Chapter 973

973.11   Placements with volunteers in probation program.

973.12   Sentence of a repeater or persistent repeater.

973.123   Sentence for certain violent offenses; use of a firearm.

973.125   Notice of lifetime supervision for serious sex offenders.

973.13   Excessive sentence, errors cured.

973.135   Courts to report convictions to the state superintendent of public instruction.

973.137   Courts to report convictions to the department of transportation.

973.14   Sentence to house of correction.

973.15   Sentence, terms, escapes.

973.155   Sentence credit.

973.16   Time out.

973.17   Judgment against a corporation or limited liability company.

973.176   Notice of restrictions.

973.18   Notice of rights to appeal and representation.

973.19   Motion to modify sentence.

973.195   Sentence adjustment.

973.198   Sentence adjustment; positive adjustment time.

973.20   Restitution.

973.25   Certificates of qualification for employment.

Ch. 973 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See definitions in s. 967.02.

973.01 973.01 Bifurcated sentence of imprisonment and extended supervision.

973.01(1) (1) Bifurcated sentence required. Except as provided in sub. (3), whenever a court sentences a person to imprisonment in the Wisconsin state prisons for a felony committed on or after December 31, 1999, or a misdemeanor committed on or after February 1, 2003, the court shall impose a bifurcated sentence under this section.

973.01(2) (2) Structure of bifurcated sentences. A bifurcated sentence is a sentence that consists of a term of confinement in prison followed by a term of extended supervision under s. 302.113. The total length of a bifurcated sentence equals the length of the term of confinement in prison plus the length of the term of extended supervision. An order imposing a bifurcated sentence under this section shall comply with all of the following:

973.01(2)(a) (a) Total length of bifurcated sentence. Except as provided in par. (c), the total length of the bifurcated sentence may not exceed the maximum period of imprisonment specified in s. 939.50 (3), if the crime is a classified felony, or the maximum term of imprisonment provided by statute for the crime, if the crime is not a classified felony, plus additional imprisonment authorized by any applicable penalty enhancement statutes.

973.01(2)(b) (b) Confinement portion of bifurcated sentence. The portion of the bifurcated sentence that imposes a term of confinement in prison may not be less than one year and, except as provided in par. (c), is subject to whichever of the following limits is applicable:

973.01(2)(b)1. 1. For a Class B felony, the term of confinement in prison may not exceed 40 years.

973.01(2)(b)3. 3. For a Class C felony, the term of confinement in prison may not exceed 25 years.

973.01(2)(b)4. 4. For a Class D felony, the term of confinement in prison may not exceed 15 years.

973.01(2)(b)5. 5. For a Class E felony, the term of confinement in prison may not exceed 10 years.

973.01(2)(b)6m. 6m. For a Class F felony, the term of confinement in prison may not exceed 7 years and 6 months.

973.01(2)(b)7. 7. For a Class G felony, the term of confinement in prison may not exceed 5 years.

973.01(2)(b)8. 8. For a Class H felony, the term of confinement in prison may not exceed 3 years.

973.01(2)(b)9. 9. For a Class I felony, the term of confinement in prison may not exceed one year and 6 months.

973.01(2)(b)10. 10. For any crime other than one of the following, the term of confinement in prison may not exceed 75 percent of the total length of the bifurcated sentence:

973.01(2)(b)10.a. a. A felony specified in subds. 1. to 9.

973.01(2)(b)10.b. b. An attempt to commit a classified felony if the attempt is punishable under s. 939.32 (1) (intro.).

973.01(2)(c) (c) Penalty enhancement.

973.01(2)(c)1. 1. Subject to the minimum period of extended supervision required under par. (d), the maximum term of confinement in prison specified in par. (b) may be increased by any applicable penalty enhancement statute. If the maximum term of confinement in prison specified in par. (b) is increased under this paragraph, the total length of the bifurcated sentence that may be imposed is increased by the same amount.

973.01(2)(c)2. 2. If more than one of the following penalty enhancement statutes apply to a crime, the court shall apply them in the order listed in calculating the maximum term of imprisonment for that crime:

973.01(2)(c)2.a. a. Sections 939.621, 939.623, 939.632, 939.635, 939.645, 946.42 (4), 961.442, 961.46, and 961.49.

973.01(2)(c)2.b. b. Section 939.63.

973.01(2)(c)2.c. c. Section 939.62 (1) or 961.48.

973.01(2)(d) (d) Minimum and maximum term of extended supervision. The term of extended supervision may not be less than 25 percent of the length of the term of confinement in prison imposed under par. (b) and, for a classified felony, is subject to whichever of the following limits is applicable:

973.01(2)(d)1. 1. For a Class B felony, the term of extended supervision may not exceed 20 years.

973.01(2)(d)2. 2. For a Class C felony, the term of extended supervision may not exceed 15 years.

973.01(2)(d)3. 3. For a Class D felony, the term of extended supervision may not exceed 10 years.

973.01(2)(d)4. 4. For a Class E, F, or G felony, the term of extended supervision may not exceed 5 years.

973.01(2)(d)5. 5. For a Class H felony, the term of extended supervision may not exceed 3 years.

973.01(2)(d)6. 6. For a Class I felony, the term of extended supervision may not exceed 2 years.

973.01(3) (3) Not applicable to life sentences. If a person is being sentenced for a felony that is punishable by life imprisonment, he or she is not subject to this section but shall be sentenced under s. 973.014 (1g).

973.01(3g) (3g) Earned release program eligibility. When imposing a bifurcated sentence under this section on a person convicted of a crime 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, the court shall, as part of the exercise of its sentencing discretion, decide whether the person being sentenced is eligible or ineligible to participate in the earned release program under s. 302.05 (3) during the term of confinement in prison portion of the bifurcated sentence.

973.01(3m) (3m) Challenge incarceration program eligibility. When imposing a bifurcated sentence under this section on a person convicted of a crime 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, the court shall, as part of the exercise of its sentencing discretion, decide whether the person being sentenced is eligible or ineligible for the challenge incarceration program under s. 302.045 during the term of confinement in prison portion of the bifurcated sentence.

973.01(4) (4) No good time; extension or reduction of term of imprisonment. A person sentenced to a bifurcated sentence under sub. (1) shall serve the term of confinement in prison portion of the sentence without reduction for good behavior. The term of confinement in prison portion is subject to extension under s. 302.113 (3) and, if applicable, to reduction under s. 302.045 (3m), 302.05 (3) (c) 2. a., 302.113 (9g), 973.195 (1r), or 973.198.

973.01(5) (5) Extended supervision conditions. Whenever the court imposes a bifurcated sentence under sub. (1), the court may impose conditions upon the term of extended supervision.

973.01(6) (6) No parole. A person serving a bifurcated sentence imposed under sub. (1) is not eligible for release on parole under that sentence.

973.01(7) (7) No discharge. The department of corrections may not discharge a person who is serving a bifurcated sentence from custody, control and supervision until the person has served the entire bifurcated sentence.

973.01(8) (8) Explanation of sentence.

973.01(8)(a) (a) When a court imposes a bifurcated sentence under this section it shall explain in writing all of the following to the person being sentenced:

973.01(8)(a)1. 1. The total length of the bifurcated sentence.

973.01(8)(a)2. 2. The amount of time the person will serve in prison under the term of confinement in prison portion of the sentence.

973.01(8)(a)3. 3. The amount of time the person will spend on extended supervision, assuming that the person does not commit any act that results in the extension of the term of confinement in prison under s. 302.113 (3).

973.01(8)(a)4. 4. That the amount of time the person must actually serve in prison may be extended as provided under s. 302.113 (3) and that because of extensions under s. 302.113 (3) the person could serve the entire bifurcated sentence in prison.

973.01(8)(a)5. 5. That the person will be subject to certain conditions while on release to extended supervision, and that violation of any of those conditions may result in the person being returned to prison, as provided under s. 302.113 (9).

973.01(8)(ag) (ag) If the court provides under sub. (3g) that the person is eligible to participate in the earned release program under s. 302.05 (3), the court shall also inform the person of the provisions of s. 302.05 (3) (c).

973.01(8)(am) (am) If the court provides under sub. (3m) that the person is eligible for the challenge incarceration program, the court shall also inform the person of the provisions of s. 302.045 (3m).

973.01(8)(b) (b) The court’s explanation under par. (a) 3. of a person’s potential period of extended supervision does not create a right to a minimum period of extended supervision.

973.01 History History: 1997 a. 283; 2001 a. 109; 2003 a. 33; 2005 a. 277; 2007 a. 116, 226; 2009 a. 28; 2011 a. 38, 82; 2017 a. 100; 2021 a. 76, 227.

973.01 Annotation While an offender must meet the eligibility requirements of s. 302.045 (2) to participate in the challenge incarceration program, the trial court must, pursuant to sub. (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.

973.01 Annotation The exercise of sentencing discretion requires the court to exercise its discretion to create a sentence within the range provided by the legislature that reflects the circumstances of the situation and the particular characteristics of the offender. The court must consider the gravity of the offense, the offender’s character, and the public’s need for protection. The weight given to any factor is left to the trial court’s discretion. State v. Steele, 2001 WI App 160, 246 Wis. 2d 744, 632 N.W.2d 112, 00-2864.

973.01 Annotation If a defendant makes a fraudulent representation to the court, which the court accepts and relies upon in granting a sentence, the court may later declare the sentence void, and double jeopardy does not bar a subsequently increased sentence. State v. Jones, 2002 WI App 208, 257 Wis. 2d. 163, 650 N.W.2d 844, 01-2969.

973.01 Annotation A court may, in specific circumstances, consider credit for time spent in presentence custody as a factor in determining an appropriate sentence. Because the length of the defendant’s presentence custody affected the time the defendant would actually spend in prison and the expected incarceration term impacted the circuit court’s goal that the defendant receive sex offender treatment in an institutional setting while not remaining incarcerated longer than was necessary to receive treatment, presentence credit was appropriately considered. State v. Fenz, 2002 WI App 244, 258 Wis. 2d 281, 653 N.W.2d 280, 01-1434.

973.01 Annotation Events subsequent to sentencing and relating to rehabilitation do not constitute a new sentencing factor justifying sentence modification. State v. Champion, 2002 WI App 267, 258 Wis. 2d 781, 654 N.W.2d 242, 01-1894.

973.01 Annotation Sub. (2) (c) does not authorize a sentencing court to impose any portion of a penalty enhancer as extended supervision. State v. Volk, 2002 WI App 274, 258 Wis. 2d 584, 654 N.W.2d 24, 01-3342.

973.01 Annotation Despite the failure to object, a defendant may be entitled to resentencing if the sentence was affected by a trial court’s reliance on an improper factor. State v. Groth, 2002 WI App 299, 258 Wis. 2d 889, 655 N.W.2d 163, 01-3000.

973.01 Annotation When a statutory definition is available that provides a defendant with sufficient notice as to the expected course of conduct and an ascertainable standard for enforcement, the condition of extended supervision is not unconstitutionally vague. The definition of “dating relationship” in s. 813.12 (1) (ag) provided the defendant an objective standard and adequate notice of when a condition applied that required the defendant to introduce any person the defendant was “dating” to the defendant’s supervising agent. State v. Koenig, 2003 WI App 12, 259 Wis. 2d 833, 656 N.W.2d 499, 02-1076.

973.01 Annotation Discussing calculation of confinement and extended supervision for the presumptive minimum for unclassified felonies under this section prior to the February 1, 2003, amendments. State v. Cole, 2003 WI 59, 262 Wis. 2d 167, 663 N.W.2d 700, 02-0681.

973.01 Annotation Resentencing on convictions that remain intact after one or more counts in a multi-count case is vacated is not always required. When the vacated count does not affect the overall dispositional structure of the original sentence, resentencing on the remaining counts is unnecessary. State v. Church, 2003 WI 74, 262 Wis. 2d 678, 665 N.W.2d 141, 01-3100.

973.01 Annotation Subs. (2) and (5) prohibit confinement in any facility as a condition of extended supervision. Absent express authority, a trial court cannot order confinement as a condition of extended supervision. State v. Larson, 2003 WI App 235, 268 Wis. 2d 162, 672 N.W.2d 322, 03-0019.

973.01 Annotation A penalty enhancer under s. 939.62 is not subject to bifurcation, nor is it to be added to the underlying term of imprisonment. State v. Jackson, 2004 WI 29, 270 Wis. 2d 113, 676 N.W.2d 872, 02-0947.

973.01 Annotation Requisite to a prima facie valid sentence is a statement by the trial judge detailing the reasons for selecting the particular sentence imposed. Circuit courts shall: 1) specify the objectives of the sentence on the record and identify the general objectives of greatest importance; 2) describe the facts relevant to those objectives and explain why the particular component parts of the sentence imposed advance the specified objectives; 3) identify the factors that were considered in arriving at the sentence and indicate how those factors fit the objectives and influence the decision. State v. Gallion, 2004 WI 42, 270 Wis. 2d 535, 678 N.W.2d 197, 01-0051.

973.01 Annotation The sentence imposed shall call for the minimum amount of custody or confinement consistent with the protection of the public, the gravity of the offense, and the rehabilitative needs of the defendant. Probation should be the disposition unless confinement is necessary to protect the public, the offender needs correctional treatment available only in confinement, or it would unduly depreciate the seriousness of the offense. State v. Gallion, 2004 WI 42, 270 Wis. 2d 535, 678 N.W.2d 197, 01-0051.

973.01 Annotation The good character of a victim killed as the result of a crime is relevant to sentencing, but the court should not attempt to measure the relative value of the victim’s life. Although there may be circumstances in which the court could weigh the positive contributions and worth of the victim in assessing the harm caused by the crime, it does not follow that there is a right to have a court consider that a victim was a terrible burden on society. State v. Gallion, 2004 WI 42, 270 Wis. 2d 535, 678 N.W.2d 197, 01-0051.

973.01 Annotation Sub. (3m) allows a sentencing court to determine not only whether a defendant is eligible for the challenge incarceration program, but also to set a date of eligibility within the term of confinement in prison. State v. Lehman, 2004 WI App 59, 270 Wis. 2d 695, 677 N.W.2d 644, 03-1269.

973.01 Annotation A court, after giving consideration to the relevant sentencing factors, may give disproportionate or controlling weight to a single factor. Balancing the factors is for the trial court. Ordering a lengthy term of supervision in order to enable the defendant to pay a sizeable restitution amount did not violate the right to equal protection. State v. Longmire, 2004 WI App 90, 272 Wis. 2d 759, 681 N.W.2d 534, 03-0300.

973.01 Annotation The defendant’s life expectancy, coupled with a lengthy sentence, while perhaps guaranteeing that the defendant will spend the balance of the defendant’s life in prison, does not have to be taken into consideration by the circuit court. If the circuit court chooses to consider a defendant’s life expectancy, it must explain, on the record, how the defendant’s life expectancy fits into the sentencing objectives. State v. Stenzel, 2004 WI App 181, 276 Wis. 2d 224, 688 N.W.2d 20, 03-2974.

973.01 Annotation Consistent with Lehman, 2004 WI App 59, sub. (3g) allows a sentencing court to determine whether a defendant is eligible for the earned release program and to set a date of eligibility within the term of confinement in prison. State v. White, 2004 WI App 237, 277 Wis. 2d 580, 690 N.W.2d 880, 04-1211.

973.01 Annotation A defendant’s age is a secondary factor that the trial court may, but is not required to, consider in fashioning an appropriate sentence. The trial court, if it considers age, determines whether it should carry any weight. State v. Davis, 2005 WI App 98, 281 Wis. 2d 118, 698 N.W.2d 823, 04-1163.

973.01 Annotation A condition of extended supervision and probation that the defendant have no contact with the drug community was not unconstitutionally overbroad or vague. When the trial court specifically told the defendant not be around any person when, or be in any place where, drugs are being possessed, used, or sold, the condition was clear and gave fair notice of what a drug community was. State v. Trigueros, 2005 WI App 112, 282 Wis. 2d 445, 701 N.W.2d 54, 04-1701.