Chapter 950

CHAPTER 950

RIGHTS OF VICTIMS AND WITNESSES OF CRIME

950.01   Legislative intent.

950.02   Definitions.

950.03   Eligibility of victims.

950.04   Basic bill of rights for victims and witnesses.

950.045   Accompaniment by a victim advocate.

950.055   Child victims and witnesses; rights and services.

950.06   Reimbursement for services.

950.07   Intergovernmental cooperation.

950.08   Information and mediation services.

950.09   Crime victims rights board.

950.095   Confidentiality of complaints.

950.10   Limitation on liability; grounds for appeal.

950.105   Standing.

950.11   Penalties.

Ch. 950 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See definitions in s. 939.22.

Ch. 950 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. Jus 12, Wis. adm. code.

950.01 950.01 Legislative intent. In recognition of the civic and moral duty of victims and witnesses of crime to fully and voluntarily cooperate with law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies, and in further recognition of the continuing importance of such citizen cooperation to state and local law enforcement efforts and the general effectiveness and well-being of the criminal justice system of this state, the legislature declares its intent, in this chapter, to ensure that all victims and witnesses of crime are treated with dignity, respect, courtesy and sensitivity; and that the rights extended in this chapter to victims and witnesses of crime are honored and protected by law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and judges in a manner no less vigorous than the protections afforded criminal defendants. This chapter does not prohibit a public official, employee, or agency from sharing information with victim service organizations that are eligible to receive grants under s. 49.165 (2) or 165.93 (2). Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to impair the exercise of prosecutorial discretion.

950.01 History History: 1979 c. 219; 2011 a. 283; 2013 a. 323.

950.01 Annotation The state did not breach a plea agreement when two police officers, one of whom the defendant shot during the execution of a search warrant, requested during the sentencing hearing that the sentencing court impose the maximum sentence. The police officers were not speaking to the court as investigating officers, but as victims of a crime. In Wisconsin, every crime victim has the right to make a statement to the court at the disposition. State v. Stewart, 2013 WI App 86, 349 Wis. 2d 385, 836 N.W.2d 456, 12-1457.

950.01 Annotation Marsy’s Law: Changes for Crime Victims? Donaldson, Rabe Mayer, Robson, Rufo, Sattler, & Shirley. Wis. Law. Sept. 2020.

950.02 950.02 Definitions. In this chapter:

950.02(1) (1) Except in sub. (3), “child” means a person who is less than 18 years of age.

950.02(1m) (1m) “Crime” means an act committed in this state which, if committed by a competent adult, would constitute a crime, as defined in s. 939.12.

950.02(1t) (1t) “Custodial agency” means any person authorized to arrest or take into actual physical custody an individual who is alleged to have committed a crime. “Custodial agency” includes a law enforcement agency, a sheriff, superintendent or other keeper of a jail and a person authorized to take custody of a juvenile under s. 938.19 or 938.20 (4).

950.02(2) (2) “Department” means the department of justice.

950.02(2m) (2m) “District attorney” means any of the following:

950.02(2m)(a) (a) The district attorney or other person authorized to prosecute a criminal case or a delinquency proceeding under ch. 938.

950.02(2m)(b) (b) A person designated by a person specified in par. (a) to perform the district attorney’s duties under this chapter.

950.02(3) (3) “Family member” means spouse, minor child, adult child, sibling, parent, or legal guardian.

950.02(3m) (3m) “Law enforcement agency” has the meaning given in s. 165.83 (1) (b).

950.02(4) (4) 

950.02(4)(a) (a) “Victim” means any of the following:

950.02(4)(a)1. 1. A person against whom a crime has been committed.

950.02(4)(a)2. 2. If the person specified in subd. 1. is a child, a parent, guardian or legal custodian of the child.

950.02(4)(a)3. 3. If a person specified in subd. 1. is physically or emotionally unable to exercise the rights granted under s. 950.04 or article I, section 9m, of the Wisconsin constitution, a person designated by the person specified in subd. 1. or a family member of the person specified in subd. 1.

950.02(4)(a)4. 4. If a person specified in subd. 1. is deceased, any of the following:

950.02(4)(a)4.a. a. A family member of the person who is deceased.

950.02(4)(a)4.b. b. A person who resided with the person who is deceased.

950.02(4)(a)5. 5. If a person specified in subd. 1. has been adjudicated incompetent in this state, the guardian of the person appointed for him or her.

950.02(4)(b) (b) “Victim” does not include the person charged with or alleged to have committed the crime.

950.02(4g) (4g) “Victim advocate” has the meaning given in s. 905.045 (1) (e).

950.02(4m) (4m) “Victim and witness office” means an organization or program that provides services for which the county receives reimbursement under this chapter.

950.02(5) (5) “Witness” means any person who has been or is expected to be summoned to testify for the prosecution, or who by reason of having relevant information is subject to call or likely to be called as a witness for the prosecution, whether or not any action or proceeding has yet been commenced.

950.02 History History: 1979 c. 219; 1983 a. 197; 1985 a. 311; 1995 a. 77, 310; 1997 a. 35, 181; 1999 a. 32; 2005 a. 387, 419; 2015 a. 351.

950.03 950.03 Eligibility of victims. A victim has the rights and is eligible for the services under this chapter only if the crime has been reported to law enforcement authorities.

950.03 History History: 1979 c. 219; 1991 a. 159.

950.04 950.04 Basic bill of rights for victims and witnesses.

950.04(1v) (1v) Rights of victims. Victims of crimes have the following rights:

950.04(1v)(ag) (ag) To be treated with fairness, dignity, and respect for his or her privacy by public officials, employees, or agencies. This paragraph does not impair the right or duty of a public official or employee to conduct his or her official duties reasonably and in good faith.

950.04(1v)(ar) (ar) To have his or her interest considered when the court is deciding whether to grant a continuance in the case, as provided under ss. 938.315 (2) and 971.10 (3) (b) 3.

950.04(1v)(b) (b) To attend court proceedings in the case, subject to ss. 906.15 and 938.299 (1). The court may require the victim to exercise his or her right under this paragraph using telephone or live audiovisual means, if available, if the victim is under arrest, incarcerated, imprisoned or otherwise detained by any law enforcement agency or is admitted or committed on an inpatient basis to a treatment facility under ch. 51, 971 or 980, and the victim does not have a person specified in s. 950.02 (4) (a) 3. to exercise the victim’s right under this paragraph.

950.04(1v)(bm) (bm) To be provided with appropriate intercession services to ensure that employers of victims will cooperate with the criminal justice process and the juvenile justice process in order to minimize an employee’s loss of pay and other benefits resulting from court appearances.

950.04(1v)(c) (c) To be accompanied by a service representative, as provided under s. 895.45.

950.04(1v)(d) (d) To request an order for, and to be given the results of, testing to determine the presence of a communicable disease, as provided under ss. 938.296 or 968.38.

950.04(1v)(dL) (dL) To not be the subject of a law enforcement officer’s or district attorney’s order, request, or suggestion that he or she submit to a test using a lie detector, as defined in s. 111.37 (1) (b), if he or she claims to have been the victim of a sexual assault under s. 940.22 (2), 940.225, 948.02 (1) or (2), or 948.085, except as permitted under s. 968.265.

950.04(1v)(do) (do) To be informed about the process by which he or she may file a complaint under s. 968.02 or 968.26 (2) and about the process of an inquest under s. 979.05 if he or she is the victim of an officer-involved death, as defined in s. 175.47 (1) (c).