950.055(2)(b)
(b) Advice to the judge, when appropriate and as a friend of the court, regarding the child's ability to understand proceedings and questions. The services may include providing assistance in determinations concerning the taking of videotaped depositions under
s. 908.08 or
967.04 (7) and
(8) and the duty to expedite proceedings under
s. 971.105.
950.055(2)(c)
(c) Advice to the district attorney concerning the ability of a child witness to cooperate with the prosecution and the potential effects of the proceedings on the child.
950.055(2)(d)
(d) Information about and referrals to appropriate social services programs to assist the child and the child's family in coping with the emotional impact of the crime and the subsequent proceedings in which the child is involved.
950.055(3)
(3) Program responsibility. In each county, the county board is responsible for the provision of services under this section. A county may seek reimbursement for services provided under this section as part of its program plan submitted to the department under
s. 950.06. To the extent possible, counties shall utilize volunteers and existing public resources for the provision of these services.
950.06
950.06
Reimbursement for services. 950.06(1m)
(1m) To be eligible for reimbursement under this section for the provision of services to victims and witnesses, a county shall provide all of the following services to victims and witnesses:
950.06(1m)(a)
(a) Court appearance notification services, including cancellation of appearances.
950.06(1m)(b)
(b) Victim compensation and social services referrals, including witness fee collection, case-by-case referrals and public information.
950.06(1m)(c)
(c) Escort and other transportation services related to the investigation or prosecution of the case, if necessary or advisable.
950.06(1m)(d)
(d) Case progress notification services which may be combined with services under
par. (a).
950.06(1m)(dm)
(dm) Assistance in providing the court with information pertaining to the economic, physical and psychological effect of the crime upon the victim of a felony.
950.06(1m)(h)
(h) Family support services, including child and other dependent care services.
950.06(2)
(2) The costs of providing services under
sub. (1m) shall be paid for by the county, but the county is eligible to receive reimbursement from the state for not more than 90% of the costs incurred in providing those services. The department shall determine the level of services for which a county may be reimbursed. The county board shall file a claim for reimbursement with the department. The department shall reimburse counties under this subsection from the appropriation under
s. 20.455 (5) (k),
(kk) and
(kp) and, on a semiannual basis, from the appropriations under
s. 20.455 (5) (c) and
(g).
950.06(3)
(3) The county board shall provide for the implementation of the county's plan under
sub. (4). Two or more counties may submit a joint plan under
sub. (4).
950.06(4)
(4) If the county seeks reimbursement under
sub. (2), the county board shall submit a program plan to the department for its approval. The county is eligible for reimbursement under
sub. (2) only if the department has approved the plan. The program plan shall describe the level of services to victims and witnesses that the county intends to provide; the personnel or agencies responsible for related administrative programs and individual services; proposed staffing for the program; proposed education, training and experience requirements for program staff and the staff of agencies providing related administrative programs and individual services; the county's budget for implementing the program and other information the department determines to be necessary for its review. The plan shall provide that the district attorney, local law enforcement agencies and the courts shall make available to the person or agency responsible for administering the program all reports or files, except reports or files which are required by statute to be kept confidential, if the reports or files are required by the person or agency to carry out program responsibilities. Each year, the county board shall submit a report to the department on the operation of the plan, including the provision of services under
sub. (1m).
950.06(5)
(5) The department shall review and approve the implementation and operation of programs and the annual reports under this section. The department may suspend or terminate reimbursement under
sub. (2) if the county fails to comply with its duties under this section. The department shall promulgate rules under
ch. 227 for implementing and administering county programs approved under this section.
950.07
950.07
Intergovernmental cooperation. The county board, district attorney, local law enforcement agencies, local social service agencies, victim and witness offices and courts shall all cooperate with each other to ensure that victims and witnesses of crimes receive the rights and services to which they are entitled under this chapter.
950.07 History
History: 1979 c. 219;
1995 a. 310.
950.08
950.08
Information and mediation services. 950.08(1)
(1)
Duties of department; toll-free telephone number. The department shall maintain a toll-free telephone number to provide crime victims and witnesses with all of the following services:
950.08(1)(a)
(a) Information and referral to available services.
950.08(1)(c)
(c) Assistance in securing resources and protection.
950.08(2)
(2) Duties of department; general informational program. The department shall provide an informational program to inform crime victims, the general public, criminal justice officials and related professionals about crime victim rights and services.
950.08(2g)
(2g) Information to be provided by law enforcement agencies. No later than 24 hours after a law enforcement agency has initial contact with a victim of a crime that the law enforcement agency is responsible for investigating, the law enforcement agency shall make a reasonable attempt to provide to the victim written information on all of the following:
950.08(2g)(b)
(b) The availability of compensation under
ch. 949 and the address and telephone number at which to contact the department for information concerning compensation under
ch. 949.
950.08(2g)(d)
(d) The address and telephone number of the custodial agency that the victim may contact to obtain information concerning the taking into custody or arrest of a suspect in connection with the crime of which he or she is a victim.
950.08(2g)(e)
(e) The address and telephone number of the custodial agency that the victim may contact for information concerning release under
s. 938.20 or
938.21 or
ch. 969, whichever is appropriate, of a person arrested or taken into custody for the crime of which he or she is a victim.
950.08(2g)(f)
(f) Suggested procedures for the victim to follow if he or she is subject to threats or intimidation arising out of his or her cooperation with law enforcement and prosecution efforts relating to a crime of which he or she is a victim.
950.08(2g)(g)
(g) The address and telephone number at which the victim may contact the department or any local agency that provides victim assistance in order to obtain further information about services available for victims, including medical services.
950.08(2r)
(2r) Information to be provided by a district attorney in criminal cases. As soon as practicable, but in no event later than 10 days after the initial appearance under
s. 970.01 or 24 hours before a preliminary examination under
s. 970.03, whichever is earlier, of a person charged with a crime in a court of criminal jurisdiction, a district attorney shall make a reasonable attempt to provide to each victim of the crime written information on all of the following:
950.08(2r)(a)
(a) A brief statement of the procedure for prosecuting a crime.
950.08(2r)(b)
(b) A list of the rights of victims under
s. 950.04 (1v) and information about how to exercise those rights.
950.08(2r)(c)
(c) The person or agency to notify if the victim changes his or her address and wants to continue to receive notices and services under
s. 950.04 or
971.095 (3).
950.08(2r)(d)
(d) The availability of compensation under
ch. 949, including information concerning eligibility for compensation and the procedure for applying for compensation.
950.08(2r)(e)
(e) The person to contact for further information about a case involving the prosecution of a crime of which he or she is a victim.
950.08(2s)
(2s) Information concerning juvenile cases. Notification of a victim of an act committed by a juvenile concerning the rights of victims under
ch. 938 shall be provided as specified in
s. 938.346.
950.08(3)
(3) Duties of department; mediation. The department may receive complaints, seek to mediate complaints and, with the consent of the involved parties, actually mediate complaints regarding the treatment of crime victims and witnesses by public officials, employees or agencies or under crime victim and witness assistance programs. The department may act as a liaison between crime victims or witnesses and others when seeking to mediate these complaints and may request a written response regarding the complaint from the subject of a complaint. If asked by the department to provide a written response regarding a complaint, the subject of a complaint shall respond to the department's request within a reasonable time.
950.08 History
History: 1991 a. 39;
1997 a. 181.
950.09
950.09
Crime victims rights board. 950.09(1)
(1) In this section, "board" means the crime victims rights board.
950.09(2)
(2) At the request of one of the involved parties, the board may review a complaint made to the department under
s. 950.08 (3) regarding a violation of the rights of a crime victim. A party may not request the board to review a complaint under this subsection until the department has completed its action on the complaint under
s. 950.08 (3). In reviewing a complaint under this subsection, the board may not begin any investigation or take any action specified in
pars. (a) to
(d) until the board first determines that there is probable cause to believe that the subject of the complaint violated the rights of a crime victim. Based on its review of a complaint under this subsection, the board may do any of the following:
950.09(2)(a)
(a) Issue private and public reprimands of public officials, employees or agencies that violate the rights of crime victims provided under this chapter,
ch. 938 and
article I, section 9m, of the Wisconsin constitution.
950.09(2)(b)
(b) Refer to the judicial commission a violation or alleged violation by a judge of the rights of crime victims provided under this chapter,
ch. 938 and
article I, section 9m, of the Wisconsin constitution.
950.09(2)(c)
(c) Seek appropriate equitable relief on behalf of a victim if such relief is necessary to protect the rights of the victim. The board may not seek to appeal, reverse or modify a judgment of conviction or a sentence in a criminal case.
950.09(2)(d)
(d) Bring civil actions to assess a forfeiture under
s. 950.11. Notwithstanding
s. 778.06, an action or proposed action authorized under this paragraph may be settled for such sum as may be agreed upon between the parties. In settling actions or proposed actions, the board shall treat comparable situations in a comparable manner and shall assure that any settlement bears a reasonable relationship to the severity of the offense or alleged offense. Forfeiture actions brought by the board shall be brought in the circuit court for the county in which the violation is alleged to have occurred.
950.09(3)
(3) In addition to its powers under
sub. (2), the board may issue reports and recommendations concerning the securing and provision of crime victims rights and services.
950.09(4)
(4) Actions of the board are not subject to approval or review by the attorney general.
950.09(5)
(5) The board shall promulgate rules establishing procedures for the exercise of its powers under this section.
950.09 History
History: 1997 a. 181.
950.095
950.095
Confidentiality of complaints. 950.095(1)(a)(a) The records of the department relating to a complaint made under
s. 950.08 (3) are confidential unless the subject of the complaint waives the right to confidentiality in writing to the department.
950.095(1)(am)
(am) Before a finding of probable cause under
s. 950.09 (2), a complaint referred to the crime victims rights board under
s. 950.09 (2) is confidential unless the subject of the complaint waives the right to confidentiality in writing to the crime victims rights board.
950.095(1)(b)
(b) If a complaint becomes known to the public before the completion of action by the department under
s. 950.08 (3) or a finding of probable cause by the crime victims rights board under
s. 950.09 (2), the department or the crime victims rights board, whichever is applicable, may issue statements in order to confirm that a complaint has been made or is being reviewed, to clarify the procedural aspects of actions taken under
ss. 950.08 (3) and
950.09 (2), to explain the right of the subject of the complaint to respond to the complaint, to state that the subject of the complaint denies the allegations, if applicable, to state that action under
ss. 950.08 (3) and
950.09 (2) has been completed and no basis for the complaint was found or to correct public misinformation.
950.095(1m)
(1m) In investigating a complaint made under
s. 950.08 (3) or being reviewed under
s. 950.09 (2), the department or the crime victims rights board, whichever is applicable, shall do all of the following:
950.095(1m)(a)
(a) Act to avoid unnecessary embarrassment to and publicity for the subject of the complaint.
950.095(1m)(b)
(b) Request any person contacted for information not to disclose that an investigation is being conducted or the nature of any inquiries made by the department or the crime victims rights board.
950.095(2)
(2) This section does not preclude the department or the crime victims rights board from doing any of the following:
950.095(2)(a)
(a) Informing the person who made the complaint of the outcome of any action by the department or review by the crime victims rights board.
950.095(2)(b)
(b) Referring to the judicial commission information relating to alleged misconduct by or an alleged disability of a judge or court commissioner.
950.095(2)(c)
(c) Referring to an appropriate law enforcement authority information relating to possible criminal conduct or otherwise cooperating with a law enforcement authority in matters of mutual interest.
950.095(2)(d)
(d) Referring to an attorney disciplinary agency information relating to the possible misconduct or incapacity of an attorney or otherwise cooperating with an attorney disciplinary agency in matters of mutual interest.
950.095(2)(e)
(e) Disclosing to the chief justice or director of state courts information relating to matters affecting the administration of the courts.
950.095 History
History: 1997 a. 181.
950.10
950.10
Limitation on liability; grounds for appeal. 950.10(1)(1) No cause of action for money damages may arise against the state, any political subdivision of the state or any employee or agent of the state or a political subdivision of the state for any act or omission in the performance of any power or duty under this chapter or under
article I, section 9m, of the Wisconsin constitution or for any act or omission in the performance of any power or duty under
ch. 938 relating to the rights of, services for or notices to victims.
950.10(2)
(2) A failure to provide a right, service or notice to a victim under this chapter or
ch. 938 or under
article I, section 9m, of the Wisconsin constitution is not a ground for an appeal of a judgment of conviction or sentence and is not grounds for any court to reverse or modify a judgment of conviction or sentence.
950.10 History
History: 1997 a. 181.
950.11
950.11
Penalties. A public official, employee or agency that intentionally fails to provide a right specified under
s. 950.04 (1v) to a victim of a crime may be subject to a forfeiture of not more than $1,000.
950.11 History
History: 1997 a. 181.
