48.07(5)
(5) Court-appointed special advocate program. 48.07(5)(a)(a)
Memorandum of understanding. The court may obtain the services of a court-appointed special advocate program that has been recognized by the chief judge of the judicial administrative district. A chief judge of a judicial administrative district may recognize a court-appointed special advocate program by entering into a memorandum of understanding with the court-appointed special advocate program that specifies the responsibilities of the court-appointed special advocate program and of a court-appointed special advocate designated under
s. 48.236 (1). The memorandum of understanding shall specify that the court-appointed special advocate program is responsible for selecting, training, supervising and evaluating the volunteers and employees of the program who are authorized to provide court-appointed special advocate services as provided in
pars. (b) to
(d), that, in addition to any other activities specified in the memorandum of understanding, a volunteer or employee of the program who is authorized to provide court-appointed special advocate services may be designated to perform any of the activities specified in
s. 48.236 (3) (a) to
(c) and that, in addition to any other authority specified in the memorandum of understanding, a volunteer or employee of the program who is authorized to provide court-appointed special advocate services may be authorized to exercise any of the authority specified in
s. 48.236 (4) (a) and
(b), unless the parties to the memorandum of understanding determine that a variance from the requirements of
pars. (b) to
(d), the activities specified in
s. 48.236 (3) (a) to
(c) or the authority specified in
s. 48.236 (4) (a) and
(b) is necessary for the efficient administration of the program.
48.07(5)(b)1.1. A court-appointed special advocate program may select a person to provide court-appointed special advocate services if the person is 21 years of age or older, demonstrates an interest in the welfare of children, undergoes a satisfactory background investigation as provided under
subd. 2., completes the training required under
par. (c) and meets any other qualifications required by the court-appointed special advocate program. A court-appointed special advocate program may refuse to permit to provide court-appointed special advocate services any person whose provision of those services might pose a risk, as determined by the court-appointed special advocate program, to the safety of any child.
48.07(5)(b)2.
2. On receipt of an application from a prospective court-appointed special advocate, the court-appointed special advocate program, with the assistance of the department of justice, shall conduct a background investigation of the applicant. If the court-appointed special advocate program determines that any information obtained as a result of the background investigation provides a reasonable basis for further investigation, the court-appointed special advocate program may require the applicant to be fingerprinted on 2 fingerprint cards, each bearing a complete set of the applicant's fingerprints. The department of justice may provide for the submission of the fingerprint cards to the federal bureau of investigation for the purposes of verifying the identification of the applicant and obtaining the applicant's criminal arrest and conviction record. The court-appointed special advocate program shall keep confidential all information received from the department of justice and the federal bureau of investigation under this subdivision.
48.07(5)(c)
(c)
Training. A court-appointed special advocate program shall require a volunteer or employee of the program selected under
par. (b) to complete a training program before the volunteer or employee may be designated as a court-appointed special advocate under
s. 48.236 (1). The training program shall include instruction on recognizing child abuse and neglect, cultural competency, as defined in
s. 48.982 (1) (bm), child development, the procedures of the court, permanency planning, the activities of a court-appointed special advocate under
s. 48.236 (3) and information gathering and documentation, and shall include observation of a proceeding under
s. 48.13. A court-appointed special advocate program shall also require each volunteer and employee of the program selected under
par. (b) to complete continuing training annually.
48.07(5)(d)
(d)
Supervision and evaluation. The supervisory support staff of a court-appointed special advocate program shall be easily accessible to the volunteers and employees of the program who are authorized to provide court-appointed special advocate services, shall hold regular case conferences with those volunteers and employees to review case progress and shall conduct annual performance evaluations of those volunteers and employees. A court-appointed special advocate program shall provide its staff and volunteers with written guidelines describing the policies, practices and procedures of the program and the responsibilities of a volunteer or employee of the program who is authorized to provide court-appointed special advocate services.
48.08
48.08
Duties of person furnishing services to court. 48.08(1)(1) It is the duty of each person appointed to furnish services to the court as provided in
ss. 48.06 and
48.07 to make such investigations and exercise such discretionary powers as the judge may direct, to keep a written record of such investigations and to submit a report to the judge. Such person shall keep informed concerning the conduct and condition of a child or expectant mother of an unborn child under the person's supervision and shall report on that conduct and condition as the judge directs.
48.08(2)
(2) Any person authorized to provide or providing intake or dispositional services for the court under
ss. 48.067 and
48.069 has the power of police officers and deputy sheriffs only for the purpose of taking a child into physical custody when the child comes voluntarily or is suffering from illness or injury or is in immediate danger from his or her surroundings and removal from the surroundings is necessary.
48.08(3)
(3) Any person authorized to provide or providing intake or dispositional services for the court under
s. 48.067 or
48.069 has the power of police officers and deputy sheriffs only for the purpose of taking the expectant mother of an unborn child into physical custody when the expectant mother comes voluntarily or when there is a substantial risk that the physical health of the unborn child, and of the child when born, will be seriously affected or endangered due to the expectant mother's habitual lack of self-control in the use of alcohol beverages, controlled substances or controlled substance analogs, exhibited to a severe degree.
48.08 Annotation
A judge may order the department to provide information on foster care placements in a county. In Interest of J. A.
138 Wis. 2d 483,
406 N.W.2d 372 (1987).
48.09
48.09
Representation of the interests of the public. The interests of the public shall be represented in proceedings under this chapter as follows:
48.09(5)
(5) By the district attorney or, if designated by the county board of supervisors, by the corporation counsel, in any matter arising under
s. 48.13,
48.133 or
48.977. If the county board transfers this authority to or from the district attorney on or after May 11, 1990, the board may do so only if the action is effective on September 1 of an odd-numbered year and the board notifies the department of administration of that change by January 1 of that odd-numbered year.
48.09(6)
(6) By any appropriate person designated by the county board of supervisors in any matter arising under
s. 48.14.
48.10
48.10
Power of the judge to act as intake worker. The duties of the intake worker may be carried out from time to time by the judge at his or her discretion, but if a request to file a petition is made or an informal disposition is entered into, the judge shall be disqualified from participating further in the proceedings.
48.11
48.11
Advisory board. 48.11(1)(1) The court may appoint a board of not more than 15 citizens of the county, known for their interest in the welfare of children, who shall serve without compensation, to be called the advisory board of the court. The members of the board shall hold office during the pleasure of the court. The duties of the board are:
48.11(1)(a)
(a) To advise and cooperate with the court upon all matters affecting the workings of this law and other laws relating to children, their care and protection.
48.11(1)(b)
(b) To familiarize themselves with the functions and facilities of the court under this law and to interpret to the public the work of the court.
48.11(2)
(2) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the court to open court records or to disclose their contents.
48.11 History
History: 1977 c. 449.
JURISDICTION
48.13
48.13
Jurisdiction over children alleged to be in need of protection or services. The court has exclusive original jurisdiction over a child alleged to be in need of protection or services which can be ordered by the court, and:
48.13(1)
(1) Who is without a parent or guardian;
48.13(3m)
(3m) Who is at substantial risk of becoming the victim of abuse, as defined in
s. 48.02 (1) (a),
(b),
(c),
(d),
(e) or
(f), including injury that is self-inflicted or inflicted by another, based on reliable and credible information that another child in the home has been the victim of such abuse;
48.13(4)
(4) Whose parent or guardian signs the petition requesting jurisdiction under this subsection and is unable or needs assistance to care for or provide necessary special treatment or care for the child;
48.13(5)
(5) Who has been placed for care or adoption in violation of law;
48.13(8)
(8) Who is receiving inadequate care during the period of time a parent is missing, incarcerated, hospitalized or institutionalized;
48.13(9)
(9) Who is at least age 12, signs the petition requesting jurisdiction under this subsection and is in need of special treatment or care which the parent, guardian or legal custodian is unwilling, neglecting, unable or needs assistance to provide;
48.13(10)
(10) Whose parent, guardian or legal custodian neglects, refuses or is unable for reasons other than poverty to provide necessary care, food, clothing, medical or dental care or shelter so as to seriously endanger the physical health of the child;
48.13(10m)
(10m) Whose parent, guardian or legal custodian is at substantial risk of neglecting, refusing or being unable for reasons other than poverty to provide necessary care, food, clothing, medical or dental care or shelter so as to endanger seriously the physical health of the child, based on reliable and credible information that the child's parent, guardian or legal custodian has neglected, refused or been unable for reasons other than poverty to provide necessary care, food, clothing, medical or dental care or shelter so as to endanger seriously the physical health of another child in the home;
48.13(11)
(11) Who is suffering emotional damage for which the parent, guardian or legal custodian has neglected, refused or been unable and is neglecting, refusing or unable, for reasons other than poverty, to obtain necessary treatment or to take necessary steps to ameliorate the symptoms;
48.13(11m)
(11m) Who is suffering from an alcohol and other drug abuse impairment, exhibited to a severe degree, for which the parent, guardian or legal custodian is neglecting, refusing or unable to provide treatment; or
48.13 Note
NOTE: 1993 Wis. Act 395, which created subs. (3m) and (10m), contains extensive explanatory notes.
48.13 Annotation
CHIPS proceedings are controlled by the Code of Civil Procedure unless ch. 48 requires a different procedure; summary judgment under s. 802.08 is available in CHIPS cases. In Interest of F.Q.
162 Wis. 2d 607,
470 N.W.2d 1 (Ct. App. 1991).
48.13 Annotation
A jury verdict that children are in need of protection or services requires a separate verdict question for each of the specific jurisdictional grounds alleged. Interest of Lauran F.
194 Wis. 2d 283,
533 N.W.2d 812 (1995).
48.13 Annotation
A viable fetus is not a "person" within the definition of a child under s. 48.02 (2). A court does not have jurisdiction over a fetus under this section. State ex rel. Angela M.W. v. Kruzicki,
209 Wis. 2d 112,
561 N.W.2d 729 (1997).
48.13 Annotation
A child's need for protection or services should be determined as of the date the petition is filed. Children can be adjudicated in need of protection or services when divorced parents have joint custody, one parent committed acts proscribed by sub. (10), and at the time of the hearing the other can provide the necessary care for the children. State v. Gregory L.S. 2002 WI App 101, ___ Wis. 2d ___,
643 N.W.2d 890.
48.133
48.133
Jurisdiction over unborn children in need of protection or services and the expectant mothers of those unborn children. The court has exclusive original jurisdiction over an unborn child alleged to be in need of protection or services which can be ordered by the court whose expectant mother habitually lacks self-control in the use of alcohol beverages, controlled substances or controlled substance analogs, exhibited to a severe degree, to the extent that there is a substantial risk that the physical health of the unborn child, and of the child when born, will be seriously affected or endangered unless the expectant mother receives prompt and adequate treatment for that habitual lack of self-control. The court also has exclusive original jurisdiction over the expectant mother of an unborn child described in this section.
48.133 History
History: 1997 a. 292.
48.135
48.135
Referral of children and expectant mothers of unborn children to proceedings under chapter 51 or 55. 48.135(1)(1) If a child alleged to be in need of protection or services or a child expectant mother of an unborn child alleged to be in need of protection or services is before the court and it appears that the child or child expectant mother is developmentally disabled, mentally ill or drug dependent or suffers from alcoholism, the court may proceed under
ch. 51 or
55. If an adult expectant mother of an unborn child alleged to be in need of protection or services is before the court and it appears that the adult expectant mother is drug dependent or suffers from alcoholism, the court may proceed under
ch. 51.
48.135(2)
(2) Except as provided in
ss. 48.19 to
48.21 and
s. 48.345 (14), any voluntary or involuntary admissions, placements or commitments of a child made in or to an inpatient facility, as defined in
s. 51.01 (10), shall be governed by
ch. 51 or
55. Except as provided in
ss. 48.193 to
48.213 and
s. 48.347 (6), any voluntary or involuntary admissions, placements or commitments of an adult expectant mother of an unborn child made in or to an inpatient facility, as defined in
s. 51.01 (10), shall be governed by
ch. 51.
48.14
48.14
Jurisdiction over other matters relating to children. The court has exclusive jurisdiction over:
48.14(1)
(1) The termination of parental rights to a minor in accordance with
subch. VIII.
48.14(2)
(2) The appointment and removal of a guardian of the person in the following cases:
48.14(2)(a)
(a) For a minor, where parental rights have been terminated under
subch. VIII; or
48.14(5)
(5) Proceedings under
chs. 51 and
55 which apply to minors and proceedings under
ch. 51 which apply to the adult expectant mothers of unborn children, if those adult expectant mothers appear to be drug dependent or to suffer from alcoholism.
48.14(8)
(8) Runaway children, but only as provided under
s. 48.227 for the limited purpose described in that section.
48.14 Annotation
If two actions between the same parties, on the same subject, to test the same rights are brought in different courts with concurrent jurisdiction, it is error for the second court to assume jurisdiction. Interest of Tiffany W. & Myokra W.
192 Wis. 2d 407,
532 N.W.2d 135 (Ct. App. 1995).
48.15
48.15
Jurisdiction of other courts to determine legal custody. Nothing contained in
ss. 48.13,
48.133 and
48.14 deprives other courts of the right to determine the legal custody of children by habeas corpus or to determine the legal custody or guardianship of children if the legal custody or guardianship is incidental to the determination of causes pending in the other courts. But the jurisdiction of the court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under this chapter and
ch. 938 is paramount in all cases involving children alleged to come within the provisions of
ss. 48.13 and
48.14 and unborn children and their expectant mothers alleged to come within the provisions of
ss. 48.133 and
48.14 (5).
48.15 Note
Judicial Council Note, 1981: Reference to "writs" of habeas corpus has been removed because that remedy is now available in an ordinary action. See s. 781.01, stats., and the note thereto. [Bill 613-A]
48.16
48.16
Jurisdiction over petitions for waiver of parental consent to a minor's abortion. Any circuit court within this state has jurisdiction over a proceeding under
s. 48.375 (7) for waiver of the parental consent requirement under
s. 48.375 (4).
48.16 History
History: 1991 a. 263.
48.185(1)(1) Subject to
sub. (2), venue for any proceeding under
ss. 48.13,
48.133,
48.135 and
48.14 (1) to
(9) may be in any of the following: the county where the child or the expectant mother of the unborn child resides or the county where the child or expectant mother is present. Venue for proceedings brought under
subch. VIII is as provided in this subsection except where the child has been placed and is living outside the home of the child's parent pursuant to a dispositional order, in which case venue is as provided in
sub. (2). Venue for a proceeding under
s. 48.14 (10) is as provided in
s. 801.50 (5s).
48.185(2)
(2) In an action under
s. 48.41, venue shall be in the county where the birth parent or child resides at the time that the petition is filed. Venue for any proceeding under
s. 48.363,
48.365 or
48.977, or any proceeding under
subch. VIII when the child has been placed outside the home pursuant to a dispositional order under
s. 48.345 or
48.347, shall be in the county where the dispositional order was issued, unless the child's county of residence has changed, or the parent of the child or the expectant mother of the unborn child has resided in a different county of this state for 6 months. In either case, the court may, upon a motion and for good cause shown, transfer the case, along with all appropriate records, to the county of residence of the child, parent or expectant mother.
48.185 Annotation
This section does not authorize change of venue, upon motion of party or upon stipulation of parties, after adjudication but before the first dispositional hearing.
75 Atty. Gen. 100.
HOLDING A CHILD OR AN EXPECTANT MOTHER IN CUSTODY
48.19
48.19
Taking a child into custody. 48.19(1)
(1) A child may be taken into custody under any of the following:
48.19(1)(c)
(c) An order of the judge if made upon a showing satisfactory to the judge that the welfare of the child demands that the child be immediately removed from his or her present custody. The order shall specify that the child be held in custody under
s. 48.207 (1).
48.19(1)(cm)
(cm) An order of the judge if made upon a showing satisfactory to the judge that the child is an expectant mother, that due to the child expectant mother's habitual lack of self-control in the use of alcohol beverages, controlled substances or controlled substance analogs, exhibited to a severe degree, there is a substantial risk that the physical health of the unborn child, and of the child when born, will be seriously affected or endangered unless the child expectant mother is taken into custody and that the child expectant mother is refusing or has refused to accept any alcohol or other drug abuse services offered to her or is not making or has not made a good faith effort to participate in any alcohol or other drug abuse services offered to her. The order shall specify that the child expectant mother be held in custody under
s. 48.207 (1).
48.19(1)(d)
(d) Circumstances in which a law enforcement officer believes on reasonable grounds that any of the following conditions exists:
