48.293(2)(2)All records relating to a child, or to an unborn child and the unborn child’s expectant mother, that are relevant to the subject matter of a proceeding under this chapter shall be open to inspection by a guardian ad litem or counsel for any party and to inspection by the court-appointed special advocate for the child, upon demand and upon presentation of releases when necessary, at least 48 hours before the proceeding. Persons entitled to inspect the records may obtain copies of the records with the permission of the custodian of the records or with permission of the court. The court may instruct counsel, a guardian ad litem, or a court-appointed special advocate not to disclose specified items in the materials to the child or the parent, or to the expectant mother, if the court reasonably believes that the disclosure would be harmful to the interests of the child or the unborn child. This subsection does not apply to a guardianship proceeding under s. 48.9795.
48.293(3)(3)Upon request prior to the fact-finding hearing, counsel for the interests of the public shall disclose to the child, through his or her counsel or guardian ad litem, or to the unborn child’s guardian ad litem, the existence of any audiovisual recording of an oral statement of a child under s. 908.08 that is within the possession, custody, or control of the state and shall make reasonable arrangements for the requesting person to view the statement. If, after compliance with this subsection, the state obtains possession, custody, or control of such a statement, counsel for the interests of the public shall promptly notify the requesting person of that fact and make reasonable arrangements for the requesting person to view the statement.
48.293(4)(4)In addition to the discovery procedures permitted under subs. (1) to (3), the discovery procedures permitted under ch. 804 shall apply in all proceedings under this chapter.
48.293 HistoryHistory: 1977 c. 354; 1985 a. 262; 1989 a. 121; 1993 a. 16; 1995 a. 77, 275; 1997 a. 292; 1999 a. 149; 2005 a. 42; 2013 a. 170; 2019 a. 109.
48.293 NoteJudicial Council Note, 1985: Sub. (3) makes videotaped oral statements of children in the possession, custody or control of the state discoverable upon demand by the child, child’s counsel or guardian ad litem. These statements may be admissible under s. 908.08, stats. [85 Act 262]
48.293 AnnotationThe juvenile court must make a threshold relevancy determination by an in camera review when confronted with: 1) a discovery request under sub. (2); 2) an inspection request of juvenile records under ss. 48.396 (2) and 938.396 (2); or 3) an inspection request of agency records under ss. 48.78 (2) (a) and 938.78 (2) (a). The test for permissible discovery is whether the information sought appears reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence. Courtney F. v. Ramiro M.C., 2004 WI App 36, 269 Wis. 2d 709, 676 N.W.2d 545, 03-3018.
48.29548.295Physical, psychological, mental or developmental examination.
48.295(1)(1)After the filing of a petition and upon a finding by the court that reasonable cause exists to warrant a physical, psychological, mental, or developmental examination or an alcohol and other drug abuse assessment that conforms to the criteria specified under s. 48.547 (4), the court may order any child coming within its jurisdiction to be examined as an outpatient by personnel in an approved treatment facility for alcohol and other drug abuse, by a physician, psychiatrist or licensed psychologist, or by another expert appointed by the court holding at least a master’s degree in social work or another related field of child development, in order that the child’s physical, psychological, alcohol or other drug dependency, mental, or developmental condition may be considered. The court may also order a physical, psychological, mental, or developmental examination or an alcohol and other drug abuse assessment that conforms to the criteria specified under s. 48.547 (4) of a parent, guardian, or legal custodian whose ability to care for a child is at issue before the court or of an expectant mother whose ability to control her use of alcohol beverages, controlled substances, or controlled substance analogs is at issue before the court. The court shall hear any objections by the child or the child’s parents, guardian, or legal custodian to the request for such an examination or assessment before ordering the examination or assessment. The expenses of an examination, if approved by the court, shall be paid by the county of the court ordering the examination in a county having a population of less than 750,000 or by the department in a county having a population of 750,000 or more. The payment for an alcohol and other drug abuse assessment shall be in accordance with s. 48.361.
48.295(1c)(1c)Reasonable cause is considered to exist to warrant an alcohol and other drug abuse assessment under sub. (1) if the multidisciplinary screen procedure conducted under s. 48.24 (2) indicates that the child or expectant mother is at risk of having needs and problems related to alcohol or other drug abuse.
48.295(1g)(1g)If the court orders an alcohol or other drug abuse assessment under sub. (1), the approved treatment facility shall, within 14 days after the court order, report the results of the assessment to the court, except that, upon request by the approved treatment facility and if the child is not an expectant mother under s. 48.133 and is not held in secure or nonsecure custody, the court may extend the period for assessment for not more than 20 additional working days. The report shall include a recommendation as to whether the child or expectant mother is in need of treatment for abuse of alcohol beverages, controlled substances or controlled substance analogs or education relating to the use of alcohol beverages, controlled substances and controlled substance analogs and, if so, shall recommend a service plan and an appropriate treatment, from an approved treatment facility, or a court-approved education program.
48.295(2)(2)The examiner shall file a report of the examination with the court by the date specified in the order. The court shall cause copies to be transmitted to the district attorney or corporation counsel, to counsel or guardian ad litem for the child and to the court-appointed special advocate for the child. If applicable, the court shall also cause copies to be transmitted to counsel or guardian ad litem for the unborn child and the unborn child’s expectant mother. The report shall describe the nature of the examination and identify the persons interviewed, the particular records reviewed and any tests administered to the child or expectant mother. The report shall also state in reasonable detail the facts and reasoning upon which the examiner’s opinions are based.
48.295(3)(3)If the child, the child’s parent or the expectant mother objects to a particular physician, psychiatrist, licensed psychologist or other expert as required under this section, the court shall appoint a different physician, psychiatrist, psychologist or other expert as required under this section.
48.295(4)(4)Motions or objections under this section may be heard under s. 807.13.
48.295 HistoryHistory: 1977 c. 354; 1979 c. 300; 1985 a. 321; Sup. Ct. Order, 141 Wis. 2d xiii (1987); 1987 a. 339; 1993 a. 474; 1995 a. 77, 225, 448; 1997 a. 27, 292; 1999 a. 149; 2005 a. 293; 2015 a. 172.
48.295 NoteJudicial Council Note, 1988: Sub. (4) allows oral argument on motions or objections under this section to be heard by telephone. [Re Order effective Jan. 1, 1988]
48.29748.297Motions before trial.
48.297(1)(1)Any motion which is capable of determination without trial of the general issue may be made before trial.
48.297(2)(2)Defenses and objections based on defects in the institution of proceedings, lack of probable cause on the face of the petition, insufficiency of the petition or invalidity in whole or in part of the statute on which the petition is founded shall be raised not later than 10 days after the plea hearing or be deemed waived. Other motions capable of determination without trial may be brought any time before trial.
48.297(3)(3)Motions to suppress evidence as having been illegally seized or statements as having been illegally obtained shall be made before fact-finding on the issues. The court may entertain the motion at the fact-finding hearing if it appears that a party is surprised by the attempt to introduce such evidence and that party waives jeopardy.
48.297(4)(4)Although the taking of a child or an expectant mother of an unborn child into custody is not an arrest, that taking into custody shall be considered an arrest for the purpose of deciding motions which require a decision about the propriety of taking into custody, including motions to suppress evidence as illegally seized, motions to suppress statements as illegally obtained and motions challenging the lawfulness of the taking into custody.
48.297(5)(5)If the child or the expectant mother of an unborn child is in custody and the court grants a motion to dismiss based on a defect in the petition or in the institution of the proceedings, the court may order the child or expectant mother to be continued in custody for not more than 48 hours pending the filing of a new petition.
48.297(6)(6)A motion required to be served on a child may be served on his or her attorney of record.
48.297(7)(7)Oral argument permitted on motions under this section may be heard by telephone under s. 807.13 (1).
48.297 HistoryHistory: 1977 c. 354; 1979 c. 300, 331, 359; Sup. Ct. Order, 141 Wis. 2d xiii (1987); 1995 a. 77; 1997 a. 35, 292; 2013 a. 170.
48.29948.299Procedures at hearings.
48.299(1)(1)
48.299(1)(a)(a) The general public shall be excluded from hearings under this chapter and from hearings by courts exercising jurisdiction under s. 48.16 unless a public fact-finding hearing is demanded by a child through his or her counsel, by an expectant mother through her counsel, or by an unborn child’s guardian ad litem. However, the court shall refuse to grant the public hearing in a proceeding other than a proceeding under s. 48.375 (7), if a parent, guardian, expectant mother, or unborn child’s guardian ad litem objects.
48.299(1)(ag)(ag) In a proceeding other than a proceeding under s. 48.375 (7), if a public hearing is not held, only the parties and their counsel or guardian ad litem, the court-appointed special advocate for the child, the child’s foster parent or other physical custodian described in s. 48.62 (2), witnesses, and other persons requested by a party and approved by the court may be present, except that the court may exclude a foster parent or other physical custodian described in s. 48.62 (2) from any portion of the hearing if that portion of the hearing deals with sensitive personal information of the child or the child’s family or if the court determines that excluding the foster parent or other physical custodian would be in the best interests of the child. Except in a proceeding under s. 48.375 (7), any other person the court finds to have a proper interest in the case or in the work of the court, including a member of the bar or a person engaged in the bona fide research, monitoring, or evaluation of activities conducted under 42 USC 629h, as determined by the director of state courts, may be admitted by the court.
48.299(1)(ar)(ar) All hearings under s. 48.375 (7) shall be held in chambers, unless a public fact-finding hearing is demanded by the child through her counsel. In a proceeding under s. 48.375 (7), the child’s foster parent or other physical custodian described in s. 48.62 (2) may be present if requested by a party and approved by the court.