Chapter 302

302.365 Note NOTE: 1987 Wis. Act 394, section 15, which created this section, contains explanatory notes.

302.37 302.37 Maintenance of jail and care of prisoners.

302.37(1) (1) 

302.37(1)(a) (a) The sheriff or other keeper of a jail shall constantly keep it clean and in a healthful condition and pay strict attention to the personal cleanliness of the prisoners and shall cause the clothing of each prisoner to be properly laundered. The sheriff or keeper shall furnish each prisoner with clean water, towels and bedding. The sheriff or keeper shall serve each prisoner 3 times daily with enough well-cooked, wholesome food. The county board shall prescribe an adequate diet for the prisoners in the county jail.

302.37(1)(b) (b) The keeper of a lockup facility shall constantly keep it clean and in a healthful condition and pay strict attention to the personal cleanliness of the prisoners. The keeper shall serve each prisoner with clean water, towels and food.

302.37(2) (2) Except as provided in s. 302.375 (2m), neither the sheriff or other keeper of any jail nor any other person shall give, sell or deliver to any prisoner for any cause whatever any alcohol beverages unless a physician certifies in writing that the health of the prisoner requires it, in which case the prisoner may be allowed the quantity prescribed.

302.37(3) (3) 

302.37(3)(a) (a) The county or municipality shall furnish its jail with necessary bedding, clothing, toilet facilities, light and heat for prisoners.

302.37(3)(b) (b) The owner of a lockup facility shall furnish toilet facilities, light and heat for prisoners.

302.37(4) (4) The sheriff or other keeper of a jail may use without compensation the labor of any prisoner sentenced to actual confinement in the county jail or, with the prisoner’s consent, any other prisoner in the maintaining of and the housekeeping of the jail, including the property on which it stands. Any prisoner who escapes while working on the grounds outside the jail enclosure shall be punished as provided in s. 946.42.

302.37 History History: 1979 c. 34; 1981 c. 79 s. 17; 1985 a. 167; 1989 a. 31 s. 1653; Stats. 1989 s. 302.37; 1991 a. 316; 1993 a. 213; 2005 a. 67.

302.372 302.372 Prisoner reimbursement to a county.

302.372(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

302.372(1)(a) (a) “Jail” includes a house of correction, Huber facility under s. 303.09 or a work camp under s. 303.10.

302.372(1)(b) (b) “Jailer” includes a sheriff, superintendent or other keeper of a jail.

302.372(2) (2) Reimbursement of expenses; county option.

302.372(2)(a) (a) Except as provided in pars. (c) and (d), a county may seek reimbursement for any expenses incurred by the county in relation to the crime for which a person was sentenced to a county jail, or for which the person was placed on probation and confined in jail, as follows:

302.372(2)(a)1. 1. From each person who is or was a prisoner, not more than the actual per-day cost of maintaining that prisoner, as set by the county board by ordinance, for the entire period of time that the person is or was confined in the jail, including any period of pretrial detention.

302.372(2)(a)2. 2. To investigate the financial status of the person.

302.372(2)(a)3. 3. Any other expenses incurred by the county in order to collect payments under this section.

302.372(2)(b) (b) Before seeking any reimbursement under this section, the county shall provide a form to be used for determining the financial status of prisoners. The form shall provide for obtaining the social security number of the prisoner, the age and marital status of a prisoner, the number and ages of children of a prisoner, the number and ages of other dependents of a prisoner, the income of a prisoner, type and value of real estate owned by a prisoner, type and value of personal property owned by a prisoner, the prisoner’s cash and financial institution accounts, type and value of the prisoner’s investments, pensions and annuities and any other personalty of significant cash value owned by a prisoner. The county shall use the form whenever investigating the financial status of prisoners. The information on a completed form is confidential and not open to public inspection or copying under s. 19.35 (1), except that the county shall provide the name and address of an individual, the name and address of the individual’s employer and financial information related to the individual from a form completed under this paragraph in response to a request for information under s. 49.22 (2m) made by the department of children and families or a county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5).

302.372(2)(c) (c) This section applies to expenses incurred on or after May 9, 1996.

302.372(2)(d) (d) The jailer or the county shall choose, for each prisoner, whether to seek reimbursement under this section or as otherwise provided in chs. 301 to 303, but may not collect for the same expenses twice. The jailer or the county may choose to seek reimbursement for the expenses under sub. (2) (a) using the method under sub. (5), using the method under sub. (6), or certifying the expenses as a debt pursuant to s. 71.935 (2) under sub. (7), or a combination of methods, but may not seek reimbursement for the same expenses twice.

302.372(3) (3) List of prisoners; information; reports. Upon request of the district attorney or the corporation counsel for the county, the jailer shall provide the district attorney or corporation counsel with a list containing the name of each sentenced prisoner or prisoner confined as a condition of probation, the term of sentence or confinement, and the date of admission, together with information regarding the financial status of each prisoner to enable the county to obtain reimbursement under this section.

302.372(4) (4) Prisoner cooperation. A prisoner in a jail shall cooperate with the county in seeking reimbursement under this section for expenses incurred by the county for that prisoner. A prisoner who intentionally refuses to cooperate under this subsection may not earn good time credit under s. 302.43 or diminution of sentence under s. 303.19 (3). If the prisoner is confined as a condition of probation, refusal to cooperate is a ground for revocation of probation.

302.372(5) (5) Charge to obtain reimbursement. The jailer may charge a prisoner for the expenses under sub. (2) (a) while he or she is a prisoner. If the jailer maintains an institutional account for a prisoner’s use for payment for items from canteen, vending or similar services, the jailer may make deductions from the account to pay for the expenses under sub. (2) (a). Any money collected under this subsection shall be deposited in the county treasury.

302.372(6) (6) Action to obtain reimbursement.

302.372(6)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (am) or sub. (7), within 12 months after the release of a prisoner from jail, the county where the jail is located shall commence a civil action in circuit court to obtain a judgment for the expenses under sub. (2) (a) or be barred. The jailer shall provide any assistance that the county requests related to an action under this subsection.

302.372(6)(am) (am) Except as provided in sub. (7), within 24 months after the release of a prisoner from jail, the county where the jail is located shall commence a civil action in circuit court to obtain a judgment for the medical expenses associated with the prisoner under sub. (2) (a) or be barred. The jailer shall provide any assistance that the county requests related to an action under this subsection.

302.372(6)(b) (b) An action commenced under this subsection shall be commenced in the county where the jail is located or in the county where the defendant resides.

302.372(6)(c) (c) The complaint in an action commenced under this subsection shall include the date and place of the sentence, the length of time of the sentence, the length of time actually served in the jail and the amount of expenses incurred by the county under sub. (2) (a).

302.372(6)(d) (d) Before entering a judgment for the county, the court shall consider any legal obligations of the defendant for support or maintenance under ch. 767 and any moral obligation of the defendant to support dependents and may reduce the amount of the judgment entered for the county based on those obligations.

302.372(6)(e) (e) Any money obtained as the result of an action commenced under this subsection shall be deposited in the county treasury.

302.372(7) (7) Debt certification to obtain reimbursement.

302.372(7)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), the county where the jail is located may obtain reimbursement by proceeding under s. 71.935 and certifying as a debt pursuant to s. 71.935 (2), within 12 months after the release of a prisoner from jail, the amount of expenses incurred by the county under sub. (2) (a). Any money obtained as the result of an action commenced under this subsection shall be deposited in the county treasury.

302.372(7)(b) (b) The county where the jail is located may obtain reimbursement by proceeding under s. 71.935 and certifying as a debt pursuant to s. 71.935 (2), within 24 months after the release of a prisoner from jail, the amount of medical expenses associated with the prisoner and incurred by the county under sub. (2) (a). Any money obtained as the result of an action commenced under this subsection shall be deposited in the county treasury.

302.372 History History: 1995 a. 281; 1997 a. 191; 1999 a. 32; 2007 a. 20; 2013 a. 315.

302.373 302.373 Prisoner reimbursement to municipality.

302.373(1) (1) In this section:

302.373(1)(a) (a) “Jail” means a county jail, a rehabilitation facility established by s. 59.53 (8), or a county house of correction under s. 303.16.

302.373(1)(b) (b) “Prisoner” means a person who is incarcerated in a jail by court order under s. 800.095 (1) (b).

302.373(2) (2) 

302.373(2)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), a city, village, or town may seek reimbursement from the prisoner for the amount paid to a county under s. 800.095 (1) (d) for the expenses incurred by the county to incarcerate the prisoner.

302.373(2)(b) (b) This section applies to expenses incurred after June 3, 2003.

302.373(3) (3) Within 12 months after the release of a prisoner from jail, the city, village, or town shall commence a civil action in circuit court to obtain a judgment for the amount paid to the county under sub. (2) or be barred.

302.373(4) (4) Before entering a judgment in an action under sub. (3) for a city, village, or town, the court shall consider any legal obligations of the defendant for support or maintenance under ch. 767 and any moral obligation of the defendant to support dependents and may reduce the amount of the judgment entered for the city, village, or town based on those obligations.

302.373 History History: 2003 a. 28; 2009 a. 402.

302.375 302.375 Restrictions on liquor and dangerous drugs; placement of prisoners.

302.375(1g) (1g) In this section:

302.375(1g)(a) (a) “Controlled substance” has the meaning given in s. 961.01 (4).

302.375(1g)(am) (am) “Controlled substance analog” has the meaning given in s. 961.01 (4m).

302.375(1g)(b) (b) “Precinct” means a place where any activity is conducted by the prison, jail or house of correction.

302.375(1m) (1m) Except as provided in sub. (2m), any sheriff, jailer or keeper of any prison, jail or house of correction or any other person who does any of the following with respect to a prisoner within the precincts of any prison, jail or house of correction shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than 9 months or both:

302.375(1m)(a) (a) Sells, gives or delivers any intoxicating liquor to the prisoner.

302.375(1m)(b) (b) Willfully permits a prisoner to have any controlled substance, controlled substance analog or intoxicating liquor.

302.375(1m)(c) (c) Has within his or her possession in the prison, jail or house of correction any intoxicating liquor, with intent to sell, give or deliver the liquor to the prisoner.

302.375(2) (2) Except as provided in sub. (2m), any prisoner who uses intoxicating liquor in violation of s. 302.37 (2) shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than 9 months or both.

302.375(2m) (2m) A member of the clergy may possess no more than 2 ounces of wine in a prison, jail, or house of correction if he or she intends to use it in a religious service. A member of the clergy may give or deliver a reasonable amount of wine to an inmate and an inmate may consume that wine as part of a religious service. The department is not required to purchase or store wine for an inmate, a chaplain, or any other member of the clergy who is acting under this subsection.

302.375(3) (3) 

302.375(3)(a) (a) Any sheriff, jailer or keeper of any prison, jail or house of correction or any other person who places, keeps together or knowingly permits to be kept together prisoners of different sexes within the precincts of any prison, jail or house of correction shall be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned not more than 6 months or both.

302.375(3)(b) (b) Notwithstanding par. (a), the sheriff, jailer or keeper may permit prisoners of different sexes to participate together in treatment or in educational, vocational, religious or athletic activities or to eat together, under such supervision as the sheriff, jailer or keeper deems necessary.

302.375 History History: 1977 c. 337; 1979 c. 116; 1983 a. 185; 1989 a. 31 s. 1654; Stats. 1989 s. 302.375; 1995 a. 448; 2001 a. 103; 2005 a. 67; 2021 a. 240 s. 30.

302.38 302.38 Medical care of prisoners.

302.38(1) (1) If a prisoner needs medical or hospital care or is intoxicated or incapacitated by alcohol or another drug the sheriff, superintendent or other keeper of the jail or house of correction shall provide appropriate care or treatment and may transfer the prisoner to a hospital or to an approved treatment facility under s. 51.45 (2) (b) and (c), making provision for the security of the prisoner. The sheriff, superintendent or other keeper may provide appropriate care or treatment under this subsection for a prisoner under 18 years of age and may transfer a prisoner under 18 years of age under this subsection without obtaining the consent of the prisoner’s parent, guardian or legal custodian. The sheriff, superintendent or other keeper may charge a prisoner for the costs of providing medical care to the prisoner while he or she is in the jail or house of correction. If the sheriff or other keeper maintains a personal money account for an inmate’s use for payment for items from canteen, vending or similar services, the sheriff or other keeper may make deductions from the account to pay for the charges under this subsection.

302.38(2) (2) The prisoner is liable for the costs of medical and hospital care outside of the jail or house of correction. If the prisoner is unable to pay the costs, the county shall pay the costs in the case of persons held under the state criminal laws or for contempt of court and, except as provided in s. 302.336 (2) and (3) (b), a municipality shall pay the costs in the case of persons held under municipal ordinance by the municipality.

302.38(3) (3) The maximum amount that a governmental unit may pay for the costs of medical or hospital care under this section is limited for that care to the amount payable by medical assistance under subch. IV of ch. 49, excluding ss. 49.468 and 49.471 (11), for care for which a medical assistance rate exists. No provider of medical or hospital care may bill a prisoner under sub. (1) for the cost of care exceeding the amount paid under this subsection by the governmental unit. If no medical assistance rate exists for the care provided, there is no limitation under this subsection.

302.38(4) (4) The governmental unit paying the costs of medical or hospital care under this section, regardless of whether the care is provided in or out of the jail or house of correction, may collect the value of the same from the prisoner or the prisoner’s estate. If applicable, the governmental unit may proceed to collect under this section or may seek reimbursement under s. 302.372, but may not collect for the same expenses twice.

302.38(5) (5) This section does not require the sheriff, superintendent or keeper of the jail or house of correction to provide or arrange for the provision of appropriate care or treatment if the prisoner refuses appropriate care or treatment.

302.38 History History: 1973 c. 198; 1987 a. 27, 269; 1989 a. 31 s. 1655c, 1656d; Stats. 1989 s. 302.38; 1989 a. 261, 359; 1995 a. 27, 43, 281, 352; 1997 a. 35; 2007 a. 20; 2017 a. 34.

302.38 Annotation Appropriate medical care for prisoners is mandatory under this section, but sheriffs have the discretion as to how to provide that care. Swatek v. County of Dane, 192 Wis. 2d 47, 531 N.W.2d 45 (1995).

302.38 Annotation When charges against a prisoner were dismissed after the prisoner was admitted to a hospital for medical care, the prisoner lost the status as “a person held under the state criminal laws” under sub. (2). The county was no longer liable for medical costs incurred after the charges were dismissed. The prisoner’s status did not change when the Department of Corrections issued an apprehension request for the prisoner. Meriter Hospital, Inc. v. Dane County, 2004 WI 145, 277 Wis. 2d 1, 689 N.W.2d 627, 02-2837.

302.38 Annotation Sub. (1) does not confer a constitutionally protected substantive property right in an inmate’s prescription medication. An inmate denied medication need not have been afforded procedural due process either before or after the deprivation. Ledford v. Sullivan, 105 F.3d 354 (1997).

302.381 302.381 Emergency services for crisis intervention for prisoners. The costs of providing emergency services for crisis intervention for prisoners of a jail or house of correction with medical illnesses or disabilities, mental illnesses, developmental disabilities or alcohol or other drug abuse problems are payable according to the criteria under s. 302.38 (2). If applicable, a county may seek payment under this section or seek reimbursement under s. 302.372, but may not collect for the same expenses twice.

302.381 History History: 1987 a. 394; 1989 a. 31 s. 1657; Stats. 1989 s. 302.381; 1995 a. 281.

302.383 302.383 Mental health treatment of prisoners.

302.383(2) (2) On or before January 30 annually, the sheriff or other keeper of a jail or house of correction shall report to the department on all of the following for the previous calendar year:

302.383(2)(a) (a) The number of prisoners from the jail or house of correction who were transferred to a state treatment facility and the number who were transferred to a county treatment facility under each of the following:

302.383(2)(a)1. 1. A commitment under s. 51.20 (1) (a).

302.383(2)(a)3. 3. A voluntary transfer under s. 51.37 (5).

302.383(2)(a)4. 4. An emergency transfer under s. 51.37 (5).

302.383(2)(b) (b) The length of stay in the treatment facility of each prisoner reported under par. (a).

302.383(3) (3) The report under sub. (2) shall include a description of the mental health services that are available to prisoners on either a voluntary or involuntary basis.

302.383 History History: 1987 a. 394; 1989 a. 31 s. 1658; Stats. 1989 s. 302.383; 2009 a. 260.

302.383 Note NOTE: 1987 Wis. Act 394, which created this section, contains explanatory notes.

302.384 302.384 Procedure if a prisoner refuses appropriate care or treatment.

302.384(1m) (1m) In this section, “health care professional” means a person licensed, certified, or registered under ch. 441, 448, or 455; or a person who holds a compact privilege under subch. XI of ch. 448; or a psychologist who is exercising the temporary authorization to practice, as defined in s. 455.50 (2) (o), in this state or who is practicing under the authority to practice interjurisdictional telepsychology, as defined in s. 455.50 (2) (b).

302.384 Note NOTE: Sub. (1m) is shown as affected by 2021 Wis. Acts 131 and 240 and as merged by the legislative reference bureau under s. 13.92 (2) (i). The cross-reference to subch. XI of ch. 448 was changed from subch. X of ch. 448 by the legislative reference bureau under s. 13.92 (1) (bm) 2. to reflect the renumbering under s. 13.92 (1) (bm) 2. of subch. X of ch. 448.

302.384(2m) (2m) A sheriff, jailer, keeper of any prison, jail or house of correction and the arresting officer are immune from civil liability for any acts or omissions that occur as the result of a good faith effort to allow a prisoner to refuse appropriate care or treatment if all of the following occur:

302.384(2m)(a) (a) A sheriff, jailer, keeper or officer arranges for a health care professional to observe the prisoner.