Chapter 302

302.025(2) (2) Except as provided in sub. (1), service of process within any prison under s. 302.01 on any officer, employee, or inmate of the prison shall be made by the warden or superintendent or some person appointed by the warden or superintendent to serve process.

302.025 History History: 2001 a. 103 s. 262.

302.03 302.03 Oath of office. The wardens and the superintendents of the state correctional institutions, as defined in s. 301.01 (4), shall each take the official oath required by s. 19.01.

302.03 History History: 1989 a. 31 s. 1619; Stats. 1989 s. 302.03; 2021 a. 247.

302.04 302.04 Duties of warden and superintendents. Except as provided in ss. 13.48 (14) (am) and 16.848 (1), the warden or the superintendent of each state prison shall have charge and custody of the prison and all lands, belongings, furniture, implements, stock and provisions and every other species of property within the same or pertaining thereto. The warden or superintendent shall enforce the rules of the department for the administration of the prison and for the government of its officers and the discipline of its inmates.

302.04 History History: 1989 a. 31 s. 1620; Stats. 1989 s. 302.04; 1991 a. 316; 2005 a. 25; 2013 a. 20.

302.04 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. DOC 303, Wis. adm. code.

302.043 302.043 Release of inmates serving risk reduction sentences.

302.043(1) (1) When an inmate who is serving a risk reduction sentence imposed under s. 973.031, 2009 stats., has served not less than 75 percent of the term of confinement portion of his or her sentence under s. 973.01 and the department determines that he or she has completed the programming or treatment under his or her plan and that the inmate maintained a good conduct record during his or her term of confinement, the department shall notify the sentencing court that the inmate has successfully completed the requirements of his or her risk reduction sentence.

302.043(2) (2) Upon receipt of notice under sub. (1), the court shall release the inmate to extended supervision.

302.043(3) (3) Upon receiving a court order releasing the inmate under sub. (2), the department shall release the inmate within 6 working days, as defined in s. 227.01 (14) and as computed in s. 990.001 (4).

302.043(4) (4) A person released under this section, his or her residence, and any property under his or her control may be searched by a law enforcement officer at any time during his or her period of supervision if the officer reasonably suspects that the person is committing, is about to commit, or has committed a crime or a violation of a condition of release to extended supervision. Any search conducted pursuant to this subsection shall be conducted in a reasonable manner and may not be arbitrary, capricious, or harassing. A law enforcement officer who conducts a search pursuant to this subsection shall, as soon as practicable after the search, notify the department.

302.043 History History: 2011 a. 38; 2013 a. 79.

302.045 302.045 Challenge incarceration program.

302.045(1) (1) Program. The department shall provide a challenge incarceration program for inmates selected to participate under sub. (2). The program shall provide participants with manual labor, personal development counseling, substance abuse treatment and education, military drill and ceremony, counseling, and strenuous physical exercise, for participants who have not attained the age of 30 as of the date on which they begin participating in the program, or age-appropriate strenuous physical exercise, for all other participants, in preparation for release on parole or extended supervision. The department shall design the program to include not fewer than 50 participants at a time and so that a participant may complete the program in not more than 180 days. The department may restrict participant privileges as necessary to maintain discipline.

302.045(2) (2) Program eligibility. Except as provided in sub. (4), the department may place any inmate in the challenge incarceration program if the inmate meets all of the following criteria:

302.045(2)(a) (a) The inmate volunteers to participate in the program.

302.045(2)(b) (b) The inmate has not attained the age of 40 as of the date the inmate will begin participating in the program.

302.045(2)(c) (c) The inmate is incarcerated regarding a violation other than a crime specified in ch. 940 or s. 941.29 (1g) (a); a crime specified in s. 941.29 (1g) (b), not including s. 951.02, 951.08, 951.09, or 951.095; or a crime under s. 948.02 (3), 948.055, 948.075, or 948.095.

302.045(2)(cm) (cm) If the inmate is serving a bifurcated sentence imposed under s. 973.01, the sentencing court decided under s. 973.01 (3m) that the inmate is eligible for the challenge incarceration program.

302.045(2)(d) (d) The department determines, during assessment and evaluation, that the inmate has a substance abuse problem.

302.045(2)(e) (e) The department determines that the inmate has no psychological, physical or medical limitations that would preclude participation in the program.

302.045(3) (3) Parole eligibility. Except as provided in sub. (4), if the department determines that an inmate serving a sentence other than one imposed under s. 973.01 has successfully completed the challenge incarceration program, the parole commission shall parole the inmate for that sentence under s. 304.06, regardless of the time the inmate has served. When the parole commission grants parole under this subsection, it must require the parolee to participate in an intensive supervision program for drug abusers as a condition of parole.

302.045(3m) (3m) Release to extended supervision.

302.045(3m)(a) (a) Except as provided in sub. (4), if the department determines that an inmate serving the term of confinement in prison portion of a bifurcated sentence imposed under s. 973.01 has successfully completed the challenge incarceration program, the department shall inform the court that sentenced the inmate.

302.045(3m)(b) (b) Upon being informed by the department under par. (a) that an inmate whom the court sentenced under s. 973.01 has successfully completed the challenge incarceration program, the court shall modify the inmate’s bifurcated sentence as follows:

302.045(3m)(b)1. 1. The court shall reduce the term of confinement in prison portion of the inmate’s bifurcated sentence in a manner that provides for the release of the inmate to extended supervision within 30 days of the date on which the court receives the information from the department under par. (a).

302.045(3m)(b)2. 2. The court shall lengthen the term of extended supervision imposed so that the total length of the bifurcated sentence originally imposed does not change.

302.045(3m)(c) (c) The court may not increase the total length of the bifurcated sentence when modifying a bifurcated sentence under par. (b).

302.045(3m)(d) (d) Upon receiving a court order modifying an inmate’s bifurcated sentence, the department shall release the inmate within 6 working days, as defined in s. 227.01 (14) and as computed in s. 990.001 (4).

302.045(3m)(e) (e) A person released under this subsection, his or her residence, and any property under his or her control may be searched by a law enforcement officer at any time during his or her period of supervision if the officer reasonably suspects that the person is committing, is about to commit, or has committed a crime or a violation of a condition of release to extended supervision. Any search conducted pursuant to this paragraph shall be conducted in a reasonable manner and may not be arbitrary, capricious, or harassing. A law enforcement officer who conducts a search pursuant to this paragraph shall, as soon as practicable after the search, notify the department.

302.045(4) (4) Intensive sanctions program participants. The department may place any intensive sanctions program participant in the challenge incarceration program. The participant is not subject to subs. (2), (3) and (3m).

302.045 History History: 1989 a. 122; 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 218, 227, 491; 1995 a. 456; 1997 a. 283; 2001 a. 109; 2003 a. 33; 2005 a. 277; 2007 a. 116; 2009 a. 28; 2011 a. 38; 2013 a. 79; 2021 a. 227.

302.045 Annotation While an offender must meet the eligibility requirements of sub. (2) to participate in the challenge incarceration program, the trial court must, pursuant to s. 973.01 (3m), also determine if the offender is eligible for the program, in the exercise of its sentencing discretion. State v. Steele, 2001 WI App 160, 246 Wis. 2d 744, 632 N.W.2d 112, 00-2864.

302.045 Annotation Once the trial court has made an eligibility determination, the final placement determination is made by the Department of Corrections. This section provides that, if an inmate meets all of the program eligibility criteria, the department “may” place that inmate in the program. It is not the sentencing court’s function to classify an inmate to a particular institution or program. State v. Schladweiler, 2009 WI App 177, 322 Wis. 2d 642, 777 N.W.2d 114, 08-3119.

302.05 302.05 Wisconsin substance abuse program.

302.05(1) (1) 

302.05(1)(am) (am) The department of corrections and the department of health services may designate a section of a mental health institute as a correctional treatment facility for the treatment of substance abuse of inmates transferred from Wisconsin state prisons. This section shall be administered by the department of corrections and shall be known as the Wisconsin substance abuse program. The department of corrections and the department of health services shall ensure that the residents at the institution and the residents in the substance abuse program:

302.05(1)(am)1. 1. Have access to all facilities that are available at the institution and are necessary for the treatment programs designed by the departments.

302.05(1)(am)2. 2. Are housed on separate wards.

302.05(1)(b) (b) The department of corrections and the department of health services shall, at any correctional facility the departments determine is appropriate, provide a substance abuse treatment program for inmates for the purposes of the program described in sub. (3).

302.05(2) (2) Transfer to a correctional treatment facility for the treatment of substance abuse shall be considered a transfer under s. 302.18.

302.05(3) (3) 

302.05(3)(a) (a) In this subsection, “eligible inmate” means an inmate to whom all of the following apply:

302.05(3)(a)1. 1. The inmate is incarcerated regarding a violation other than a crime specified in ch. 940 or s. 948.02, 948.025, 948.03, 948.05, 948.051, 948.055, 948.06, 948.07, 948.075, 948.08, 948.085, or 948.095.

302.05(3)(a)2. 2. If the inmate is serving a bifurcated sentence imposed under s. 973.01, the sentencing court decided under par. (e) or s. 973.01 (3g) that the inmate is eligible to participate in the earned release program described in this subsection.

302.05(3)(b) (b) Except as provided in par. (d), if the department determines that an eligible inmate serving a sentence other than one imposed under s. 973.01 has successfully completed a treatment program described in sub. (1), the parole commission shall parole the inmate for that sentence under s. 304.06, regardless of the time the inmate has served. If the parole commission grants parole under this paragraph, it shall require the parolee to participate in an intensive supervision program for drug abusers as a condition of parole.

302.05(3)(c) (c)

302.05(3)(c)1. 1. Except as provided in par. (d), if the department determines that an eligible inmate serving the term of confinement in prison portion of a bifurcated sentence imposed under s. 973.01 has successfully completed a treatment program described in sub. (1), the department shall inform the court that sentenced the inmate.

302.05(3)(c)2. 2. Upon being informed by the department under subd. 1. that an inmate whom the court sentenced under s. 973.01 has successfully completed a treatment program described in sub. (1), the court shall modify the inmate’s bifurcated sentence as follows:

302.05(3)(c)2.a. a. The court shall reduce the term of confinement in prison portion of the inmate’s bifurcated sentence in a manner that provides for the release of the inmate to extended supervision within 30 days of the date on which the court receives the information from the department under subd. 1.

302.05(3)(c)2.b. b. The court shall lengthen the term of extended supervision imposed so that the total length of the bifurcated sentence originally imposed does not change.

302.05(3)(c)3. 3. Upon receiving a court order modifying an inmate’s bifurcated sentence, the department shall release the inmate within 6 working days, as defined in s. 227.01 (14) and as computed in s. 990.001 (4).

302.05(3)(c)4. 4. A person released under this paragraph, his or her residence, and any property under his or her control may be searched by a law enforcement officer at any time during his or her period of supervision if the officer reasonably suspects that the person is committing, is about to commit, or has committed a crime or a violation of a condition of release to extended supervision. Any search conducted pursuant to this subdivision shall be conducted in a reasonable manner and may not be arbitrary, capricious, or harassing. A law enforcement officer who conducts a search pursuant to this subdivision shall, as soon as practicable after the search, notify the department.

302.05(3)(d) (d) The department may place intensive sanctions program participants in a treatment program described in sub. (1), but pars. (b) and (c) do not apply to those participants.

302.05(3)(e) (e) If an inmate is serving the term of confinement portion of a bifurcated sentence imposed under s. 973.01, the sentence was imposed before July 26, 2003, and the inmate satisfies the criteria under par. (a) 1., the inmate may, with the department’s approval, petition the sentencing court to determine whether he or she is eligible or ineligible to participate in the earned release program under this subsection during the term of confinement. The inmate shall serve a copy of the petition on the district attorney who prosecuted him or her, and the district attorney may file a written response. The court shall exercise its discretion in granting or denying the inmate’s petition but must do so no later than 90 days after the inmate files the petition. If the court determines under this paragraph that the inmate is eligible to participate in the earned release program, the court shall inform the inmate of the provisions of par. (c).

302.05 History History: 1989 a. 31; 1995 a. 27 s. 9126 (19); 2003 a. 33; 2005 a. 25, 277; 2007 a. 20 ss. 3168, 9121 (6) (a); 2007 a. 116; 2009 a. 28; 2011 a. 38; 2013 a. 79.

302.05 Annotation Excluding persons whose conduct has caused death or great bodily harm in violation of ch. 940 from the opportunity to reduce their periods of confinement by participation in the earned release program is rationally related to the legitimate government purpose of punishing more serious crimes more severely. Sub. (3) (a) does not violate the right to equal protection by precluding participation in the program by violators of ch. 940. State v. Lynch, 2006 WI App 231, 297 Wis. 2d 51, 724 N.W.2d 656, 05-2128.

302.05 Annotation The Department of Corrections approval required by sub. (3) (e) is merely a determination that the petitioner is not statutorily excluded from eligibility for the earned release program. The exercise of discretion as to whether the inmate should be included in program eligibility is a matter for the trial court. State v. Johnson, 2007 WI App 41, 299 Wis. 2d 785, 730 N.W.2d 661, 06-0870.

302.05 Annotation A mandatory minimum term of initial confinement under s. 346.65 (2) (am) 6. must be served in full, regardless of a defendant’s successful completion of the Wisconsin Substance Abuse Program under this section. State v. Gramza, 2020 WI App 81, 395 Wis. 2d 215, 952 N.W.2d 836, 20-0100.

302.055 302.055 Transfer of inmates to resource center. The department may transfer an inmate from a prison, jail or other criminal detention facility to the Wisconsin resource center if there is reason to believe that the inmate is in need of individualized care. The inmate is entitled to a transfer hearing by the department on the transfer to the Wisconsin resource center.

302.055 History History: 1981 c. 20; 1989 a. 31 s. 1622; Stats. 1989 s. 302.055.

302.055 Annotation Discussing rights and responsibilities of counties in prisoner transfers to the Wisconsin resource center. 71 Atty. Gen. 170.

302.06 302.06 Delivery of persons to prisons. The sheriff shall deliver to the reception center designated by the department every person convicted in the county and sentenced to the Wisconsin state prisons or to the intensive sanctions program as soon as may be after sentence, together with a copy of the judgment of conviction. The warden or superintendent shall deliver to the sheriff a receipt acknowledging receipt of the person, naming the person, which receipt the sheriff shall file in the office of the clerk who issued the copy of the judgment of conviction. When transporting or delivering the person to any of the Wisconsin state prisons the sheriff shall be accompanied by an adult of the same sex as the person. If the sheriff and the person are of the same sex, this requirement is satisfied and a 3rd person is not required.

302.06 History History: 1975 c. 94; 1975 c. 189 s. 99 (1); 1975 c. 224 s. 146m; 1989 a. 31 s. 1623; Stats. 1989 s. 302.06; 1991 a. 39.

302.07 302.07 Maintenance of order. The warden or superintendent shall maintain order, enforce obedience, suppress riots and prevent escapes. For such purposes the warden or superintendent may command the aid of the officers of the institution and of persons outside of the prison; and any person who fails to obey such command shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail not more than one year or by a fine not exceeding $500. The warden or superintendent may adopt proper means to capture escaped inmates.

302.07 History History: 1989 a. 31 s. 1624; Stats. 1989 s. 302.07; 1991 a. 316.

302.07 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also chs. DOC 303, 306, 308, 309, and 311, Wis. adm. code.

302.07 Annotation Because administrative segregation is the type of confinement inmates should reasonably anticipate, they have no liberty interest protected by the due process clause in not being placed in administrative segregation. The same applies to adjustment or program segregation. Kirsch v. Endicott, 201 Wis. 2d 705, 549 N.W.2d 761 (Ct. App. 1996), 94-0359.

302.07 Annotation State traffic patrol officers may act as peace officers during a prison riot or other disturbance even when this occurs during a strike of prison guards; they may not, however, perform other duties of guards. 68 Atty. Gen. 104.

302.07 Annotation Correctional staff have the authority of peace officers in pursuing and capturing escaped inmates. 68 Atty. Gen. 352.

302.08 302.08 Humane treatment and punishment. The wardens and the superintendents and all prison officials shall uniformly treat the inmates with kindness. There shall be no corporal or other painful and unusual punishment inflicted upon inmates.

302.08 History History: 1989 a. 31 s. 1625; Stats. 1989 s. 302.08.

302.08 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also chs. DOC 303, 308, 309, and 311, Wis. adm. code.

302.08 Annotation Lawfully incarcerated persons retain only a narrow range of protected liberty interests. Hewitt v. Helms, 459 U.S. 460, 103 S. Ct. 864, 74 L. Ed. 2d 675 (1983).

302.09 302.09 Labor and communications. Inmates shall be employed as provided in ch. 303. Communication shall not be allowed between inmates and any person outside the prison except as prescribed by the prison regulations.

302.09 History History: 1989 a. 31 s. 1626; Stats. s. 302.09.

302.09 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also s. DOC 313.02, Wis. adm. code.

302.09 Annotation The Department of Health and Social Services may be required to justify a refusal to allow a prisoner to write the federal Veterans Administration concerning the adequacy of the prisoner’s medical treatment. State ex rel. Thomas v. State, 55 Wis. 2d 343, 198 N.W.2d 675 (1972).

302.095 302.095 Delivering articles to inmate.

302.095(1) (1) In this section, “jail” means any of the following:

302.095(1)(a) (a) A jail, as defined in s. 302.30.

302.095(1)(b) (b) A house of correction.

302.095(1)(c) (c) A Huber facility under s. 303.09.

302.095(1)(d) (d) A lockup facility, as defined in s. 302.30.

302.095(2) (2) 

302.095(2)(a) (a) Any officer or other person who does any of the following contrary to the rules or regulations and without the knowledge or permission of the sheriff or other keeper of the jail, in the case of a jail, or the warden or superintendent of the prison, in the case of a prison, is guilty of a Class I felony:

302.095(2)(a)1. 1. Delivers, procures to be delivered, or has in his or her possession with intent to deliver to any inmate confined in a jail or state prison, any article or thing whatever, with intent that any inmate confined in the jail or prison shall obtain or receive the same.

302.095(2)(a)2. 2. Deposits or conceals in or about a jail or prison, or the precincts of a jail or prison, or in any vehicle going into the premises belonging to a jail or prison, any article or thing whatever, with intent that any inmate confined in the jail or prison shall obtain or receive the same.