Opinion ID: 1978898
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Order as decision of department's employees.

Text: Defendant contends that the testimony of the state's witness, Dr. Raymond E. Anderson, a clinical psychologist  on the staff of the Wisconsin state prison, demonstrates that the department's order was not really that of the department itself, but merely the mere echo of a decision reached on October 28, 1970, by Dr. Anderson and a psychiatric social worker named Mr. Biever. Clearly, the only way the department can function is through its employees, who must determine whether control over a person committed under the sex crimes law should be continued. The employees of the department made such determination in this case; and their recommendation was embodied in an order of the department. The orders of the department are presumptively valid and correct. 73 C. J. S., Public Administrative Bodies and Procedure, p. 479, sec. 146; Madison Bus Co. v. Public Service Comm. (1953), 264 Wis. 12, 14, 58 N. W. 2d 463. This case is clearly distinguishable from State ex rel. Farrell v. Schubert (1971), 52 Wis. 2d 351, 190 N. W. 2d 529, where the department merely affirmed a recommendation made by a special review board. In the instant case, the record shows that the order continuing control over defendant came from the department, and not from any inferior panel.