Source: https://njdc.info/practice-policy-resources/state-profiles/wisconsin/
Timestamp: 2020-01-23 08:33:45
Document Index: 306911178

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 977', '§ 938', '§ 938', '§ 938', '§938', '§ 938', '§ 938', '§ 938', '§ 938', '§ 809', '§ 938', '§ 938', '§ 938', '§ 938', '§ 938', '§ 938', '§ 938', '§ 938', '§ 938', '§938', '§ 48', '§938', '§ 938', '§ 938', '§ 938']

Wisconsin – NJDC
Wisconsin provides counsel to indigent youth through a statewide public defender office that provides trial and appellate representation in juvenile delinquency cases. Wis. Stat. Ann. §§ 977.05(4)(gm),(h), and 48.23(4). Public defenders handle about 60% of cases; overflow and conflict cases are handled by private attorneys who are certified by the State Public Defender. Certification requirements depend on the complexity and specialized knowledge needed for a case. The public defender’s office provides legal representation to the indigent throughout the state in all of Wisconsin’s 72 counties.
Though Wisconsin does not have statutorily required training requirements or standards for attorneys representing youth in delinquency proceedings, the Wisconsin State Public Defender developed Principles of Juvenile Defense Practice that outline best practices for juvenile defense attorneys.
In addition to statutes and case law, juvenile court proceedings are governed by court rules. Wisconsin does not have specific juvenile court rules at the statewide level, but local court rules may apply to juvenile proceedings in that jurisdiction. Some have juvenile court specific court rules within their local rules.
In Wisconsin, a young person alleged to be delinquent or who is held in a juvenile detention facility has the right to counsel at “all stages of the proceedings.” Wis. Stat. Ann. §§ 938.23(1m)(a); 48.23(1m)(a). If a young person is alleged to be in need of protection or services (a status offender) the youth may be represented by counsel at the discretion of the court. Wis. Stat. Ann. § 938.23(1m)(b). Additionaly, if not explicitly prohibited in the right to counsel statute, “at any time, upon request or on its own motion, the court may appoint counsel for the juvenile or any party, unless the juvenile or the party has or wishes to retain counsel of his or her own choosing.” Wis. Stat. Ann. § 938.23(3).
Detention hearing (if applicable under §938.23). Wis. Stat. Ann. § 938.21(2)(c).
Hearing to impose sanctions for violating a previous court order. Wis. Stat. Ann. § 938.355(6)(c).
Hearing on change in placement to juvenile correctional facility or secure residential care center. Wis. Stat. Ann. § 938.357(3)(a).
Hearings on community supervision or aftercare revocation. Wis. Stat. Ann. § 938.357(5)(c).
Appeal (unless discharged or allowed to withdraw by court). Wis. Stat. Ann. § 809.30(2).
Wisconsin presumes all youth before the juvenile court are indigent. “If a juvenile has a right to be represented by counsel or is provided counsel at the discretion of the court under [Wis. Stat. Ann. § 938.23] and counsel is not knowingly and voluntarily waived, the court shall refer the child to the state public defender and counsel shall be appointed by the state public defender … without a determination of indigency.” Wis. Stat. Ann. § 938.23(4). The youth’s parent may be ordered to reimburse the public defender, dependent on ability to pay. Wis. Admin. Code PD 6.05.
A young person in Wisconsin may waive their right to counsel if they are 15 years of age or older, “if the court is satisfied that the waiver is knowing and voluntary” and the court accepts the waiver. Wis. Stat. Ann. §§ 938.23(1m)(a); 48.23(1m)(a). If the court accepts the child’s waiver, the court may not place the child in a secure facility, transfer supervision of the child to the serious juvenile offender program, or transfer the child to adult court jurisdiction. Wis. Stat. Ann. § 938.23(1m)(a).
When and how the court may decide to detain a child or otherwise place restrictions on the child’s freedom is defined by statute and court rules. In Wisconsin, a detention hearing must occur within “24 hours after the end of the day on which the decision to detain the child was made, excluding weekends and legal holidays.” Wis. Stat. Ann. § 938.21(1)(a). Provisions for the detention of juveniles are found in Wis. Stat. Ann. §§ 938.19, 938.20, 938.205, 938.208, 938.209, 938.21, 938.217, and 938.23.
The legal needs of children in the delinquency system rarely end at disposition, and states vary in the way they provide a right to representation on these post-disposition issues. Wisconsin statutes list three post-disposition proceedings at which youth have a right to counsel.
In Wisconsin, youth have a right to counsel in the following post-disposition proceedings:
Hearing on change in placement to juvenile correctional facility. Wis. Stat. Ann. § 938.357(3)(a);
Hearings on community supervision or aftercare revocation. Wis. Stat. Ann. § 938.357(5)(c);
The age of a youth who comes within the jurisdiction of the state’s juvenile courts is defined by state law. In Wisconsin:
The youngest age at which a juvenile can be adjudicated delinquent is ten. Wis. Stat. Ann. § 938.12(1);
Juvenile court has jurisdiction over a young person who commits a delinquent act while under the age of ten as a “juvenile alleged to be in need of protection or services.” Wis. Stat. Ann. §938.13(12)
Juvenile court has jurisdiction over offenses alleged to have been committed prior to a child’s 17th birthday; after age 17, the youth is charged in adult court. Wis. Stat. Ann. § 48.02(2); Wis. Stat. Ann. §938.12(2).
Despite the existence of juvenile courts, many youth are still tried as adults. Wisconsin has three ways that juveniles can be prosecuted as adults:
Discretionary Waiver for youth 14 and older who meet the statutorily delineated offense criteria. Wis. Stat. Ann. § 938.18(1)(a)-(c).
Statutory Exclusion required for offenses related to assault on peace officers while incarcerated or after having been adjudicated delinquent; and youth 10 years of age or older alleged to have committed intentional or reckless homicide. Wis. Stat. Ann. § 938.183(1).
Once an Adult, Always an Adult. Wis. Stat. Ann. § 938.183(1)(b), (c).
NJDC has not yet conducted an assessment of the juvenile indigent defense system in Wisconsin. If you would like to collaborate with NJDC to fund-raise for, plan, or engage in an assessment in this state, please contact us.