Chapter 980

980.07(6m) (6m) If a person committed under s. 980.06 is incarcerated at a county jail, state correctional institution, or federal correction institution for a new criminal charge or conviction or because his or her parole was revoked, any reporting requirement under sub. (1), (4), or (6) (a) does not apply during the incarceration period. A court may order a reexamination of the person under sub. (3) if the courts finds reexamination to be necessary. The schedule for reporting established under sub. (1) shall resume upon the release of the person.

980.07(7) (7) At any time before a hearing under s. 980.08 or 980.09, the department may file a supplemental report if the department determines that court should have additional information. The court shall accept the supplemental report and permit testimony from the department regarding the report or any relevant portion of the report.

980.07 History History: 1993 a. 479; 1999 a. 9; 2005 a. 434; 2009 a. 248; 2013 a. 84 ss. 4 to 7, 9, 13.

980.07 Annotation As part of an annual review, an involuntary medication order must be reviewed following the same procedure used to obtain the initial order. State v. Anthony D.B. 2000 WI 94, 237 Wis. 2d 1, 614 N.W.2d 435, 98-0576.

980.07 Annotation It is within the committed person’s discretion to ask for an independent examination. The trial court does not have discretion to refuse the request. State v. Thiel, 2001 WI App 32, 241 Wis. 2d 465, 626 N.W.2d 26, 00-0142.

980.07 Annotation The 6-month time period in [former] sub. (1) for an initial reexamination is mandatory. State ex rel. Marberry v. Macht, 2003 WI 79, 262 Wis. 2d 720, 665 N.W.2d 155, 99-2446.

980.07 Annotation The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the commitment in Laxton in light of the jury instructions in the case was not diametrically different or opposite in character or nature from any clearly established federal law. Laxton v. Bartow, 421 F.3d 565 (2005).

980.07 Annotation The 14th amendment due process guarantee was violated by a delay of over 22 months between the first annual periodic examination report was provided to the circuit court under s. 980.07 and the circuit court’s probable cause hearing under [former] s. 980.09 (2) (a) to determine if facts warranted a hearing on whether the committee was still a sexually violent person. Discharge is not an appropriate remedy for a sexually violent person who is dangerous because he or she suffers from a mental disorder that makes it likely that he or she will engage in acts of sexual violence. Appropriate remedies are motions for mandamus or equitable relief, but because a ch. 980 committee may encounter considerable obstacles to pursuing these remedies, DHFS, the Department of Justice, the bar, and the circuit courts must bear substantial responsibility for ensuring prompt judicial review of annual periodic examination reports. State v. Beyer, 2006 WI 2, 287 Wis. 2d 1, 707 N.W.2d 509, 04-1208.

980.07 Annotation A rule in a supervised release plan requiring the petitioner to “abide by all rules of any detention, treatment or correctional facility in which [the petitioner] may be confined” was permissible. While the rule did not give DHS the power to detain the petitioner in prison solely for a rules violation, it did require him to abide by all rules of the prison should he find himself detained there for other reasons. State v. Thiel, 2012 WI App 48, 340 Wis. 2d 654, 813 N.W.2d 709, 11-0933.

980.07 Annotation Sub. (1) (2011 stats.) states that the committed person may retain or have the court appoint an independent examiner “at the time of a reexamination,” and s. 980.031 (3) requires the circuit court to appoint, upon request, an independent examiner to perform an examination of the individual’s mental condition. That the independent examiner is also to participate at trial or a hearing involving testimony does not limit his or her initial role in examining the committed person “at the time of a reexamination.” The committed person does not have to wait until his or her petition has passed the paper review; indeed, the independent examiner is meant to help assess the petitioner’s readiness for discharge and gather facts to support the petition, if appropriate. State v. Jones, 2013 WI App 151, 352 Wis. 2d 87, 841 N.W.2d 306, 13-0321.

980.08 980.08 Supervised release; procedures, implementation, revocation.

980.08(1) (1) Any person who is committed under s. 980.06 may petition the committing court to modify its order by authorizing supervised release if at least 12 months have elapsed since the initial commitment order was entered or at least 12 months have elapsed since the most recent release petition was denied, since supervised release was denied under s. 980.09 (4), or since the most recent order for supervised release was revoked. The director of the facility at which the person is placed may file a petition under this subsection on the person’s behalf at any time.

980.08(2) (2) If the person files a timely petition without counsel, the court shall serve a copy of the petition on the district attorney or department of justice, whichever is applicable and, subject to s. 980.03 (2) (a), refer the matter to the authority for indigency determinations under s. 977.07 (1) and appointment of counsel under s. 977.05 (4) (j). If the person petitions through counsel, his or her attorney shall serve the district attorney or department of justice, whichever is applicable.

980.08(2m) (2m) The person submitting the petition may use experts or professional persons to support his or her petition. The district attorney or the department of justice may use experts or professional persons to support or oppose any petition.

980.08(3) (3) 

980.08(3)(a) (a) Within 20 days after receipt of the petition, the court shall appoint one or more examiners for the court who have the specialized knowledge determined by the court to be appropriate, who shall examine the person and furnish a written report of the examination to the court within 60 days after appointment, unless the court for good cause extends this time limit. If the person requests appointment of an examiner within 20 days after the filing of the petition, the court shall appoint an examiner for the person, unless the court appointed an examiner under s. 980.031 (3) or 980.07 (1) for the current reexamination period. If a report filed by an examiner appointed under s. 980.07 (1) to conduct a reexamination of the person’s mental condition within the 6 months preceding the filing of the petition supports supervised release, the court may appoint that examiner as the examiner for the person under this subsection.

980.08(3)(b) (b) The examiners appointed under par. (a) shall have reasonable access to the person for purposes of examination and to the person’s past and present treatment records, as defined in s. 51.30 (1) (b), and patient health care records, as provided under s. 146.82 (2) (c). If any such examiner believes that the person is appropriate for supervised release under the criteria specified in sub. (4) (cg), the examiner shall report on the type of treatment and services that the person may need while in the community on supervised release. The county shall pay the costs of an examiner appointed under par. (a) as provided under s. 51.20 (18) (a).

980.08(4) (4) 

980.08(4)(a) (a) The court, without a jury, shall hear the petition within 120 days after the report of the court-appointed examiner appointed under sub. (3) (a) is filed with the court, unless the court for good cause extends this time limit. Expenses of proceedings under this subsection shall be paid as provided under s. 51.20 (18) (b), (c), and (d).

980.08(4)(c) (c) In making a decision under par. (cg), the court may consider, without limitation because of enumeration, the nature and circumstances of the behavior that was the basis of the allegation in the petition under s. 980.02 (2) (a), the person’s mental history and present mental condition, where the person will live, how the person will support himself or herself, and what arrangements are available to ensure that the person has access to and will participate in necessary treatment, including pharmacological treatment using an antiandrogen or the chemical equivalent of an antiandrogen if the person is a serious child sex offender. A decision under par. (cg) on a petition filed by a person who is a serious child sex offender may not be made based on the fact that the person is a proper subject for pharmacological treatment using an antiandrogen or the chemical equivalent of an antiandrogen or on the fact that the person is willing to participate in pharmacological treatment using an antiandrogen or the chemical equivalent of an antiandrogen.

980.08(4)(cg) (cg) The court may not authorize supervised release unless, based on all of the reports, trial records, and evidence presented, the court finds that all of the following criteria are met:

980.08(4)(cg)1. 1. The person is making significant progress in treatment and the person’s progress can be sustained while on supervised release.

980.08(4)(cg)2. 2. It is substantially probable that the person will not engage in an act of sexual violence while on supervised release.

980.08(4)(cg)3. 3. Treatment that meets the person’s needs and a qualified provider of the treatment are reasonably available.

980.08(4)(cg)4. 4. The person can be reasonably expected to comply with his or her treatment requirements and with all of his or her conditions or rules of supervised release that are imposed by the court or by the department.

980.08(4)(cg)5. 5. A reasonable level of resources can provide for the level of residential placement, supervision, and ongoing treatment needs that are required for the safe management of the person while on supervised release.

980.08(4)(cj) (cj) The person has the burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that the person meets the criteria in par. (cg).

980.08(4)(dm) (dm)

980.08(4)(dm)1. 1. If the court finds that all of the criteria in par. (cg) are met, the court shall order the county of the person’s residence, as determined by the department of health services under s. 980.105, to prepare a report and, if any tribally owned lands are located in that county, shall notify each tribal chair in that county that the county has been ordered to prepare a report. The county shall create a temporary committee to prepare the report for the county. The committee shall consist of the county department under s. 51.42, a representative of the department of health services, a local probation or parole officer, the county corporation counsel or his or her designee, and a representative of the county that is responsible for land use planning or the department of the county that is responsible for land information. In the report, the county shall identify an appropriate residential option in that county while the person is on supervised release. In counties with a population of 750,000 or more, the committee shall select a residence in the person’s city, village, or town of residence, as determined by the department of health services under s. 980.105 (2m). The report shall demonstrate that the county has contacted the landlord for that residential option and that the landlord has committed to enter into a lease. The county shall do all of the following when identifying an appropriate residential option:

980.08(4)(dm)1.a. a. Ensure that the person’s placement is into a residence that is not less than 1,500 feet from any school premises, child care facility, public park, place of worship, or youth center. A person is not in violation of a condition or rule of supervised release under sub. (7) (a) if any school premises, child care facility, public park, place of worship, or youth center is established within 1,500 feet from the person’s residence after he or she is placed in the residence under this section.

980.08(4)(dm)1.b. b. If the person committed a sexually violent offense against an adult at risk, as defined in s. 55.01 (1e), or an elder adult at risk, as defined in s. 46.90 (1) (br), ensure that the person’s placement is into a residence that is not less than 1,500 feet from a nursing home or an assisted living facility. A person is not in violation of a condition or rule of supervised release under sub. (7) (a) if a nursing home or an assisted living facility is established within 1,500 feet from the person’s residence after he or she is placed in the residence under this section.

980.08(4)(dm)1.c. c. If the person is a serious child sex offender, ensure that the person’s placement is into a residence that is not on a property adjacent to a property where a child’s primary residence exists. For the purpose of this subdivision, adjacent properties are properties that share a property line without regard to a public or private road if the living quarters on each property are not more than 1,500 feet apart. A person is not in violation of a condition or rule of supervised release under sub. (7) (a) if a child establishes primary residence in a property adjacent to the person’s residence after the person is placed in the residence under this section.

980.08(4)(dm)2. 2. When preparing the report, the county shall consult with a local law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the residential option and, if any tribally owned lands are located in the county, with any tribal law enforcement agency having jurisdiction in the county. The law enforcement agency and tribal law enforcement agency may submit a written report that provides information relating to the residential option, and, if a report is submitted under this subdivision, the county department shall include the report when the county department submits its report to the department of health services.

980.08(4)(dm)3. 3. To assist the county in identifying appropriate residential options for the report, within 30 days after the court orders the county to prepare the report, the department of health services shall determine the identity and location of known and registered victims of the person’s acts by searching its victim database and consulting with the office of victim services in the department of corrections, the department of justice, and the county coordinator of victims and witnesses services in the county of intended placement, the county where the person was convicted, and the county of commitment. The county may consult with the department of health services on other matters while preparing the report and the department of health services shall respond within 10 days.

980.08(4)(dm)4. 4. The county shall submit its report to the department of health services within 120 days following the court order. A county that does not submit its report within 120 days violates the person’s rights under s. 51.61, and each day that the county does not submit the report after the 120 days have expired constitutes a separate violation under s. 51.61. Notwithstanding s. 51.61 (7), any damages beyond costs and reasonable actual attorney fees recovered by the person for a violation shall be deposited into the appropriation account under s. 20.435 (2) (gz).

980.08(4)(f) (f) The court shall direct the department to use the report submitted under par. (dm) to prepare a supervised release plan for the person that identifies the residential option the county identified in its report. The plan shall also address the person’s need, if any, for supervision, counseling, medication, community support services, residential services, vocational services, and alcohol or other drug abuse treatment. The supervised release plan shall be submitted to the court within 30 days after the county submitted its report under par. (dm). The court may grant one extension of up to 30 days of this time period for good cause.

980.08(4)(g) (g) The court shall review the plan submitted by the department under par. (f). If the details of the plan adequately meet the treatment needs of the individual and the safety needs of the community, then the court shall approve the plan and determine that supervised release is appropriate. If the details of the plan do not adequately meet the treatment needs of the individual or the safety needs of the community, then the court shall determine that supervised release is not appropriate or direct the preparation of another supervised release plan to be considered by the court under this paragraph. If the plan is inadequate under this paragraph due to the residential option, the court shall order the county to identify and arrange to lease another residential option and to prepare a new report under par. (dm). If the plan is inadequate under this paragraph due to the treatment options, the court shall order the department to prepare another plan under par. (f).

980.08(6m) (6m) An order for supervised release places the person in the custody and control of the department. The department shall arrange for control, care and treatment of the person in the least restrictive manner consistent with the requirements of the person and in accordance with the plan for supervised release approved by the court under sub. (4) (g). A person on supervised release is subject to the conditions set by the court and to the rules of the department. Within 10 days of imposing a rule, the department shall file with the court any additional rule of supervision not inconsistent with the rules or conditions imposed by the court. If the department wants to change a rule or condition of supervision imposed by the court, the department must obtain the court’s approval. Before a person is placed on supervised release by the court under this section, the court shall so notify the municipal police department and county sheriff for the municipality and county in which the person will be residing and, if any tribally owned lands are located in the county, all tribal law enforcement agencies having jurisdiction in the county in which the person will be residing. The notification requirement under this subsection does not apply if a municipal police department, county sheriff, or tribal law enforcement agency submits to the court a written statement waiving the right to be notified.

980.08(7) (7) 

980.08(7)(a) (a) If the department believes that a person on supervised release, or awaiting placement on supervised release, has violated, or threatened to violate, any condition or rule of supervised release, the department may petition for revocation of the order granting supervised release as described in par. (c) or may detain the person.

980.08(7)(b) (b) If the department believes that a person on supervised release, or awaiting placement on supervised release, is a threat to the safety of others, the department shall detain the person and petition for revocation of the order granting supervised release as described in par. (c).

980.08(7)(c) (c) If the department concludes that the order granting supervised release should be revoked, it shall file with the committing court a statement alleging the violation and or threat of a violation and a petition to revoke the order for supervised release and provide a copy of each to the regional office of the state public defender responsible for handling cases in the county where the committing court is located. If the department has detained the person under par. (a) or (b), the department shall file the statement and the petition and provide them to the regional office of the state public defender within 72 hours after the detention, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays. Pending the revocation hearing, the department may detain the person in a jail or a facility described under s. 980.065. The court shall refer the matter to the authority for indigency determinations under s. 977.07 (1) and appointment of counsel under s. 977.05 (4) (j). The determination of indigency and the appointment of counsel shall be done as soon as circumstances permit.

980.08(7)(d) (d) The court shall hear the petition within 30 days, unless the hearing or time deadline is waived by the detained person. A final decision on the petition to revoke the order for supervised release shall be made within 90 days of the filing. Pending the revocation hearing, the department may detain the person in the county jail or return him or her to institutional care.

980.08(8) (8) 

980.08(8)(a) (a) If the court finds after a hearing, by clear and convincing evidence, that any rule or condition of release has been violated and the court finds that the violation of the rule or condition merits the revocation of the order granting supervised release, the court may revoke the order for supervised release and order that the person be placed in institutional care. The court may consider alternatives to revocation. The person shall remain in institutional care until the person is discharged from the commitment under s. 980.09 or is placed again on supervised release under sub. (4) (g).

980.08(8)(b) (b) If the court finds after a hearing, by clear and convincing evidence, that the safety of others requires that supervised release be revoked the court shall revoke the order for supervised release and order that the person be placed in institutional care. The person shall remain in institutional care until the person is discharged from the commitment under s. 980.09 or is placed on supervised release under sub. (4) (g).

980.08(9) (9) 

980.08(9)(a) (a) As a condition of supervised release granted under this chapter, for the first year of supervised release, the court shall restrict the person on supervised release to the person’s residence except for outings approved by the department of health services that are under the direct supervision of a department of corrections escort and that are for employment or volunteer purposes, religious purposes, educational purposes, treatment and exercise purposes, supervision purposes, or residence maintenance, or for caring for the person’s basic living needs.

980.08(9)(b) (b) The department of corrections may contract for the escort services under par. (a).

980.08 History History: 1993 a. 479; 1995 a. 276; 1997 a. 27, 275, 284; 1999 a. 9 ss. 3223L, 3232p to 3238d; 1999 a. 32; 2001 a. 16; 2003 a. 187; 2005 a. 431, 434; 2007 a. 20 ss. 3929, 3930, 9121 (6) (a); 2007 a. 96, 97; 2013 a. 84; 2015 a. 156; 2017 a. 184; 2021 a. 190.

980.08 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. DHS 98, Wis. adm. code.

980.08 Annotation Sub. (6m) [formerly s. 980.06 (2) (d)] requires post-hearing notice to the local law enforcement agencies. In re Commitment of Goodson, 199 Wis. 2d 426, 544 N.W.2d 611 (Ct. App. 1996), 95-0664.

980.08 Annotation Whether in a proceeding for an initial ch. 980 commitment or a later petition for supervised release, there is no requirement that the state prove the person is treatable. State v. Seibert, 220 Wis. 2d 308, 582 N.W.2d 745 (Ct. App. 1998), 97-2554.

980.08 Annotation As used in this chapter, “substantial probability” and “substantially probable” both mean much more likely than not. This standard for dangerousness does not violate equal protection nor is the term unconstitutionally vague. State v. Curiel, 227 Wis. 2d 389, 597 N.W.2d 697 (1999), 97-1337.

980.08 Annotation An institutionalized sex offender who agreed to a stipulation providing supervised release, giving up his right to a jury trial on his discharge petition in exchange, had a constitutional right to enforcement of the agreement. State v. Krueger, 2001 WI App 76, 242 Wis. 2d 793, 626 N.W.2d 83, 00-0152.

980.08 Annotation An indigent sexually violent person is constitutionally entitled to assistance of counsel in bringing a first appeal as of right from a denial of his or her petition for supervised release. State ex rel. Seibert v. Macht, 2001 WI 67, 244 Wis. 2d 378, 627 N.W.2d 881, 99-3354.

980.08 Annotation A person subject to a proceeding to revoke supervised release is entitled to the same due process protections as afforded persons in probation and parole revocation proceedings. Notice of the grounds that are the basis for the revocation must be given. A court can only base a revocation on the grounds of public safety under sub. (6m) when notice has been properly given. State v. VanBronkhorst, 2001 WI App 190, 247 Wis. 2d 247, 633 N.W.2d 236, 00-3075.

980.08 Annotation The relevant inquiry under sub. (4) is whether the person’s behavior indicates a likelihood to reoffend. A sexual assault need not occur and the person’s behavior need not be criminal. State v. Sprosty, 2001 WI App 231, 248 Wis. 2d 480, 636 N.W.2d 213, 00-2404.

980.08 Annotation Sub. (6m), not s. 806.07 (1) (h), governs granting relief to the state from a ch. 980 committee’s supervised release when the committee is confined in an institution awaiting placement on supervised release. Sub. (6m) provides no procedure for initiating revocation other than by the department of health and family services action, preventing courts or prosecutors from initiating revocations. State v. Morford, 2004 WI 5, 268 Wis. 2d 300, 674 N.W.2d 349, 01-2461.

980.08 Annotation Ch. 980 was not unconstitutionally applied to the defendant when an order for supervised release could not be carried out due to an inability to find an appropriate placement and the defendant remained in custody. Any judicial decision that puts the community at risk because of what agents of government may have done or not done must balance the potential injury to society’s interests against the potential benefits that would flow from any rule designed to deter future conduct by those agents. State v. Schulpius, 2006 WI 2, 287 Wis. 2d 44, 707 N.W.2d 495, 02-1056.

980.08 Annotation A rule regulating the conduct of a sexually violent person on supervised release satisfies the procedural due process requirement of adequate notice if it is sufficiently precise for the probationer to know what conduct is required or prohibited. State v. Burris, 2004 WI 91, 273 Wis. 2d 294, 682 N.W.2d 812, 00-1425.

980.08 Annotation Under sub. (6m) [formerly s. 980.06 (2) (d)], a circuit court must determine whether any rule or condition of release has been violated or whether the safety of others requires revocation. A circuit court is not required to expressly consider alternatives to revocation before revoking a sexually violent person’s supervised release when the court determines that the safety of the public requires the person’s commitment to a secure facility. State v. Burris, 2004 WI 91, 273 Wis. 2d 294, 682 N.W.2d 812, 00-1425.

980.08 Annotation The sufficiency of evidence standard of review applies when reviewing a circuit court’s order denying a petition for supervised release under sub. (4). The test for the sufficiency of the evidence to support the order is not whether a reviewing court is convinced by clear and convincing evidence that a person’s petition for supervised release should be denied, but whether a circuit court, acting reasonably, could be so convinced by evidence it has a right to believe and accept as true. State v. Brown, 2005 WI 29, 279 Wis. 2d 102, 693 N.W.2d 715, 03-1419.

980.08 Annotation Sub. (4) (cg) unambiguously places the burden of proof with the committed individual. The appropriate burden of persuasion is clear and convincing evidence. This allocation does not violate the guarantees of due process and equal protection in the Wisconsin and United States Constitutions. State v. West, 2011 WI 83, 336 Wis. 2d 578, 800 N.W.2d 929, 09-1579.

980.08 Annotation In this case, the town identified its claimed interest for purposes of intervention under s. 803.09 (1) as the protection of the public in the town. However, allowing a municipality to take a generalized position against the placement of a supervisee under this section anywhere within its boundaries based on a broad interest in protecting the safety of persons within those boundaries runs contrary to the current scheme of this section. That scheme provides a detailed procedure for the consideration and identification of potential placement residences for supervisees and specifically requires that each supervisee be placed somewhere in the supervisee’s county of residence. Town of Mentor v. State, 2021 WI App 85, 400 Wis. 2d 138, 968 N.W.2d 716, 20-1681.

980.08 Annotation Sub. (4) (dm) 1. a. designates the kinds of areas that must be further than 1,500 feet from residential placement options. The statute does not require that a committee must avoid areas with children in an absolute sense. Unlike a combination bike trail and fishing area, which is recognizable as being akin to a “public park” that must be accounted for under the statute, the mere designation of a public road’s right-of-way as an ATV route does not fit within the meaning of any statutorily named area. Town of Mentor v. State, 2021 WI App 85, 400 Wis. 2d 138, 968 N.W.2d 716, 20-1681.

980.08 Annotation Sub. (4) (dm) 2. charges a committee with consulting with “a” local law enforcement agency, not “the” local law enforcement agency, clearly contemplating situations in which more than one agency has jurisdiction and qualifies as local. In this case, when the committee’s formal consultation was with the county sheriff’s department and not with the town’s police department, the county sheriff’s department was sufficiently “local” for purposes of sub. (4) (dm) 2. Town of Mentor v. State, 2021 WI App 85, 400 Wis. 2d 138, 968 N.W.2d 716, 20-1681.

980.08 Annotation Supervised Release Under Chapter 980: Alternatives to Protect Wisconsin While Upholding the Constitution. Hamrin. 2007 WLR 889.

980.09 980.09 Petition for discharge.

980.09(1) (1) A committed person may petition the committing court for discharge at any time. The court shall deny the petition under this section without a hearing unless the petition alleges facts from which the court or jury would likely conclude the person’s condition has changed since the most recent order denying a petition for discharge after a hearing on the merits, or since the date of his or her initial commitment order if the person has never received a hearing on the merits of a discharge petition, so that the person no longer meets the criteria for commitment as a sexually violent person.

980.09(1m) (1m) 

980.09(1m)(a) (a) If the person files a petition for discharge under sub. (1) without counsel, the court shall serve a copy of the petition and any supporting documents on the district attorney or department of justice, whichever is applicable. If the person petitions for discharge under sub. (1) through counsel, his or her attorney shall serve the district attorney or department of justice, whichever is applicable.

980.09(1m)(b) (b) If the person files a petition for a discharge under sub. (1) without counsel, as soon as circumstances permit, the court shall refer the matter to the authority for indigency determinations under s. 977.07 (1) and appointment of counsel under s. 977.05 (4) (j).

980.09(1m)(c) (c) If a person files a petition for discharge under sub. (1), the person may use experts or professional persons to support his or her petition. The district attorney or the department of justice may use experts or professional persons to support or oppose any petition filed under sub. (1).

980.09(1m)(d) (d) After receiving a petition for discharge under sub. (1) and upon the request of the person filing the petition, unless the court previously appointed an examiner under s. 980.031 (3) or 980.07 (1) for the current reexamination period, the court shall appoint for the person an examiner having the specialized knowledge determined by the court to be appropriate. If an examination conducted under s. 980.07 (1) within the 6 months preceding the filing of the petition supports discharge, the court may appoint the examiner who conducted that examination as the examiner for the person. The examiner shall have reasonable access to the person for purposes of examination and to the person’s past and present treatment records, as defined in s. 51.30 (1) (b), and patient health care records, as provided in s. 146.82 (2) (c). The county shall pay the costs of an examiner appointed under this paragraph as provided under s. 51.20 (18) (a).

980.09(2) (2) In reviewing the petition, the court may hold a hearing to determine if the person’s condition has sufficiently changed such that a court or jury would likely conclude the person no longer meets the criteria for commitment as a sexually violent person. In determining under this subsection whether the person’s condition has sufficiently changed such that a court or jury would likely conclude that the person no longer meets the criteria for commitment, the court may consider the record, including evidence introduced at the initial commitment trial or the most recent trial on a petition for discharge, any current or past reports filed under s. 980.07, relevant facts in the petition and in the state’s written response, arguments of counsel, and any supporting documentation provided by the person or the state. If the court determines that the record does not contain facts from which a court or jury would likely conclude that the person no longer meets the criteria for commitment, the court shall deny the petition. If the court determines that the record contains facts from which a court or jury would likely conclude the person no longer meets the criteria for commitment, the court shall set the matter for trial.

980.09(3) (3) The court shall hold a trial within 90 days of the determination that the person’s condition has sufficiently changed such that a court or jury would likely conclude that the person no longer meets the criteria for commitment as a sexually violent person. At trial, the state has the burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that the person meets the criteria for commitment as a sexually violent person.

980.09(4) (4) If the court or jury is satisfied that the state has not met its burden of proof under sub. (3), the person shall be discharged from the custody of the department. If the court or jury is satisfied that the state has met its burden of proof under sub. (3), the court shall proceed under s. 980.08 (4) to determine whether to modify the person’s existing commitment order by authorizing supervised release, unless the person waives consideration of the criteria in s. 980.08 (4) (cg). If the person waives consideration of these criteria, the waiver is a denial of supervised release for purposes of s. 980.08 (1).

980.09(5) (5) If a court orders discharge of a committed person under this section, the court shall stay the execution of the order so that the department may comply with its statutory duties under s. 980.11 (2) and (3). The stay of execution may not exceed 10 working days and shall be for as short a period as necessary to permit the department to comply with s. 980.11 (2) and (3).

980.09 History History: 1993 a. 479; 1999 a. 9; 2003 a. 187; 2005 a. 434; 2013 a. 84 ss. 10 to 12, 21 to 25; 2013 a. 168 s. 20.

980.09 Annotation Persons committed under ch. 980 must be afforded the right to request a jury for discharge hearings under this section. State v. Post, 197 Wis. 2d 279, 541 N.W.2d 115 (1995), 94-2356.

980.09 Annotation Progress in treatment is one way of showing that a person is not still a sexually violent person under [former] sub. (2) (a). A new diagnosis is another. A new diagnosis need not attack the original finding that an individual was sexually violent, but focuses on the present and is evidence of whether an individual is still a sexually violent person. State v. Pocan, 2003 WI App 233, 267 Wis. 2d 953, 671 N.W.2d 680, 02-3342.

980.09 Annotation Under sub. (1), the circuit court engages in a paper review of the petition only, including its attachments, to determine whether it alleges facts from which a reasonable trier of fact could conclude that the petitioner does not meet the criteria for commitment as a sexually violent person. This review is a limited one aimed at assessing the sufficiency of the allegations in the petition. If the petition does allege sufficient facts, the circuit court proceeds to a review under sub. (2). State v. Arends, 2010 WI 46, 325 Wis. 2d 1, 784 N.W.2d 513, 08-0052.

980.09 Annotation Sub. (2) requires the circuit court to review specific items enumerated in that subsection. The court need not seek out items not already within the record. Nevertheless, it may request additional enumerated items not previously submitted, and also has the discretion to conduct a hearing to aid in its determination. The court’s task is to determine whether the petition and the additional supporting materials before it contain facts from which a reasonable trier of fact could conclude that the petitioner does not meet the criteria for commitment as a sexually violent person. State v. Arends, 2010 WI 46, 325 Wis. 2d 1, 784 N.W.2d 513, 08-0052.

980.09 Annotation Sub. (2) explicitly prescribes a different procedure than that for summary judgment set forth in s. 802.08. As such, summary judgment is not available in discharge proceedings under this section. The state’s burden of proof is implicated only during a hearing under sub. (3). When a trial court granted summary judgment prior to a hearing under sub. (3), no one could say with any certainty whether the state possessed enough evidence to meet its burden of proof. State v. Allison, 2010 WI App 103, 329 Wis. 2d 129, 789 N.W.2d 120, 09-1232.

980.09 Annotation A research paper is not sufficient evidence to demonstrate that a sex offender’s condition has changed. New actuarial research, absent a psychological examination, is not enough to demonstrate that an offender is no longer a sexually violent person. State v. Richard, 2011 WI App 66, 333 Wis. 2d 708, 799 N.W.2d 509, 10-1188.

980.09 Annotation The only reasonable construction of the “condition has changed” in sub. (1) is that it encompasses all the changes that a fact finder could determine result in the person not meeting the criteria for commitment as a sexually violent person. This language includes not only a change in the person himself or herself, but also a change in the professional knowledge or research used to evaluate a person’s mental disorder or dangerousness if the change is such that a fact finder could conclude the person does not meet the criteria for commitment. The circuit court may not deny a discharge petition without a hearing if the petition alleges facts from which a fact finder could determine that, as a result of any one of those changes, the person does not meet the criteria for a sexually violent person. State v. Ermers, 2011 WI App 113, 336 Wis. 2d 451, 802 N.W.2d 540, 10-2634.

980.09 Annotation When determining whether to hold a hearing on a petition for discharge, the circuit court must determine whether the petitioner has set forth new evidence, not considered by a prior trier of fact, from which a reasonable trier of fact could conclude that the petitioner does not meet the criteria for commitment as a sexually violent person. An expert’s opinion that is not based on some new fact, new professional knowledge, or new research is not sufficient for a new discharge hearing under sub. (2). A doctor’s further reflection on past scoring of a test is not sufficient for a new discharge hearing because it is not new professional knowledge or research about how to predict dangerousness. State v. Schulpius, 2012 WI App 134, 345 Wis. 2d 351, 825 N.W.2d 311, 11-2565.

980.09 Annotation A petition alleging a change in a sexually violent person’s status based upon a change in the research or writings on how professionals are to interpret and score actuarial instruments is sufficient for a petitioner to receive a discharge hearing, if it is properly supported by a psychological evaluation applying the new research. State v. Richard, 2014 WI App 28, 353 Wis. 2d 219, 844 N.W.2d 370, 12-2748.