Wis. Stat. § 969.035 — WI Code / Chapter 969 / Section 969.035
Pretrial detention; denial of release from custody.
Status: in_force

(1) In this section:

(a) “Serious bodily harm” means bodily injury which causes or contributes to the death of a human being or which creates a substantial risk of death or which causes serious permanent disfigurement, or which causes a permanent or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ or other serious bodily injury.

(b) Notwithstanding s. 969.001 (3) , “violent crime” means any crime specified in s. 940.01 , 940.02 , 940.03 , 940.05 , 940.06 , 940.07 , 940.08 , 940.10 , 940.21 , 940.225 (1) , 940.23 , 940.60 (3) (b) , 940.65 (3) (b) , 940.66 (2) (a) or (c) , 941.327 , 948.02 (1) or (2) , 948.025 , 948.03 , or 948.085 or s. 940.19 (5) , 2023 stats., s. 940.195 (5) , 2023 stats., s. 940.198 (2) (a) , 2023 stats., or s. 940.198 (2) (c) , 2023 stats.

(2) A circuit court may deny release from custody under this section to any of the following persons:

(a) A person accused of committing an offense under s. 940.01 , 940.225 (1) , 948.02 (1) or (2) , 948.025 , or 948.085 .

(b) A person accused of committing or attempting to commit a violent crime and the person has a previous conviction for committing or attempting to commit a violent crime.

(3) A court may proceed under this section if the district attorney alleges to the court and provides the court with documents as follows:

(a) Alleges that the defendant is eligible for denial of release under sub. (2) (a) or (b) .

(b) Provides a copy of the complaint charging the commission or attempted commission of the present offense specified in sub. (2) (a) or (b) .

(c) Alleges that available conditions of release will not adequately protect members of the community from serious bodily harm or prevent the intimidation of witnesses.

(4) If the court determines that the district attorney has complied with sub. (3) , the court may order that the detention of a person who is currently in custody be continued or may issue a warrant commanding any law enforcement officer to bring the defendant without unnecessary delay before the court. When the defendant is brought before the court, he or she shall be given a copy of the documents specified in sub. (3) and informed of his or her rights under this section and s. 970.02 (1) and (6) .

(5) A pretrial detention hearing is a hearing before a court for the purpose of determining if the continued detention of the defendant is justified. A pretrial detention hearing may be held in conjunction with a preliminary examination under s. 970.03 or a conditional release revocation hearing under s. 969.08 (5) (b) , but separate findings shall be made by the court relating to the pretrial detention, preliminary examination and conditional release revocation. The pretrial detention hearing shall be commenced within 10 days from the date the defendant is detained or brought before the court under sub. (4) . The defendant may not be denied release from custody in accordance with s. 969.03 for more than 10 days prior to the hearing required by this subsection.

(6) During the pretrial detention hearing:

(a) The state has the burden of going forward and proving by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant committed an offense specified under sub. (2) (a) , or that the defendant committed or attempted to commit a violent crime subsequent to a prior conviction for a violent crime.

(b) The state has the burden of going forward and proving by clear and convincing evidence that available conditions of release will not adequately protect members of the community from serious bodily harm or prevent the intimidation of witnesses.

(c) The evidence shall be presented in open court with the right of confrontation, right to call witnesses, right to cross-examination and right to representation by counsel. The rules of evidence applicable in criminal trials govern the admissibility of evidence at the hearing.

(d) The court may exclude witnesses until they are called to testify, may direct that persons who are expected to be called as witnesses be kept separate until called and may prevent them from communicating with one another until they have been examined.

(e) Testimony of the defendant given shall not be admissible on the issue of guilt in any other judicial proceeding, but the testimony shall be admissible in perjury proceedings and for impeachment purposes in any subsequent proceeding.

(7) If the court does not make the findings under sub. (6) (a) and (b) and the defendant is otherwise eligible, the defendant shall be released from custody with or without conditions in accordance with s. 969.03 .

(8) If the court makes the findings under sub. (6) (a) and (b) , the court may deny bail to the defendant for an additional period not to exceed 60 days following the hearing. If the time period passes and the defendant is otherwise eligible, he or she shall be released from custody with or without conditions in accordance with s. 969.03 .

(9) In computing the 10-day periods under sub. (5) and the 60-day period under sub. (8) , the court shall omit any period of time found by the court to result from a delay caused by the defendant or a continuance granted which was initiated by the defendant. Delay is caused by the defendant only if the delay is expressly requested by the defendant.

(10) The defendant may petition the court to be released from custody with or without conditions in accordance with s. 969.03 at any time.

(11) A person who has been detained under this section is entitled to placement of his or her case on an expedited trial calendar and his or her trial shall be given priority.

History: 1981 c. 183 ; 1987 a. 90 ; 1987 a. 332 ss. 58 , 64 ; 1987 a. 399 , 403 ; 1993 a. 227 , 441 , 491 ; 1997 a. 295 ; 2005 a. 277 ; 2021 a. 76 ; 2023 a. 3 ss. 2 , 10 ; 2025 a. 24 s. 93 .