Chapter 973

973.12 History History: 1993 a. 289; 2017 a. 145.

973.12 Annotation This section does not authorize two sentences for one crime. State v. Upchurch, 101 Wis. 2d 329, 305 N.W.2d 57 (1981).

973.12 Annotation Because s. 939.62 authorizes penalty enhancement only when the maximum underlying sentence is imposed, the enhancement portion of a sub-maximum sentence was vacated as an abuse of sentencing discretion. State v. Harris, 119 Wis. 2d 612, 350 N.W.2d 633 (1984).

973.12 Annotation A report under sub. (1) must contain critically relevant facts in order to support penalty enhancement. State v. Farr, 119 Wis. 2d 651, 350 N.W.2d 640 (1984).

973.12 Annotation Discussing the effect of consolidation on a repeater allegation. State v. Rachwal, 159 Wis. 2d 494, 465 N.W.2d 490 (1991).

973.12 Annotation No amendment to a charging document to add a repeater allegation may be made after arraignment and acceptance of any plea. State v. Martin, 162 Wis. 2d 883, 470 N.W.2d 900 (1991).

973.12 Annotation A post-plea amendment of a repeater allegation in a charging document that meaningfully changes the basis on which possible punishment can be assessed is barred. State v. Wilks, 165 Wis. 2d 102, 477 N.W.2d 632 (Ct. App. 1991).

973.12 Annotation A guilty plea without a specific admission to repeater allegations is not sufficient to establish the facts necessary to impose the repeater penalty enhancer. State v. Zimmerman, 185 Wis. 2d 549, 518 N.W.2d 303 (Ct. App. 1994).

973.12 Annotation When a defendant does not admit to habitual criminality when entering a no contest plea, the state must prove the alleged repeater status beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Theriault, 187 Wis. 2d 125, 522 N.W.2d 254 (Ct. App. 1994).

973.12 Annotation For a repeater enhancer to apply, the prior conviction must be alleged prior to the entry of a plea, but an error in the information regarding the penalty may be corrected when an amendment will cause no prejudice. State v. Gerard, 189 Wis. 2d 505, 525 N.W.2d 718 (1995).

973.12 Annotation Proof of repeater status must be made prior to sentencing. Judicial notice of prior convictions at a postconviction hearing was improper. State v. Koeppen, 195 Wis. 2d 117, 536 N.W.2d 386 (Ct. App. 1995), 94-2386.

973.12 Annotation Gerard, 189 Wis. 2d 505 (1995), is not limited to clerical errors. If the information correctly alleges a defendant’s repeater status, a post-arraignment amendment to the information does not violate this section as long as it does not affect the sufficiency of the notice to the defendant concerning the defendant’s repeater status. State v. Campbell, 201 Wis. 2d 783, 549 N.W.2d 501 (Ct. App. 1996), 95-2217.

973.12 Annotation The requirements for establishing prior offenses in this section are not applicable to the penalty enhancement provisions under chs. 341 to 349, including drunk driving offenses under s. 346.65 (2) or operating after revocation offenses under s. 343.44 (2). State v. Wideman, 206 Wis. 2d 91, 556 N.W.2d 737 (1996), 95-0852. See also State v. Spaeth, 206 Wis. 2d 135, 556 N.W.2d 728 (1996), 95-1827.

973.12 Annotation Sub. (1) does not require that the period of incarceration under s. 939.62 (2) must be alleged in the charging document. State v. Squires, 211 Wis. 2d 876, 565 N.W.2d 309 (Ct. App. 1997), 96-3302.

973.12 Annotation When the record established that the defendant fully understood the nature of the repeater charge against him, the defendant’s no contest plea to the information, which charged the defendant as a repeater on all counts, constituted an admission under this section. State v. Liebnitz, 231 Wis. 2d 272, 603 N.W.2d 208 (1999), 98-2182.

973.12 Annotation Sub. (1) does not prohibit a defendant from agreeing, after arraignment and entry of a not guilty plea as part of a plea agreement, to amend charging documents to add repeater allegations. State v. Peterson, 2001 WI App 220, 247 Wis. 2d 871, 634 N.W.2d 893, 01-0116.

973.12 Annotation Although the information itself failed to contain sufficient detail to provide proper notice of a repeater allegation in compliance with the statute and Gerard, 189 Wis. 2d 505 (1995), a certified copy of the defendant’s prior convictions, provided at a change of plea hearing, cured the defect. State v. Fields, 2001 WI App 297, 249 Wis. 2d 292, 638 N.W.2d 897, 01-1177.

973.12 Annotation The admissibility of evidence proving prior convictions can be waived when the prosecution submits documentary evidence that on its face is sufficient to show that the defendant is a repeater. State v. Edwards, 2002 WI App 66, 251 Wis. 2d 651, 642 N.W.2d 537, 01-0612.

973.12 Annotation An uncertified copy of a prior judgment of conviction may be used to prove a convicted defendant’s status as a habitual criminal. The rules of evidence do not apply to documents offered during a circuit court’s presentence determination of whether a qualifying prior conviction exists. The state has the burden of proof and must offer proof beyond a reasonable doubt of the conviction. State v. Saunders, 2002 WI 107, 255 Wis. 2d 589, 649 N.W.2d 263, 01-0271.

973.12 Annotation In a complaint that in referring to predicate convictions described the offenses, stated the correct county where the convictions occurred, and cited the case number, but misstated the date of the convictions by only one calendar day, the misstatement did not meaningfully change the basis on which the defendant entered a plea and provided the required notice of the predicate convictions on which the repeater status was based. State v. Stynes, 2003 WI 65, 262 Wis. 2d 335, 665 N.W.2d 115, 02-1143.

973.12 Annotation The state’s use of a Consolidated Court Automation Programs (CCAP) report as evidence of a conviction did not constitute prima facie proof of that conviction. State v. Bonds, 2006 WI 83, 292 Wis. 2d 344, 717 N.W.2d 133, 05-0948. But see State v. LaCount, 2008 WI 59, 310 Wis. 2d 85, 750 N.W.2d 780, 06-0672.

973.12 Annotation Evidence of repeater status may be submitted any time following the jury verdict up until the actual sentencing. State v. Kashney, 2008 WI App 164, 314 Wis. 2d 623, 761 N.W.2d 672, 07-2687.

973.123 973.123 Sentence for certain violent offenses; use of a firearm.

973.123(1) (1) In this section, “violent felony” means any felony under s. 943.23 (1m), 1999 stats., s. 943.23 (1r), 1999 stats., or s. 943.23 (1g), 2021 stats., or s. 940.01, 940.02, 940.03, 940.05, 940.06, 940.08, 940.09, 940.10, 940.19, 940.195, 940.198, 940.20, 940.201, 940.203, 940.204, 940.21, 940.225, 940.23, 940.235, 940.285 (2), 940.29, 940.295 (3), 940.30, 940.302, 940.305, 940.31, 940.43 (1) to (3), 940.45 (1) to (3), 941.20, 941.26, 941.28, 941.29, 941.292, 941.30, 941.327 (2) (b) 3. or 4., 943.02, 943.04, 943.06, 943.10 (2), 943.231 (1), 943.32, 943.87, 946.43, 948.02 (1) or (2), 948.025, 948.03, 948.04, 948.05, 948.051, 948.06, 948.07, 948.08, 948.085, or 948.30.

973.123(2) (2) A court shall impose a bifurcated sentence under s. 973.01 if the court sentences a person for committing a violent felony and the court finds that all of the following are true:

973.123(2)(a) (a) At the time the person committed the violent felony, he or she was subject to s. 941.29 because he or she was convicted of, adjudicated delinquent for, or found not guilty of by reason of mental disease or defect, committing, soliciting, conspiring, or attempting to commit a prior violent felony.

973.123(2)(b) (b) The person used a firearm in the commission of the violent felony for which the court is imposing the sentence.

973.123(3) (3) The confinement portion of a bifurcated sentence imposed pursuant to sub. (2) shall be:

973.123(3)(a) (a) Not less than 5 years if the violent felony is a Class A, Class B, Class C, Class D, Class E, Class F, or Class G felony.

973.123(3)(b) (b) Not less than 3 years if the violent felony is a Class H felony.

973.123(3)(c) (c) Not less than one year and 6 months if the violent felony is a Class I felony.

973.123(4) (4) If a court sentences a person under this section and also imposes a sentence pursuant to s. 941.29 (4m) arising from the same occurrence, the court shall order the person to serve the sentences consecutively.

973.123(5) (5) This section does not apply to sentences imposed after July 1, 2020.

973.123 History History: 2015 a. 109; 2021 a. 76, 209; 2023 a. 10.

973.125 973.125 Notice of lifetime supervision for serious sex offenders.

973.125(1) (1) Whenever a prosecutor decides to seek lifetime supervision under s. 939.615 of a person charged with a serious sex offense specified in s. 939.615 (1) (b) 1., the prosecutor shall, at any time before or at arraignment and before acceptance of any plea, state in the complaint, indictment or information or amendments to the complaint, indictment or information that the prosecution will seek to have the person placed on lifetime supervision under s. 939.615.

973.125(2) (2) Whenever a prosecutor decides to seek lifetime supervision under s. 939.615 of a person charged with a serious sex offense specified in s. 939.615 (1) (b) 2., the prosecutor shall, at any time before or at arraignment and before acceptance of any plea, do all of the following:

973.125(2)(a) (a) State in the complaint, indictment or information or amendments to the complaint, indictment or information that the prosecution will seek to have the person placed on lifetime supervision under s. 939.615.

973.125(2)(b) (b) Allege in the complaint that the violation with which the person is charged is a serious sex offense under s. 939.615 (1) (b) because one of the purposes for the conduct constituting the violation was for the person’s sexual arousal or gratification.

973.125(3) (3) Before accepting a plea, the court may, upon motion of the district attorney, grant a reasonable time to investigate whether lifetime supervision may be necessary for a defendant or whether one of the purposes for the conduct constituting a violation with which a defendant is charged was for the defendant’s sexual arousal or gratification.

973.125 History History: 1997 a. 275.

973.13 973.13 Excessive sentence, errors cured. In any case where the court imposes a maximum penalty in excess of that authorized by law, such excess shall be void and the sentence shall be valid only to the extent of the maximum term authorized by statute and shall stand commuted without further proceedings.

973.13 Annotation This section caps the length of a sentence reduced thereby, but it does not address other aspects or conditions of sentencing. The sentencing court may resentence the defendant if the new sentence is permitted by the law. State v. Holloway, 202 Wis. 2d 694, 551 N.W.2d 841 (Ct. App. 1996), 95-2575.

973.13 Annotation This section commands that all sentences in excess of that authorized by law be declared void, including the repeater portion of a sentence. Prior postconviction motions that failed to challenge the validity of the sentence do not bar seeking relief from faulty repeater sentences. State v. Flowers, 221 Wis. 2d 20, 586 N.W.2d 175 (Ct. App. 1998), 97-3682.

973.13 Annotation To allow the imposition of an unauthorized criminal penalty on the basis of waiver ignores the dictate of this section to alleviate all maximum penalties imposed in excess of that prescribed by law. State v. Hanson, 2001 WI 70, 244 Wis. 2d 405, 628 N.W.2d 759, 99-3142.

973.13 Annotation Flowers, 221 Wis. 2d 20 (1998), holds that neither Escalona-Naranjo, 185 Wis. 2d 168 (1994), nor s. 974.06 (4) bar motions challenging the foundation for the convictions sustaining the habitual criminal status that are properly brought under this section. However, this section as it pertains to sentencing a repeat offender applies only when the state fails to prove the prior conviction necessary to establish the habitual criminal status or when the penalty given is longer than permitted by law for a repeater. State v. Mikulance, 2006 WI App 69, 291 Wis. 2d 494, 713 N.W.2d 160, 05-1120.

973.13 Annotation This section, which commutes a sentence imposed that exceeds the maximum statutory penalty, does not provide a remedy when the sentence initially imposed did not exceed the maximum statutory penalty. State v. Finley, 2016 WI 63, 370 Wis. 2d 402, 882 N.W.2d 761, 14-2488.

973.135 973.135 Courts to report convictions to the state superintendent of public instruction.

973.135(1) (1) In this section:

973.135(1)(a) (a) “Educational agency” has the meaning given in s. 115.31 (1) (b).

973.135(1)(b) (b) “State superintendent” means the state superintendent of public instruction.

973.135(2) (2) If a court determines that a person convicted of a crime specified in ch. 948, including a crime specified in s. 948.015, a felony for which the maximum term of imprisonment is at least 5 years, 4th degree sexual assault under s. 940.225 (3m) or a crime in which the victim was a child, is employed by an educational agency, the clerk of the court in which such conviction occurred shall promptly forward to the state superintendent the record of conviction.

973.135(3) (3) If a conviction under sub. (2) is reversed, set aside or vacated, the clerk of the court shall promptly forward to the state superintendent a certificate stating that the conviction has been reversed, set aside or vacated.

973.135 History History: 1991 a. 42; 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 27, 35.

973.137 973.137 Courts to report convictions to the department of transportation. Upon conviction of a person for any of the following offenses, the clerk of the court in which such conviction occurred shall promptly forward the record of conviction to the department of transportation:

973.137(1) (1) A violation of s. 941.235.

973.137(1m) (1m) A violation of s. 947.015, if the property involved is owned or leased by the state or any political subdivision of the state, or if the property involved is a school premises, as defined in s. 948.61 (1) (c).

973.137(2) (2) A violation of s. 948.605.

973.137 History History: 2003 a. 200.

973.14 973.14 Sentence to house of correction.

973.14(1) (1) In addition to the authority in ss. 302.18 and 303.18, prisoners sentenced to a county jail may be transferred by the sheriff to a house of correction without court approval.

973.14(2) (2) Prisoners confined in the house of correction may be transferred by the superintendent of the house of correction to the county jail without court approval.

973.14(3) (3) A prisoner sentenced to a county jail or the house of correction being held in a county jail awaiting trial on another charge shall be deemed to be serving the county jail or house of correction sentence and shall be given credit on the sentence as provided in s. 302.43 or 303.19.

973.14 History History: 1977 c. 126; 1989 a. 31.

973.15 973.15 Sentence, terms, escapes.

973.15(1) (1) Except as provided in s. 973.032, all sentences to the Wisconsin state prisons shall be for one year or more. Except as otherwise provided in this section, all sentences commence at noon on the day of sentence, but time which elapses after sentence while the convicted offender is at large on bail shall not be computed as any part of the term of imprisonment.

973.15(2) (2) 

973.15(2)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), the court may impose as many sentences as there are convictions and may provide that any such sentence be concurrent with or consecutive to any other sentence imposed at the same time or previously.

973.15(2)(b) (b) The court may not impose a sentence to the intensive sanctions program consecutive to any other sentence. The court may not impose a sentence to the intensive sanctions program concurrent with a sentence imposing imprisonment, except that the court may impose a sentence to the program concurrent with an imposed and stayed imprisonment sentence or with a prison sentence for which the offender has been released on extended supervision or parole. The court may impose concurrent intensive sanctions program sentences. The court may impose an intensive sanctions program sentence concurrent to probation. The court may impose any sentence for an escape from a sentence to the intensive sanctions program concurrent with the sentence to the intensive sanctions program.

973.15(2m) (2m) 

973.15(2m)(a) (a) Definitions. In this subsection:

973.15(2m)(a)1. 1. “Determinate sentence” means a bifurcated sentence imposed under s. 973.01 or a life sentence under which a person is eligible for release to extended supervision under s. 973.014 (1g) (a) 1. or 2.

973.15(2m)(a)2. 2. “Indeterminate sentence” means a sentence to the Wisconsin state prisons other than one of the following:

973.15(2m)(a)2.a. a. A determinate sentence.

973.15(2m)(a)2.b. b. A sentence under which the person is not eligible for release on parole under s. 939.62 (2m) (c) or 973.014 (1) (c).

973.15(2m)(a)3. 3. “Period of confinement in prison,” with respect to any sentence to the Wisconsin state prisons, means any time during which a person is incarcerated under that sentence, including any extensions imposed under s. 302.11 (3), 302.113 (3), or 302.114 (3) and any period of confinement in prison required to be served under s. 302.11 (7) (am), 302.113 (9) (am), or 302.114 (9) (am).

973.15(2m)(b) (b) Determinate sentences imposed to run concurrent with or consecutive to determinate sentences.

973.15(2m)(b)1. 1. If a court provides that a determinate sentence is to run concurrent with another determinate sentence, the person sentenced shall serve the periods of confinement in prison under the sentences concurrently and the terms of extended supervision under the sentences concurrently.

973.15(2m)(b)2. 2. If a court provides that a determinate sentence is to run consecutive to another determinate sentence, the person sentenced shall serve the periods of confinement in prison under the sentences consecutively and the terms of extended supervision under the sentences consecutively and in the order in which the sentences have been pronounced.

973.15(2m)(c) (c) Determinate sentences imposed to run concurrent with or consecutive to indeterminate sentences.

973.15(2m)(c)1. 1. If a court provides that a determinate sentence is to run concurrent with an indeterminate sentence, the person sentenced shall serve the period of confinement in prison under the determinate sentence concurrent with the period of confinement in prison under the indeterminate sentence and the term of extended supervision under the determinate sentence concurrent with the parole portion of the indeterminate sentence.

973.15(2m)(c)2. 2. If a court provides that a determinate sentence is to run consecutive to an indeterminate sentence, the person sentenced shall serve the period of confinement in prison under the determinate sentence consecutive to the period of confinement in prison under the indeterminate sentence.

973.15(2m)(d) (d) Indeterminate sentences imposed to run concurrent with or consecutive to determinate sentences.

973.15(2m)(d)1. 1. If a court provides that an indeterminate sentence is to run concurrent with a determinate sentence, the person sentenced shall serve the period of confinement in prison under the indeterminate sentence concurrent with the period of confinement in prison under the determinate sentence and the parole portion of the indeterminate sentence concurrent with the term of extended supervision required under the determinate sentence.

973.15(2m)(d)2. 2. If a court provides that an indeterminate sentence is to run consecutive to a determinate sentence, the person sentenced shall serve the period of confinement in prison under the indeterminate sentence consecutive to the period of confinement in prison under the determinate sentence.

973.15(2m)(e) (e) Revocation in multiple sentence cases. If a person is serving concurrent determinate sentences and extended supervision is revoked in each case, or if a person is serving a determinate sentence concurrent with an indeterminate sentence and both extended supervision and parole are revoked, the person shall concurrently serve any periods of confinement in prison required under those sentences under s. 302.11 (7) (am), 302.113 (9) (am), or 302.114 (9) (am).

973.15(3) (3) Courts may impose sentences to be served in whole or in part concurrently with a sentence being served or to be served in a federal institution or an institution of another state.

973.15(4) (4) When a court orders a sentence to the Wisconsin state prisons to be served in whole or in part concurrently with a sentence being served or to be served in a federal institution or an institution of another state:

973.15(4)(a) (a) The court shall order the department to immediately inform the appropriate authorities in the jurisdiction where the prior sentence is to be served that the convicted offender is presently available to commence or resume serving that sentence; and