibit person's use of or access to
11the internet as as condition of extended supervision as provided under s. 302.113 (7).
AB95, s. 11 12Section 11. 973.09 (1c) of the statutes is created to read:
AB95,9,1413 973.09 (1c) (a) In this subsection, "child sex crime" means a violation of s.
14948.02, 948.025, 948.05, 948.055, 948.07, 948.08, 948.11 or 948.12.
AB95,9,1915 (b) If a person is convicted of a child sex crime and the court places the person
16on probation for that crime, the court shall decide whether to restrict or prohibit the
17person's use of or access to the internet as a condition of probation. If the court
18decides not to impose such a condition, the department may restrict or prohibit a
19person's use of or access to the internet as a condition of probation.
AB95, s. 12 20Section 12. 975.10 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB95,9,2321 975.10 (1m) When a person is paroled under this section, the department shall
22decide whether to restrict or prohibit the person's use of or access to the internet as
23a condition of parole.
AB95, s. 13 24Section 13. 975.18 of the statutes is amended to read:
AB95,10,4
1975.18 Establishment of regulations. The Subject to s. 975.10 (1m), the
2department may promulgate rules concerning parole, revocation of parole,
3supervision of parolees, and any other matters necessary for the administration of
4this chapter.
AB95, s. 14 5Section 14. 980.06 (2) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB95,10,126 980.06 (2) (d) An order for supervised release places the person in the custody
7and control of the department. If a court places a person on supervised release, the
8court shall decide whether to restrict or prohibit the person's use of or access to the
9internet as a condition of supervised release. If the court decides not to impose such
10a condition, the department may restrict or prohibit a person's use of or access to the
11internet as a condition of supervised release.
A person on supervised release is also
12subject to the any other conditions set by the court and to the rules of the department.
AB95,10,18 13(e) Before a person is placed on supervised release by the court under this
14section, the court shall so notify the municipal police department and county sheriff
15for the municipality and county in which the person will be residing. The notification
16requirement under this paragraph does not apply if a municipal police department
17or county sheriff submits to the court a written statement waiving the right to be
18notified.
AB95,11,11 19(f) If the department alleges that a released person has violated any condition
20or rule, or that the safety of others requires that supervised release be revoked, he
21or she may be taken into custody under the rules of the department. The department
22shall submit a statement showing probable cause of the detention and a petition to
23revoke the order for supervised release to the committing court and the regional
24office of the state public defender responsible for handling cases in the county where
25the committing court is located within 48 hours after the detention. The court shall

1hear the petition within 30 days, unless the hearing or time deadline is waived by
2the detained person. Pending the revocation hearing, the department may detain
3the person in a jail or in a hospital, center or facility specified by s. 51.15 (2). The state
4has the burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that any rule or condition
5of release has been violated, or that the safety of others requires that supervised
6release be revoked. If the court determines after hearing that any rule or condition
7of release has been violated, or that the safety of others requires that supervised
8release be revoked, it may revoke the order for supervised release and order that the
9released person be placed in an appropriate institution until the person is discharged
10from the commitment under s. 980.09 or until again placed on supervised release
11under s. 980.08.
AB95, s. 15 12Section 15. 980.08 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB95,11,1413 980.08 (6) The provisions of s. 980.06 (2) (d), (e) and (f) apply to an order for
14supervised release issued under this section.
AB95, s. 16 15Section 16. Initial applicability.
AB95,11,1816 (1) Conditions of parole. The treatment of sections 302.045 (3), 302.11 (5m),
17304.02 (4g) and 304.06 (1s) of the statutes first applies to persons who are released
18on parole on the effective date of this subsection.
AB95,11,2219 (2) Bifurcated sentences; conditions of extended supervision. The treatment
20of section 973.01 (5) of the statutes first applies to persons who are given a bifurcated
21sentence on December 31, 1999, or on the effective date of this subsection, whichever
22is later.
AB95,11,2523 (3) Conditions of probation. The treatment of section 973.09 (1c) of the
24statutes first applies to persons who are placed on probation on the effective date of
25this subsection.
AB95,12,5
1(4) Conditions of release of persons found not guilty by reason of mental
2disease or defect.
The treatment of sections 51.37 (9) and (10) (c) and 971.17 (3) (e)
3of the statutes first applies to persons who are granted conditional release, a
4conditional transfer, a discharge under supervision or a temporary home visit or
5temporary leave on the effective date of this subsection.
AB95,12,86 (5) Conditions of release of persons found to be sexually violent persons.
7The treatment of section 980.06 (2) (d) of the statutes first applies to persons who are
8granted supervised release on the effective date of this subsection.
AB95,12,119 (6) Conditions of release of persons committed under the sex crimes law.
10The treatment of section 975.10 (1m) of the statutes first applies to persons who are
11released on parole on the effective date of this subsection.
AB95,12,1212 (End)
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