940.22
940.22
Sexual exploitation by therapist; duty to report. 940.22(1)(a)
(a) "Department" means the department of regulation and licensing.
940.22(1)(e)
(e) "Record" means any document relating to the investigation, assessment and disposition of a report under this section.
940.22(1)(f)
(f) "Reporter" means a therapist who reports suspected sexual contact between his or her patient or client and another therapist.
940.22(1)(h)
(h) "Subject" means the therapist named in a report or record as being suspected of having sexual contact with a patient or client or who has been determined to have engaged in sexual contact with a patient or client.
940.22(1)(i)
(i) "Therapist" means a physician, psychologist, social worker, marriage and family therapist, professional counselor, nurse, chemical dependency counselor, member of the clergy or other person, whether or not licensed or certified by the state, who performs or purports to perform psychotherapy.
940.22(2)
(2) Sexual contact prohibited. Any person who is or who holds himself or herself out to be a therapist and who intentionally has sexual contact with a patient or client during any ongoing therapist-patient or therapist-client relationship, regardless of whether it occurs during any treatment, consultation, interview or examination, is guilty of a Class F felony. Consent is not an issue in an action under this subsection.
Effective date note
NOTE: Sub. (2) is shown as amended eff. 2-1-03 by
2001 Wis. Act 109. Prior to 2-1-03 it reads:
Effective date text
(2) Sexual contact prohibited. Any person who is or who holds himself or herself out to be a therapist and who intentionally has sexual contact with a patient or client during any ongoing therapist-patient or therapist-client relationship, regardless of whether it occurs during any treatment, consultation, interview or examination, is guilty of a Class C felony. Consent is not an issue in an action under this subsection.
940.22(3)(a)(a) If a therapist has reasonable cause to suspect that a patient or client he or she has seen in the course of professional duties is a victim of sexual contact by another therapist or a person who holds himself or herself out to be a therapist in violation of
sub. (2), as soon thereafter as practicable the therapist shall ask the patient or client if he or she wants the therapist to make a report under this subsection. The therapist shall explain that the report need not identify the patient or client as the victim. If the patient or client wants the therapist to make the report, the patient or client shall provide the therapist with a written consent to the report and shall specify whether the patient's or client's identity will be included in the report.
940.22(3)(b)
(b) Within 30 days after a patient or client consents under
par. (a) to a report, the therapist shall report the suspicion to:
940.22(3)(b)1.
1. The department, if the reporter believes the subject of the report is licensed by the state. The department shall promptly communicate the information to the appropriate examining board or affiliated credentialing board.
940.22(3)(b)2.
2. The district attorney for the county in which the sexual contact is likely, in the opinion of the reporter, to have occurred, if
subd. 1. is not applicable.
940.22(3)(c)
(c) A report under this subsection shall contain only information that is necessary to identify the reporter and subject and to express the suspicion that sexual contact has occurred in violation of
sub. (2). The report shall not contain information as to the identity of the alleged victim of sexual contact unless the patient or client requests under
par. (a) that this information be included.
940.22(3)(d)
(d) Whoever intentionally violates this subsection by failing to report as required under
pars. (a) to
(c) is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
940.22(4)
(4) Confidentiality of reports and records. 940.22(4)(a)(a) All reports and records made from reports under
sub. (3) and maintained by the department, examining boards, affiliated credentialing boards, district attorneys and other persons, officials and institutions shall be confidential and are exempt from disclosure under
s. 19.35 (1). Information regarding the identity of a victim or alleged victim of sexual contact by a therapist shall not be disclosed by a reporter or by persons who have received or have access to a report or record unless disclosure is consented to in writing by the victim or alleged victim. The report of information under
sub. (3) and the disclosure of a report or record under this subsection does not violate any person's responsibility for maintaining the confidentiality of patient health care records, as defined in
s. 146.81 (4) and as required under
s. 146.82. Reports and records may be disclosed only to appropriate staff of a district attorney or a law enforcement agency within this state for purposes of investigation or prosecution.
940.22(4)(b)1.1. The department, a district attorney, an examining board or an affiliated credentialing board within this state may exchange information from a report or record on the same subject.
940.22(4)(b)2.
2. If the department receives 2 or more reports under
sub. (3) regarding the same subject, the department shall communicate information from the reports to the appropriate district attorneys and may inform the applicable reporters that another report has been received regarding the same subject.
940.22(4)(b)3.
3. If a district attorney receives 2 or more reports under
sub. (3) regarding the same subject, the district attorney may inform the applicable reporters that another report has been received regarding the same subject.
940.22(4)(b)4.
4. After reporters receive the information under
subd. 2. or
3., they may inform the applicable patients or clients that another report was received regarding the same subject.
940.22(4)(c)
(c) A person to whom a report or record is disclosed under this subsection may not further disclose it, except to the persons and for the purposes specified in this section.
940.22(4)(d)
(d) Whoever intentionally violates this subsection, or permits or encourages the unauthorized dissemination or use of information contained in reports and records made under this section, is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
940.22(5)
(5) Immunity from liability. Any person or institution participating in good faith in the making of a report or record under this section is immune from any civil or criminal liability that results by reason of the action. For the purpose of any civil or criminal action or proceeding, any person reporting under this section is presumed to be acting in good faith. The immunity provided under this subsection does not apply to liability resulting from sexual contact by a therapist with a patient or client.
940.22 Annotation
This section applies to persons engaged in professional therapist-patient relationships. A teacher who conducts informal counseling is not engaged as a professional therapist. State v. Ambrose,
196 Wis. 2d 768,
540 N.W.2d 208 (Ct. App. 1995).
940.225(1)(1)
First degree sexual assault. Whoever does any of the following is guilty of a Class B felony:
940.225(1)(a)
(a) Has sexual contact or sexual intercourse with another person without consent of that person and causes pregnancy or great bodily harm to that person.
940.225(1)(b)
(b) Has sexual contact or sexual intercourse with another person without consent of that person by use or threat of use of a dangerous weapon or any article used or fashioned in a manner to lead the victim reasonably to believe it to be a dangerous weapon.
940.225(1)(c)
(c) Is aided or abetted by one or more other persons and has sexual contact or sexual intercourse with another person without consent of that person by use or threat of force or violence.
940.225(2)
(2) Second degree sexual assault. Whoever does any of the following is guilty of a Class C felony:
Effective date note
NOTE: Sub. (2) (intro.) is shown as amended eff. 2-1-03 by
2001 Wis. Act 109. Prior to 2-1-03 it reads:
Effective date text
(2) Second degree sexual assault. Whoever does any of the following is guilty of a Class BC felony:
940.225(2)(a)
(a) Has sexual contact or sexual intercourse with another person without consent of that person by use or threat of force or violence.
940.225(2)(b)
(b) Has sexual contact or sexual intercourse with another person without consent of that person and causes injury, illness, disease or impairment of a sexual or reproductive organ, or mental anguish requiring psychiatric care for the victim.
940.225(2)(c)
(c) Has sexual contact or sexual intercourse with a person who suffers from a mental illness or deficiency which renders that person temporarily or permanently incapable of appraising the person's conduct, and the defendant knows of such condition.
940.225(2)(cm)
(cm) Has sexual contact or sexual intercourse with a person who is under the influence of an intoxicant to a degree which renders that person incapable of appraising the person's conduct, and the defendant knows of such condition.
940.225(2)(d)
(d) Has sexual contact or sexual intercourse with a person who the defendant knows is unconscious.
940.225(2)(f)
(f) Is aided or abetted by one or more other persons and has sexual contact or sexual intercourse with another person without the consent of that person.
940.225(2)(g)
(g) Is an employee of a facility or program under
s. 940.295 (2) (b),
(c),
(h) or
(k) and has sexual contact or sexual intercourse with a person who is a patient or resident of the facility or program.
940.225(3)
(3) Third degree sexual assault. Whoever has sexual intercourse with a person without the consent of that person is guilty of a Class G felony. Whoever has sexual contact in the manner described in
sub. (5) (b) 2. with a person without the consent of that person is guilty of a Class G felony.
Effective date note
NOTE: Sub. (3) is shown as amended eff. 2-1-03 by
2001 Wis. Act 109. Prior to 2-1-03 it reads:
Effective date text
(3) Third degree sexual assault. Whoever has sexual intercourse with a person without the consent of that person is guilty of a Class D felony. Whoever has sexual contact in the manner described in sub. (5) (b) 2. with a person without the consent of that person is guilty of a Class D felony.
940.225(3m)
(3m) Fourth degree sexual assault. Except as provided in
sub. (3), whoever has sexual contact with a person without the consent of that person is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
940.225(4)
(4) Consent. "Consent", as used in this section, means words or overt actions by a person who is competent to give informed consent indicating a freely given agreement to have sexual intercourse or sexual contact. Consent is not an issue in alleged violations of
sub. (2) (c),
(cm),
(d) and
(g). The following persons are presumed incapable of consent but the presumption may be rebutted by competent evidence, subject to the provisions of
s. 972.11 (2):
940.225(4)(b)
(b) A person suffering from a mental illness or defect which impairs capacity to appraise personal conduct.
940.225(4)(c)
(c) A person who is unconscious or for any other reason is physically unable to communicate unwillingness to an act.
940.225(5)(ai)
(ai) "Intoxicant" means any controlled substance, controlled substance analog or other drug, any combination of a controlled substance, controlled substance analog or other drug or any combination of an alcohol beverage and a controlled substance, controlled substance analog or other drug. "Intoxicant" does not include any alcohol beverage.
940.225(5)(am)
(am) "Patient" means any person who does any of the following:
940.225(5)(am)1.
1. Receives care or treatment from a facility or program under
s. 940.295 (2) (b),
(c),
(h) or
(k), from an employee of a facility or program or from a person providing services under contract with a facility or program.
940.225(5)(am)2.
2. Arrives at a facility or program under
s. 940.295 (2) (b),
(c),
(h) or
(k) for the purpose of receiving care or treatment from a facility or program under
s. 940.295 (2) (b),
(c),
(h) or
(k), from an employee of a facility or program under
s. 940.295 (2) (b),
(c),
(h) or
(k), or from a person providing services under contract with a facility or program under
s. 940.295 (2) (b),
(c),
(h) or
(k).
940.225(5)(b)1.
1. Intentional touching by the complainant or defendant, either directly or through clothing by the use of any body part or object, of the complainant's or defendant's intimate parts if that intentional touching is either for the purpose of sexually degrading; or for the purpose of sexually humiliating the complainant or sexually arousing or gratifying the defendant or if the touching contains the elements of actual or attempted battery under
s. 940.19 (1).
940.225(5)(b)2.
2. Intentional penile ejaculation of ejaculate or intentional emission of urine or feces by the defendant upon any part of the body clothed or unclothed of the complainant if that ejaculation or emission is either for the purpose of sexually degrading or sexually humiliating the complainant or for the purpose of sexually arousing or gratifying the defendant.
940.225(5)(c)
(c) "Sexual intercourse" includes the meaning assigned under
s. 939.22 (36) as well as cunnilingus, fellatio or anal intercourse between persons or any other intrusion, however slight, of any part of a person's body or of any object into the genital or anal opening either by the defendant or upon the defendant's instruction. The emission of semen is not required.
940.225(6)
(6) Marriage not a bar to prosecution. A defendant shall not be presumed to be incapable of violating this section because of marriage to the complainant.
940.225(7)
(7) Death of victim. This section applies whether a victim is dead or alive at the time of the sexual contact or sexual intercourse.
940.225 History
History: 1975 c. 184,
421;
1977 c. 173;
1979 c. 24,
25,
175,
221;
1981 c. 89,
308,
309,
310,
311;
1985 a. 134;
1987 a. 245,
332,
352;
1987 a. 403 ss.
235,
236,
256;
1993 a. 445;
1995 a. 69;
1997 a. 220;
2001 a. 109.
940.225 Annotation
Legislative Council Note, 1981: Presently, [in sub. (5) (a)] the definition of "sexual intercourse" in the sexual assault statute includes any intrusion of any part of a person's body or of any object into the genital or anal opening of another person. This proposal clarifies that the intrusion of the body part or object may be caused by the direct act of the offender (defendant) or may occur as a result of an act by the victim which is done in compliance with instructions of the offender (defendant). [Bill 630-S]
940.225 Annotation
Injury by conduct regardless of life is not a lesser-included crime of first-degree sexual assault. Hagenkord v. State,
94 Wis. 2d 250,
287 N.W.2d 834 (Ct. App. 1979).
940.225 Annotation
Separate acts of sexual intercourse, each different in kind from the others and differently defined in the statutes, constitute separate chargeable offenses. State v. Eisch,
96 Wis. 2d 25,
291 N.W.2d 800 (1980).
940.225 Annotation
The trial court did not err in denying the accused's motions to compel psychiatric examination of the victim and for discovery of the victim's past addresses. State v. Lederer,
99 Wis. 2d 430,
299 N.W.2d 457 (Ct. App. 1980).
940.225 Annotation
The verdict was unanimous in a rape case even though the jury was not required to specify whether the sexual assault was vaginal or oral. State v. Lomagro,
113 Wis. 2d 582,
335 N.W.2d 583 (1983).
940.225 Annotation
A jury instruction that touching the "vaginal area" constituted sexual contact was correct. State v. Morse,
126 Wis. 2d 1,
374 N.W.2d 388 (Ct. App. 1985).
940.225 Annotation
"Unconscious" as used in sub. (2) (d) is a loss of awareness that may be caused by sleep. State v. Curtis,
144 Wis. 2d 691,
424 N.W.2d 719 (Ct. App. 1988).
940.225 Annotation
The probability of exclusion and paternity are generally admissible in a sexual assault action in which the assault allegedly resulted in the birth of a child, but the probability of paternity is not generally admissible. HLA and red blood cell test results showing the paternity index and probability of exclusion were admissible statistics. State v. Hartman,
145 Wis. 2d 1,
426 N.W.2d 320 (1988).
940.225 Annotation
Attempted fourth-degree sexual assault is not an offense under Wisconsin law. State v. Cvorovic,
158 Wis. 2d 630,
462 N.W.2d 897 (Ct. App. 1990).
940.225 Annotation
The "use or threat of force or violence" under sub. (2) (a) does not require that the force be directed toward compelling the victim's submission, but includes forcible contact or the force used as the means of making contact. State v. Bonds,
165 Wis. 2d 27,
477 N.W.2d 265 (1991).
940.225 Annotation
Convictions under both subs. (1) (d) and (2) (d) did not violate double jeopardy. State v. Sauceda,
168 Wis. 2d 486,
485 N.W.2d 1 (1992).
940.225 Annotation
A defendant's lack of intent to make a victim believe that he was armed was irrelevant in finding a violation of sub. (1) (b); if the victim's belief that the defendant was armed was reasonable, that is enough. State v. Hubanks,
173 Wis. 2d 1,
496 N.W.2d 96 (Ct. App. 1992).
940.225 Annotation
Sub. (2) (d) is not unconstitutionally vague. Expert evidence regarding sleep based solely on a hypothetical situation similar, but not identical, to the facts of the case was inadmissible. State v. Pittman,
174 Wis. 2d 255,
496 N.W.2d 74 (1993).
940.225 Annotation
Convictions under both sub. (2) (a) and (e) did not violate double jeopardy. State v. Selmon,
175 Wis. 2d 155,
877 N.W.2d 498 (Ct. App. 1993).
940.225 Annotation
"Great bodily harm" is a distinct element under sub. (1) (a) and need not be caused by the sexual act. State v. Schambow,
176 Wis. 2d 286, N.W.2d (Ct. App. 1993).
940.225 Annotation
Intent is not an element of sub. (2) (a); lack of an intent element does not render this provision constitutionally invalid. State v. Neumann,
179 Wis. 2d 687,
508 N.W.2d 54 (Ct. App. 1993).
940.225 Annotation
A previous use of force, and the victim's resulting fear, was an appropriate basis for finding that a threat of force existed under sub. (2) (a). State v. Speese,
191 Wis. 2d 205,
528 N.W.2d 63 (Ct. App. 1995).
