Ch. 948 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See definitions in s.
939.22.
948.01
948.01
Definitions. In this chapter, the following words and phrases have the designated meanings unless the context of a specific section manifestly requires a different construction:
948.01(1)
(1) "Child" means a person who has not attained the age of 18 years, except that for purposes of prosecuting a person who is alleged to have violated a state or federal criminal law, "child" does not include a person who has attained the age of 17 years.
948.01(1d)
(1d) "Exhibit," with respect to a recording of an image that is not viewable in its recorded form, means to convert the recording of the image into a form in which the image may be viewed.
948.01(2)
(2) "Mental harm" means substantial harm to a child's psychological or intellectual functioning which may be evidenced by a substantial degree of certain characteristics of the child including, but not limited to, anxiety, depression, withdrawal or outward aggressive behavior. "Mental harm" may be demonstrated by a substantial and observable change in behavior, emotional response or cognition that is not within the normal range for the child's age and stage of development.
948.01(3)
(3) "Person responsible for the child's welfare" includes the child's parent; stepparent; guardian; foster parent; treatment foster parent; an employee of a public or private residential home, institution or agency; other person legally responsible for the child's welfare in a residential setting; or a person employed by one legally responsible for the child's welfare to exercise temporary control or care for the child.
948.01(3r)
(3r) "Recording" includes the creation of a reproduction of an image or a sound or the storage of data representing an image or a sound.
948.01(4)
(4) "Sadomasochistic abuse" means the infliction of force, pain or violence upon a person for the purpose of sexual arousal or gratification.
948.01(5)
(5) "Sexual contact" means any of the following:
948.01(5)(a)
(a) 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 sexually humiliating the complainant or sexually arousing or gratifying the defendant.
948.01(5)(b)
(b) 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.
948.01(6)
(6) "Sexual intercourse" means vulvar penetration 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.
948.01(7)
(7) "Sexually explicit conduct" means actual or simulated:
948.01(7)(a)
(a) Sexual intercourse, meaning vulvar penetration 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 a person or upon the person's instruction. The emission of semen is not required;
948.01(7)(d)
(d) Sexual sadism or sexual masochistic abuse including, but not limited to, flagellation, torture or bondage; or
948.01 Annotation
Instructions were proper that told the jury that "lewd" under sub. (7) (e), when applied to photographs, is not mere nudity but requires the display of the genital area and sexual suggestiveness as determined by the jury in the use of common sense. State v. Petrone,
161 Wis. 2d 530,
468 N.W.2d 676 (1991).
948.01 Annotation
When a defendant allows sexual contact initiated by a child, the defendant is guilty of intentional touching as defined in sub. (5). State v. Traylor,
170 Wis. 2d 393,
489 N.W.2d 626 (Ct. App. 1992).
948.01 Annotation
The definition of "parent" in sub. (3) is all-inclusive; a defendant whose paternity was admitted but had never been adjudged was a "parent." State v. Evans,
171 Wis. 2d 471,
492 N.W.2d 141 (1992).
948.01 Annotation
A live-in boyfriend can be a person responsible for the welfare of a child under sub. (3) if he was used by the child's legal guardian as a caretaker for the child. State v. Sostre,
198 Wis. 2d 409,
542 N.W.2d 774 (1996).
948.01 Annotation
The phrase "by the defendant or upon the defendant's instruction" in sub. (6) modifies the entire list of acts and establishes that for intercourse to occur the defendant either had to perform one of the actions on the victim or instruct the victim to perform one of the actions on himself or herself. State v. Olson, 2000 WI App 158,
238 Wis. 2d 74,
616 N.W.2d 144.
948.015
948.015
Other offenses against children. In addition to the offenses under this chapter, offenses against children include, but are not limited to, the following:
948.015(3)
(3) Section 125.07, relating to furnishing alcohol beverages to underage persons.
948.015(5)
(5) Section 254.12, relating to applying lead-bearing paints or selling or transferring a fixture or other object containing a lead-bearing paint.
948.015(6)
(6) Sections 961.01 (6) and
(9) and
961.49, relating to delivering and distributing controlled substances or controlled substance analogs to children.
948.02
948.02
Sexual assault of a child. 948.02(1)
(1)
First degree sexual assault. Whoever has sexual contact or sexual intercourse with a person who has not attained the age of 13 years is guilty of a Class B felony.
948.02(2)
(2) Second degree sexual assault. Whoever has sexual contact or sexual intercourse with a person who has not attained the age of 16 years is guilty of a Class C felony.
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) Second degree sexual assault. Whoever has sexual contact or sexual intercourse with a person who has not attained the age of 16 years is guilty of a Class BC felony.
948.02(3)
(3) Failure to act. A person responsible for the welfare of a child who has not attained the age of 16 years is guilty of a Class F felony if that person has knowledge that another person intends to have, is having or has had sexual intercourse or sexual contact with the child, is physically and emotionally capable of taking action which will prevent the intercourse or contact from taking place or being repeated, fails to take that action and the failure to act exposes the child to an unreasonable risk that intercourse or contact may occur between the child and the other person or facilitates the intercourse or contact that does occur between the child and the other person.
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) Failure to act. A person responsible for the welfare of a child who has not attained the age of 16 years is guilty of a Class C felony if that person has knowledge that another person intends to have, is having or has had sexual intercourse or sexual contact with the child, is physically and emotionally capable of taking action which will prevent the intercourse or contact from taking place or being repeated, fails to take that action and the failure to act exposes the child to an unreasonable risk that intercourse or contact may occur between the child and the other person or facilitates the intercourse or contact that does occur between the child and the other person.
948.02(3m)
(3m) Penalty enhancement; sexual assault by certain persons. If a person violates
sub. (1) or
(2) and the person is responsible for the welfare of the child who is the victim of the violation, the maximum term of imprisonment may be increased by not more than 5 years.
948.02(4)
(4) 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.
948.02(5)
(5) Death of victim. This section applies whether a victim is dead or alive at the time of the sexual contact or sexual intercourse.
948.02 Annotation
Relevant evidence in child sexual assault cases is discussed. In Interest of Michael R.B.
175 Wis. 2d 713,
499 N.W.2d 641 (1993).
948.02 Annotation
Limits relating to expert testimony regarding child sex abuse victims is discussed. State v. Hernandez,
192 Wis. 2d 251,
531 N.W.2d 348 (Ct. App. 1995).
948.02 Annotation
The criminalization, under sub. (2), of consensual sexual relations with a child does not violate the defendant's constitutionally protected privacy rights. State v. Fisher,
211 Wis. 2d 664,
565 N.W.2d 565 (Ct. App. 1997).
948.02 Annotation
Second degree sexual assault under sub. (2) is a lesser included offense of first degree sexual assault under sub. (1). State v. Moua,
215 Wis. 2d 510,
573 N.W.2d 210 (Ct. App. 1997).
948.02 Annotation
For a guilty plea to a sexual assault charge to be knowingly made, a defendant need not be informed of the potential of being required to register as a convicted sex offender under s. 301.45 or that failure to register could result in imprisonment, as the commitment is a collateral, not direct, consequence of the plea. State v. Bollig, 2000 WI 6,
232 Wis. 2d 561,
605 N.W.2d 199.
948.02 Annotation
Expert evidence of sexual immaturity is relevant to a preadolescent's affirmative defense that he or she is not capable of having sexual contact with the purpose of becoming sexually aroused or gratified. State v. Stephen T. 2002 WI App 3,
250 Wis. 2d 26,
643 N.W.2d 151.
948.02 AnnotationThe constitutionality of this statute is upheld. Sweeney v. Smith,
9 F. Supp. 2d 1026 (1998).
948.025
948.025
Engaging in repeated acts of sexual assault of the same child. 948.025(1)(1) Whoever commits 3 or more violations under
s. 948.02 (1) or
(2) within a specified period of time involving the same child is guilty of:
Effective date note
NOTE: Sub. (1) is shown as affected eff. 2-1-03 by
2001 Wis. Act 109. Prior to 2-1-03 it reads:
Effective date text
(1) Whoever commits 3 or more violations under s. 948.02 (1) or (2) within a specified period of time involving the same child is guilty of a Class B felony.
948.025(2)(a)(a) If an action under
sub. (1) (a) is tried to a jury, in order to find the defendant guilty the members of the jury must unanimously agree that at least 3 violations of
s. 948.02 (1) occurred within the specified period of time but need not agree on which acts constitute the requisite number.
948.025(2)(b)
(b) If an action under
sub. (1) (b) is tried to a jury, in order to find the defendant guilty the members of the jury must unanimously agree that at least 3 violations of
s. 948.02 (1) or
(2) occurred within the specified period of time but need not agree on which acts constitute the requisite number and need not agree on whether a particular violation was a violation of
s. 948.02 (1) or
(2).
Effective date note
NOTE: Sub. (2) is shown as affected eff. 2-1-03 by
2001 Wis. Act 109. Prior to 2-1-03 it reads:
948.025 Note
(2) If an action under sub. (1) is tried to a jury, in order to find the defendant guilty the members of the jury must unanimously agree that at least 3 violations occurred within the time period applicable under sub. (1) but need not agree on which acts constitute the requisite number.
948.025(2m)
(2m) If a person violates
sub. (1) and the person is responsible for the welfare of the child who is the victim of the violation, the maximum term of imprisonment may be increased by not more than 5 years.
948.025(3)
(3) The state may not charge in the same action a defendant with a violation of this section and with a felony violation involving the same child under
ch. 944 or a violation involving the same child under
s. 948.02,
948.05,
948.06,
948.07,
948.075,
948.08,
948.10,
948.11, or
948.12, unless the other violation occurred outside of the time period applicable under
sub. (1). This subsection does not prohibit a conviction for an included crime under
s. 939.66 when the defendant is charged with a violation of this section.
948.025 Annotation
This section does not violate the right to a unanimous verdict or to due process. State v. Johnson, 2001 WI 52,
243 Wis. 2d 365,
627 N.W. 2d 455.
948.03
948.03
Physical abuse of a child. 948.03(1)
(1)
Definitions. In this section, "recklessly" means conduct which creates a situation of unreasonable risk of harm to and demonstrates a conscious disregard for the safety of the child.
948.03(2)
(2) Intentional causation of bodily harm. 948.03(2)(a)(a) Whoever intentionally causes great bodily harm to a child is guilty of a Class E felony.
948.03(2)(b)
(b) Whoever intentionally causes bodily harm to a child is guilty of a Class H felony.
948.03(2)(c)
(c) Whoever intentionally causes bodily harm to a child by conduct which creates a high probability of great bodily harm is guilty of a Class F felony.
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) Intentional causation of bodily harm. (a) Whoever intentionally causes great bodily harm to a child is guilty of a Class C felony.
948.03 Note
(b) Whoever intentionally causes bodily harm to a child is guilty of a Class D felony.
948.03 Note
(c) Whoever intentionally causes bodily harm to a child by conduct which creates a high probability of great bodily harm is guilty of a Class C felony.
948.03(3)
(3) Reckless causation of bodily harm. 948.03(3)(a)(a) Whoever recklessly causes great bodily harm to a child is guilty of a Class G felony.
948.03(3)(b)
(b) Whoever recklessly causes bodily harm to a child is guilty of a Class I felony.
948.03(3)(c)
(c) Whoever recklessly causes bodily harm to a child by conduct which creates a high probability of great bodily harm is guilty of a Class H 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) Reckless causation of bodily harm. (a) Whoever recklessly causes great bodily harm to a child is guilty of a Class D felony.
