949.165(1)(a)
(a) "Serious crime" has the meaning designated in
s. 969.08 (10) (b) and includes solicitation, conspiracy or attempt to commit a serious crime.
949.165(2)
(2) Payment to and establishment of escrow accounts. Every person or other legal entity contracting with any person, or the representative or assignee of any person, accused or convicted of a serious crime in this state, with respect to the reenactment of the serious crime, by a movie, book, magazine article, tape recording, phonograph record, radio or television presentation or live entertainment of any kind, or from the expression of the accused or convicted person's thoughts, feelings, opinions or emotions regarding the serious crime, shall submit a copy of the contract to the department and pay over to the department any moneys which would otherwise, by terms of the contract, be owing to the person so accused or convicted or his or her representatives. This subsection applies only if the reenactment of the serious crime constitutes a substantial portion of the movie, book, article, recording, record, presentation, entertainment or expression. The department shall deposit the moneys in an interest-bearing escrow account for the payment of money judgments to any victim or the legal representative of any victim of serious crimes committed by:
949.165(2)(b)
(b) The accused person, but only if the accused person is eventually convicted of the serious crime charged.
949.165(3)
(3) Notice to potential claimants. The department, at least once every 6 months for 3 years from the date it receives the moneys, shall cause to have published a legal notice in newspapers of general circulation in the county in which the serious crime was committed advising the victims that the escrow moneys are available to satisfy money judgments under this section. The department may provide for additional notice. When the department is reasonably satisfied that all victims have received actual notice, the department may cease to provide the notice required under this subsection.
949.165(4)(a)(a) Claims on moneys in an escrow account have the following priority:
949.165(4)(a)2.
2. Second priority for payments to satisfy money judgments under
sub. (6).
949.165(4)(a)3.
3. Third priority for reimbursement, recoupment and restitution payments under
sub. (7).
949.165(4)(b)
(b) The department shall make payments from escrow accounts in accordance with the priority schedule under
par. (a). The department may make payments at any time from an escrow account, except that no payment may be made for a claim if there is another existing or pending claim entitled to a higher priority.
949.165(4)(c)
(c) If the amount of claims for the same priority exceeds the amount of moneys available in an escrow account, the department may prorate the payments.
949.165(5)
(5) First priority payments; legal representation. The department shall make payments from an escrow account to a person charged with a serious crime upon the order of a court of competent jurisdiction after a showing by the person that the moneys shall be used for the exclusive purpose of his or her legal representation in a criminal action or in the defense of a civil action.
949.165(6)
(6) Second priority payments; satisfaction of money judgments. 949.165(6)(a)(a) The department shall make payments to victims or legal representatives of victims of serious crimes who have obtained money judgments against the accused or convicted person. The victim or legal representative of the victim shall bring a civil action and obtain a money judgment. The victim shall then file a claim with the department for payment.
949.165(6)(b)
(b) In the case of death of the victim, one or more dependents may obtain a payment under this section in the same manner as a victim. If 2 or more dependents are entitled to payments under this subsection, the department shall apportion the payments among the dependents.
949.165(6)(c)
(c) If the state is subrogated to a cause of action under
s. 949.15, the state may seek reimbursement under this subsection. If the judgment is apportioned under
s. 949.15 (3), the payments under this subsection shall be prorated accordingly.
949.165(6)(d)
(d) The victim or the legal representative of a victim shall notify the department when he or she brings the action described in
par. (a), but failure to notify under this paragraph does not bar any payment from an escrow account.
949.165(7)
(7) Third priority payments; legal fees and restitution. The department shall make payments from an escrow account for any governmental entity for the reimbursement for or recoupment of the costs of legal representation of the person charged with the serious crime or for any unpaid restitution under
s. 973.20. The governmental entity shall file a claim for the applicable amount with the department.
949.165(8)
(8) Payment to accused or convicted person. If either of the following conditions occur, the department shall pay all of the remaining moneys in an escrow account to the accused or convicted person:
949.165(8)(a)
(a) The charges against the person are dismissed with prejudice or the person is found not guilty of the serious crime charged.
949.165(8)(b)
(b) Three years have elapsed from the date of the establishment of the escrow account and no civil actions seeking money judgments, unsatisfied money judgments or claims under this section are pending against the defendant in this state.
949.165(9)
(9) Interpleader. If a court determines that a person accused of a serious crime is incompetent to proceed under
s. 971.14 or if the charges are dismissed without prejudice, the department shall bring an action of interpleader to determine the disposition of the escrow account.
949.165(10)
(10) Statute of limitations. If an escrow account is established under this section, no otherwise applicable statute of limitations on the time within which a civil action may be brought bars an action by a victim of a serious crime committed by a person accused or convicted of the serious crime as to a claim resulting from the serious crime until 3 years have elapsed from the time the escrow account was established.
949.165(11)
(11) Act to defeat purpose; void. Any act by any person accused or convicted of a serious crime, whether by execution of a power of attorney, creation of corporate entities or otherwise, to defeat the purpose of this section shall be void as against the public policy of this state.
949.165(12)
(12) Payment is not an award. Any payment from an escrow account under this section shall not be considered as an award by the department under this chapter.
949.165(13)
(13) Applicability. This section applies only to contracts which are entered into on or after May 18, 1985.
949.165(14)
(14) Penalty. Any person who violates
sub. (2) shall be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned not more than 30 days or both.
949.165 History
History: 1983 a. 467;
1987 a. 398.
949.17(1)(1)
Prohibition. In connection with the crime victim compensation program, no person may:
949.17(1)(a)
(a) Submit a fraudulent application or claim for an award;
949.17(1)(b)
(b) Intentionally make or cause to be made any false statement or representation of a material fact; or
949.17(1)(c)
(c) Intentionally conceal or fail to disclose information affecting the amount of or the initial or continued right to any such award when reasonably requested to provide such information by the department.
949.17(2)
(2) Penalties. Any person who violates this section shall be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned not more than 6 months or both. The person shall further forfeit any benefit received and shall reimburse the state for payments received or paid to or on behalf of the person.
949.17(3)
(3) Damages. The state has a civil cause of action for relief against any person who violates this section for the amount of damages which the state sustained by reason of the violation and, in addition, for punitive damages not more than double the amount of damages which the state may have sustained, together with interest, and the cost of the suit.
949.17(4)
(4) Action. The attorney general may bring any action and has such powers as may be necessary to enforce this section.
949.17 History
History: 1975 c. 344,
421;
1981 c. 20.
949.18
949.18
Report by the department. The department's biennial report under
s. 15.04 (1) (d) shall include a report of its activities under this chapter including:
949.18(1)
(1) An explanation of the procedures for filing and processing claims under this chapter.
949.18(2)
(2) A description of the programs and policies instituted to promote public awareness about crime victim compensation.
949.18(3)
(3) An analysis of future needs and suggested program improvements.
949.18(4)
(4) A copy of the forms utilized under this chapter.
949.18(5)
(5) A complete statistical analysis of the cases handled under this chapter, including:
949.18(5)(b)
(b) The number of claims approved and the amount of each award.
949.18(5)(c)
(c) The number of claims denied and the reasons for rejection.
949.18(5)(d)
(d) A breakdown of claims by geographic area, month, age and sex of victim, type of crime committed and other relevant facts.
949.18(5)(e)
(e) A summary of cases handled under this chapter.
