Chapter 946

946.44 946.44 Assisting or permitting escape.

946.44(1) (1) Whoever does the following is guilty of a Class H felony:

946.44(1)(a) (a) Any officer or employee of an institution where prisoners are detained who intentionally permits a prisoner in the officer’s or employee’s custody to escape; or

946.44(1)(b) (b) Whoever with intent to aid any prisoner to escape from custody introduces into the institution where the prisoner is detained or transfers to the prisoner anything adapted or useful in making an escape.

946.44(1g) (1g) Any public officer or public employee who violates sub. (1) (a) or (b) is guilty of a Class F felony.

946.44(1m) (1m) Whoever intentionally introduces into an institution where prisoners are detained or transfers to a prisoner any firearm, whether loaded or unloaded, or any article used or fashioned in a manner to lead another person to believe it is a firearm, is guilty of a Class F felony.

946.44(2) (2) In this section:

946.44(2)(a) (a) “Custody” has the meaning designated in s. 946.42 (1) (a).

946.44(2)(b) (b) “Escape” has the meaning designated in s. 946.42 (1) (b).

946.44(2)(c) (c) “Institution” includes a juvenile correctional facility, as defined in s. 938.02 (10p), a secured residential care center for children and youth, as defined in s. 938.02 (15g), and a Type 2 residential care center for children and youth, as defined in s. 938.02 (19r).

946.44(2)(d) (d) “Prisoner” includes a person who is under the supervision of the department of corrections under s. 938.34 (4h), who is placed in a juvenile correctional facility or a secured residential care center for children and youth under s. 938.183, 938.34 (4m), or 938.357 (4) or (5) (e), or who is placed in a Type 2 residential care center for children and youth under s. 938.34 (4d).

946.44 History History: 1977 c. 173; 1985 a. 320; 1987 a. 27, 236, 238, 403; 1989 a. 31, 107; 1993 a. 16, 377, 385, 486, 491; 1995 a. 27, 77, 352; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 109; 2005 a. 344; 2013 a. 334.

946.45 946.45 Negligently allowing escape.

946.45(1) (1) Any officer or employee of an institution where prisoners are detained who, through his or her neglect of duty, allows a prisoner in his or her custody to escape is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.

946.45(2) (2) In this section:

946.45(2)(a) (a) “Custody” has the meaning designated in s. 946.42 (1) (a).

946.45(2)(b) (b) “Escape” has the meaning designated in s. 946.42 (1) (b).

946.45(2)(c) (c) “Institution” includes a juvenile correctional facility, as defined in s. 938.02 (10p), a secured residential care center for children and youth, as defined in s. 938.02 (15g), and a Type 2 residential care center for children and youth, as defined in s. 938.02 (19r).

946.45(2)(d) (d) “Prisoner” includes a person who is under the supervision of the department of corrections under s. 938.34 (4h), who is placed in a juvenile correctional facility or a secured residential care center for children and youth under s. 938.183, 938.34 (4m) or 938.357 (4) or (5) (e), or who is placed in a Type 2 residential care center for children and youth under s. 938.34 (4d).

946.45 History History: 1977 c. 173; 1985 a. 320; 1987 a. 27, 238; 1989 a. 31, 107; 1993 a. 16, 377, 385, 491; 1995 a. 27, 77, 352; 1999 a. 9; 2005 a. 344; 2013 a. 334.

946.46 946.46 Encouraging violation of probation, extended supervision or parole. Whoever intentionally aids or encourages a parolee, probationer or person on extended supervision or any person committed to the custody or supervision of the department of corrections or a county department under s. 46.215, 46.22 or 46.23 by reason of crime or delinquency to abscond or violate a term or condition of parole, extended supervision or probation is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

946.46 History History: 1971 c. 164 s. 89; 1977 c. 173; 1989 a. 31, 107; 1993 a. 385; 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 283.

946.465 946.465 Refusing or tampering with a global positioning system tracking device.

946.465(1) (1) Refusing a global positioning system tracking device. Whoever, without the authorization of the department of corrections, knowingly refuses, resists, or obstructs the installation of a global positioning system tracking device or comparable technology that is provided under s. 301.48 or 301.49 is guilty of a Class I felony.

946.465(2) (2) Tampering with a global positioning system tracking device. Whoever, without the authorization of the department of corrections, intentionally tampers with, or blocks, diffuses, or prevents the clear reception of, a signal transmitted by, a global positioning system tracking device or comparable technology that is provided under s. 301.48 or 301.49 is guilty of a Class I felony.

946.465 History History: 2005 a. 431; 2007 a. 181; 2011 a. 266; 2021 a. 140.

946.47 946.47 Harboring or aiding felons.

946.47(1) (1) Whoever does either of the following may be penalized as provided in sub. (2m):

946.47(1)(a) (a) With intent to prevent the apprehension of a felon, harbors or aids him or her; or

946.47(1)(b) (b) With intent to prevent the apprehension, prosecution or conviction of a felon, destroys, alters, hides, or disguises physical evidence or places false evidence.

946.47(2) (2) As used in this section “felon” means either of the following:

946.47(2)(a) (a) A person who commits an act within the jurisdiction of this state which constitutes a felony under the law of this state; or

946.47(2)(b) (b) A person who commits an act within the jurisdiction of another state which is punishable by imprisonment for one year or more in a state prison or penitentiary under the law of that state and would, if committed in this state, constitute a felony under the law of this state.

946.47(2m) (2m) Whoever violates sub. (1) is guilty of the following:

946.47(2m)(a) (a) A Class G felony, if the offense committed by the felon being aided is, or would have been if the offense had been committed in this state, any of the following:

946.47(2m)(a)1. 1. A Class A, B, C, or D felony.

946.47(2m)(a)2. 2. An unclassified felony that is punishable by a sentence of life imprisonment.

946.47(2m)(b) (b) A Class I felony, if the offense committed by the felon being aided is, or would have been if the offense had been committed in this state, any of the following:

946.47(2m)(b)1. 1. A Class E, F, G, H, or I felony.

946.47(2m)(b)2. 2. An unclassified felony that is not punishable by a sentence of life imprisonment.

946.47 History History: 1977 c. 173; 1993 a. 486; 1999 a. 162; 2001 a. 109; 2013 a. 254.

946.47 Annotation A person may be a “felon” under sub. (2) (a) even though not convicted of a felony. State v. Jones, 98 Wis. 2d 679, 298 N.W.2d 100 (Ct. App. 1980).

946.47 Annotation The application of this section is not restricted to persons wanted for conduct constituting a felony for which there has been no conviction, but also applies to persons previously convicted of a felony who are sought for other reasons. State v. Schmidt, 221 Wis. 2d 189, 585 N.W.2d 186 (Ct. App. 1998), 97-3131.

946.48 946.48 Kidnapped or missing persons; false information.

946.48(1) (1) Whoever sends, delivers, or causes to be transmitted to another any written or oral communication with intent to induce a false belief that the sender has knowledge of the whereabouts, physical condition, or terms imposed upon the return of a kidnapped or missing person is guilty of a Class H felony.

946.48(2) (2) Violation of this section may be prosecuted in either the county where the communication was sent or the county in which it was received.

946.48 History History: 1977 c. 173; 2001 a. 109.

946.49 946.49 Bail jumping.

946.49(1) (1) Whoever, having been released from custody under ch. 969, intentionally fails to comply with the terms of his or her bond is:

946.49(1)(a) (a) If the offense with which the person is charged is a misdemeanor, guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

946.49(1)(b) (b) If the offense with which the person is charged is a felony, guilty of a Class H felony.

946.49(2) (2) A witness for whom bail has been required under s. 969.01 (3) is guilty of a Class I felony for failure to appear as provided.

946.49 History History: 1977 c. 173; 2001 a. 109.

946.49 Annotation Under sub. (1), a charge underlying a bail-jumping charge is not a lesser-included offense, and punishment for both does not offend double-jeopardy protection. State v. Nelson, 146 Wis. 2d 442, 432 N.W.2d 115 (Ct. App. 1988).

946.49 Annotation Conviction under this section resulting from the conviction for another crime committed while released on bail does not constitute double jeopardy. State v. West, 181 Wis. 2d 792, 512 N.W.2d 207 (Ct. App. 1993).

946.49 Annotation Before a defendant may be convicted of bail jumping under sub. (1), the state must prove three elements: 1) that the defendant was either arrested for, or charged with, a felony or misdemeanor; 2) that the defendant was released from custody on a bond, under conditions established by the trial court; and 3) that the defendant intentionally failed to comply with the terms of the bond, that is, that the defendant knew of the terms of the bond and knew that the defendant’s actions did not comply with those terms. In this case, the defendant was released from custody without bail, and the record was devoid of any evidence that the defendant executed either a secured or unsecured bond before release. Thus, there was insufficient evidence to support two elements of the charged offense of bail jumping. State v. Dawson, 195 Wis. 2d 161, 536 N.W.2d 119 (Ct. App. 1995), 94-2570.

946.49 Annotation A court in sentencing a defendant for a violation of this section may take into account the underlying acts that resulted in the violation. State v. Schordie, 214 Wis. 2d 229, 570 N.W.2d 881 (Ct. App. 1997), 97-0071.

946.49 Annotation Charging a defendant with two counts of bail jumping when the defendant violated multiple conditions of a single bond was not multiplicitous. State v. Anderson, 219 Wis. 2d 739, 580 N.W.2d 329 (1998), 96-0087.

946.49 Annotation A positive urine test was sufficient to establish that the defendant intentionally violated the conditions of a bond prohibiting the use of illegal drugs. State v. Taylor, 226 Wis. 2d 490, 595 N.W.2d 56 (Ct. App. 1999), 98-0962.

946.49 Annotation When the meaning and scope of a bond condition is at issue for purposes of determining whether there is the basis for a criminal charge, the threshold question is whether the bond condition itself covers the defendant’s conduct in the case, and not whether the evidence plausibly establishes that the defendant believed that the defendant was violating the condition. State v. Schaab, 2000 WI App 204, 238 Wis. 2d 598, 617 N.W.2d 872, 99-2203.

946.49 Annotation When a bail jumping charge is premised upon the commission of a further crime, the jury must be properly instructed regarding the elements of that further crime. When a bail jumping charge is premised upon the commission of a lesser-included offense of the further crime, the jury must be properly instructed under the law of lesser-included offenses. State v. Henning, 2003 WI App 54, 261 Wis. 2d 664, 660 N.W.2d 698, 02-1287.

946.49 Annotation Reversed on other grounds. 2004 WI 89, 273 Wis. 2d 352, 681 N.W.2d 871, 02-1287.

946.49 Annotation “Release” refers to the defendant posting the bond, be it signature or cash, and need not be accompanied by the defendant’s physical departure from the jailhouse. In this case, the defendant made bond on a signature bond by signing it, therefore committing himself to its conditions, although the defendant did not post two required cash bonds. While not physically released, the defendant was subject to this section for violating the conditions of the signature bond. State v. Dewitt, 2008 WI App 134, 313 Wis. 2d 794, 758 N.W.2d 201, 07-2869.

946.49 Annotation The defendant’s argument that conviction on two bail-jumping counts was multiplicitous because the preliminary hearings at which the defendant failed to appear were scheduled for the same time and the defendant had signed only one bond for the two underlying cases failed because the counts were different in fact. Proof of notification and failure to appear in one case would not prove notification and failure to appear in the other, making the two charges different in nature and therefore different in fact. State v. Eaglefeathers, 2009 WI App 2, 316 Wis. 2d 152, 762 N.W.2d 690, 07-0845.

946.49 Annotation There is a two-step test to determine when, after being released from custody under ch. 969, a defendant no longer meets the definition of “having been released”: 1) the defendant must be placed in physical custody on the bond at issue; and 2) there must be some court action regarding the bond under which the defendant was previously released. Court action sufficient to meet the second requirement includes the issuance of a bench warrant, the revocation of bond, or the modification of bond such that a defendant cannot obtain release. State v. Jacobs, 2023 WI App 53, 409 Wis. 2d 467, 997 N.W.2d 130, 22-0658.

946.49 Annotation The Use of Wisconsin’s Bail Jumping Statute: A Legal and Quantitative Analysis. Johnson. 2018 WLR 619.

946.495 946.495 Violation of nonsecure custody order. If a person has been placed in nonsecure custody by an intake worker under s. 938.207 or by a judge or circuit court commissioner under s. 938.21 (4) and the person is alleged to be delinquent under s. 938.12, alleged to be in need of protection or services under s. 938.13 (12) or has been taken into custody for committing an act that is a violation of a state or federal criminal law, the person is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor if he or she intentionally fails to comply with the conditions of his or her placement in nonsecure custody.

946.495 History History: 1997 a. 328; 2001 a. 61.

946.50 946.50 Absconding. Any person who is adjudicated delinquent, but who intentionally fails to appear before the court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under chs. 48 and 938 for his or her dispositional hearing under s. 938.335, and who does not return to that court for a dispositional hearing before attaining the age of 17 years is guilty of the following:

946.50(1) (1) A Class A felony, if the person was adjudicated delinquent for committing an act that would be a Class A felony if committed by an adult.

946.50(2) (2) A Class B felony, if the person was adjudicated delinquent for committing an act that would be a Class B felony if committed by an adult.

946.50(3) (3) A Class C felony, if the person was adjudicated delinquent for committing an act that would be a Class C felony if committed by an adult.

946.50(4) (4) A Class D felony, if the person was adjudicated delinquent for committing an act that would be a Class D felony if committed by an adult.

946.50(5) (5) A Class E felony, if the person was adjudicated delinquent for committing an act that would be a Class E felony if committed by an adult.

946.50(5d) (5d) A Class F felony, if the person was adjudicated delinquent for committing an act that would be a Class F felony if committed by an adult.

946.50(5h) (5h) A Class G felony, if the person was adjudicated delinquent for committing an act that would be a Class G felony if committed by an adult.

946.50(5p) (5p) A Class H felony, if the person was adjudicated delinquent for committing an act that would be a Class H felony if committed by an adult.

946.50(5t) (5t) A Class I felony, if the person was adjudicated delinquent for committing an act that would be a Class I felony if committed by an adult.

946.50(6) (6) A Class A misdemeanor, if the person was adjudicated delinquent for committing an act that would be a misdemeanor if committed by an adult.

946.50 History History: 1995 a. 77; 2001 a. 109.

946.52 946.52 Failure to submit biological specimen. Whoever intentionally fails to comply with a requirement to submit a biological specimen under s. 165.76, 165.84 (7), 938.21 (1m), 938.30 (2m), 938.34 (15), 970.02 (8), 973.047, or 980.063 is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

946.52 History History: 2013 a. 20 s. 1922; 2013 Stats. s. 946.52.

subch. V of ch. 946 SUBCHAPTER V

OTHER CRIMES AFFECTING THE
ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNMENT

946.60 946.60 Destruction of documents subject to subpoena.

946.60(1) (1) Whoever intentionally destroys, alters, mutilates, conceals, removes, withholds or transfers possession of a document, knowing that the document has been subpoenaed by a court or by or at the request of a district attorney or the attorney general, is guilty of a Class I felony.

946.60(2) (2) Whoever uses force, threat, intimidation or deception, with intent to cause or induce another person to destroy, alter, mutilate, conceal, remove, withhold or transfer possession of a subpoenaed document, knowing that the document has been subpoenaed by a court or by or at the request of a district attorney or the attorney general, is guilty of a Class I felony.

946.60(3) (3) It is not a defense to a prosecution under this section that:

946.60(3)(a) (a) The document would have been legally privileged or inadmissible in evidence.