Register March 2020 No. 771
Chapter DHS 95
CUSTODY AND CONTROL OF CH. 980, STATS., PATIENTS
Subchapter I — General Provisions
DHS 95.01 Authority and purpose.
Subchapter II — Use of Force
DHS 95.04 Preventing escapes.
DHS 95.05 Pursuing and capturing escapees.
Subchapter III — Other Custody and Control Issues
DHS 95.10 Escorted leaves for chapter 980 patients.
Ch. DHS 95 Note
Note: Chapter HFS 95 was renumbered to chapter DHS 95 under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 1., Stats., and corrections made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register November 2008 No. 635. DHS 95.01(1)
(1) Define the use of “necessary and appropriate force" in relation to preventing escapes and pursuing and capturing persons detained at or committed to a facility, center or unit under
ch. 980, Stats., who have escaped and to establish security standards at facilities housing such persons. Primary security objectives of the department are to protect the public, staff and patients and to afford patients the opportunity to participate in treatment and activities in a safe setting. Every employee of a facility is responsible for the safe custody of patients.
DHS 95.02
DHS 95.02 Applicability. This chapter applies to the secure mental health facility established under s.
46.055, Stats., the Wisconsin resource center established under s.
46.056, Stats., and any secure mental health unit or facility provided by the department of corrections under s.
980.065 (2), Stats.
DHS 95.02 History
History: CR 01-045: cr.
Register January 2002 No. 553, eff. 2-1-02.
DHS 95.03(1)
(1) “
Administrator" means the administrator of the division.
DHS 95.03(2)
(2) “Bodily injury" means physical injury, illness, or any impairment of physical condition.
DHS 95.03(3)
(3) “Department" means the department of health services.
DHS 95.03(4)
(4) “Director" means the superintendent of a facility, or that person's designee.
DHS 95.03(5)
(5) “Disturbance" means a situation caused by a patient that disrupts the normal functioning of the facility, including but not limited to any of the following:
DHS 95.03(5)(c)
(c) The destruction of state property or the property of another by 2 or more patients.
DHS 95.03(5)(d)
(d) The refusal by 2 or more patients, acting in concert, to comply with an order.
DHS 95.03(5)(e)
(e) Any word or acts by two or more patients which incite or encourage other patients to do any of the above.
DHS 95.03(6)
(6) “Division" means the division of care and treatment facilities in the department.
DHS 95.03(7)
(7) “Emergency" means an immediate threat to the safety of the public, staff or patients of the facility. An emergency includes, but is not limited to any of the following:
DHS 95.03(8)
(8) “Facility" means the secure mental health facility established under s.
46.055, Stats., the Wisconsin resource center established under s.
46.056, Stats., or any secure mental health unit or facility provided by the department of corrections under s.
980.065 (2), Stats.
DHS 95.03(9)
(9) “Force" means the exercise of strength or power to overcome resistance or to compel another to act or to refrain from acting in a particular way.
DHS 95.03(10)
(10) “Great bodily injury" means bodily injury which creates a high probability of illness, death or serious permanent disfigurement, or which causes a permanent or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ or other serious bodily injury.
DHS 95.03(12)
(12) “Less than lethal force" means force which the user reasonably believes will not create a substantial risk of causing death or great bodily injury to another.
DHS 95.03(13)
(13) “Lethal force" means force which the user reasonably believes will create a substantial risk of causing death or great bodily injury to another.
DHS 95.03(14)
(14) “Patient" means a person detained at or committed to a facility under
ch. 980, Stats.
DHS 95.03(15)
(15) “Reasonably believes" means that the actor believes that the use of force is necessary in a given situation and such belief is reasonable under the circumstances.
DHS 95.03(15m)
(15m) “Relative" means a parent, son, daughter, grandparent, greatgrandparent, grandchild, stepparent, brother, sister, first cousin, nephew, niece, uncle, or aunt. This relationship shall be by blood, marriage, or adoption.
DHS 95.03(16)
(16) “Secretary" means the secretary of the department.
DHS 95.03(17)
(17) “Security director" means the security director at a facility, or that person's designee.
DHS 95.03(18)
(18) “Strength or power" means the use of physical strength alone or with any device or object, including but not limited to an incapacitating device, firearm, or any other mechanical, electronic or physical object.
DHS 95.03 History
History: CR 01-045: cr.
Register January 2002 No. 553, eff. 2-1-02;
CR 02-112: am. (11) and (13), cr. (15m)
Register March 2003 No. 567, eff. 4-1-03; renumber (12) and (13) under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 1., Stats.,
Register March 2003 No. 567; correction in (3) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 6., Stats.,
Register November 2008 No. 635;
CR 18-066: r. (11) Register March 2020 No. 771, eff. 4-1-20.
DHS 95.04
DHS 95.04 Preventing escapes. The director shall adopt written policies and procedures consistent with this chapter to prevent escapes.
DHS 95.04 History
History: CR 01-045: cr.
Register January 2002 No. 553, eff. 2-1-02.
DHS 95.05
DHS 95.05 Pursuing and capturing escapees. The director shall adopt written policies and procedures consistent with this chapter to pursue and capture escapees. The director may enter agreements with local and state law enforcement agencies to pursue and capture escapees.
DHS 95.05 History
History: CR 01-045: cr.
Register January 2002 No. 553, eff. 2-1-02.
DHS 95.06(1)(a)(a) Policies and procedures. The director shall adopt written policies and procedures that establish an intervention options model of force based on the perceived level of threat to guide staff in the use of force during a disturbance or emergency, to prevent escapes or to pursue and capture escapees. These intervention options shall include staff presence, dialogue, control alternatives, protective alternatives and lethal force. The policies and procedures shall be designed to help ensure that force is only used when necessary and that only the amount of force that is necessary under the circumstances is used.
DHS 95.06(1)(b)
(b) Less than lethal force. Staff may use less than lethal force against patients only if the user reasonably believes that the use of less than lethal force is immediately necessary to achieve any of the following:
DHS 95.06(1)(b)7.
7. Enforce a departmental rule, a facility policy or procedure or an order from a staff member.
DHS 95.06(1)(c)1.1. Staff may use lethal force only if the user reasonably believes that the use of such force is immediately necessary to achieve any of the following:
DHS 95.06(1)(c)1.b.
b. Prevent unlawful damage to property that may result in death or bodily injury to oneself or another.
DHS 95.06(1)(c)1.c.
c. Regain control of a facility or part of a facility when less forceful means of regaining control are unsuccessful or not feasible under the circumstances.
DHS 95.06(1)(c)2.
2. Staff may not use lethal force if its use creates a substantial danger of harm to non-involved third parties, unless the danger created by not using such force is greater than the danger created by using it.
DHS 95.06(1)(d)
(d) Other uses of force prohibited. Force may not be used except as provided in this chapter and under policies and procedures adopted in accordance with this chapter. Force may never be used as a means of disciplining patients.
