AB 1075 changes the age threshold for juvenile court jurisdiction by reclassifying 17-year-olds as adults for criminal prosecution purposes. It amends definitions to define "adult" as 17 years or older (instead of 18) for investigating and prosecuting criminal violations, while keeping 17-year-olds under juvenile court jurisdiction for specific cases. The bill also creates a new funding mechanism to reimburse counties for costs related to 17-year-olds accused of crimes starting in 2026. This directly affects 17-year-olds facing criminal charges and county juvenile justice systems managing their cases.
SB 1067 makes it a Class H felony to knowingly share a law enforcement officer's personally identifying information online with the intent to intimidate, harass, obstruct an investigation, or disrupt their duties. It directly affects all defined officers, including police, tribal officers, correctional staff, juvenile detention officers, and federal agents operating in the state. The law prohibits posting or disclosing personal details (like home addresses or phone numbers) on public internet sites or forums when done to harm officers or interfere with their work. This policy change specifically targets online sharing meant to threaten or disrupt law enforcement, with penalties for those who commit such acts.
SB 882 amends Wisconsin sentencing laws to specifically address individuals under 18 convicted of crimes. It requires courts to consider designated mitigating factors and relevant information (such as youth-related circumstances) when determining release eligibility for "youthful offenders" under sections 973.014 and 973.018. The bill creates new procedural requirements for parole commissions, including mandatory consideration of these factors and written reasons for denials with reconsideration timelines. These changes apply to juvenile offenders sentenced under the specified statutes, focusing on release decisions rather than sentencing ranges.
AB 895 modifies sentencing and parole procedures for individuals under 18 convicted of crimes. It requires courts to consider youth-specific mitigating factors and relevant information when determining eligibility for release to extended supervision or parole. The bill creates new provisions (e.g., § 302.114(5)(cs), § 304.06(1)(bc)) that apply specifically to "youthful offenders" as defined in § 973.014(3)(a). These changes directly affect minors in the state’s criminal justice system by mandating more individualized review of their cases during sentencing and parole decisions.
SB 847 requires state correctional institutions and juvenile facilities to create and maintain written "Know Your Rights" resource guides for inmates and juveniles. These guides must explain rights based on legal status, confinement type, and facility, and be updated annually or after legal changes. The guides must be posted in facilities, provided to new entrants or upon request, and explained by trained staff during intake or transfers. The bill appropriates $200,000 for developing these guides, with requirements to involve formerly incarcerated people in the process, and takes effect July 1, 2027.
SB 708 requires state prisons, juvenile correctional facilities, and county jails to provide inmates and juveniles with free telecommunications access, including at least 180 minutes of weekly phone calls, 60 minutes of video calls, and 100 text messages. It creates new funding lines ($4.46 million for adult facilities, $517,500 for juvenile facilities in 2025-26) to cover these services and mandates centralized contracting to reduce costs. Counties must either join the state’s contracted telecom provider or submit detailed reports and cost data to the legislature. The bill prohibits charging inmates for basic service access and ensures facilities maintain existing service levels while allowing additional access if possible.
AB 731 requires state and county correctional facilities to provide inmates and juveniles with minimum weekly telecommunications access at no cost, including 180 minutes of phone calls, 60 minutes of video calls, and 100 text messages. It directly affects individuals in state prisons, juvenile correctional facilities, and county jails by mandating these service levels, which must be maintained or improved from existing access levels. The bill establishes funding through specific appropriations ($4.46 million for adult inmates, $517,500 for juveniles) and requires counties to join a state telecommunications contract or report why they don’t, with the state reimbursing counties for costs if they opt out. It also prohibits using telecom services to replace in-person visitation and bans charging inmates for services beyond the minimums.
AB 116 creates a new reimbursement program for county governments to cover transportation costs when moving minors into emergency detention for safety reasons. It directly affects counties handling youth detention, minors receiving medical assistance, and third-party transportation providers (like ambulances or contracted vendors) who transport minors. The bill requires counties to use the least restrictive transportation method possible (like non-law enforcement vendors when feasible) and establishes that state reimbursement through the Medical Assistance program will only occur if federal approval is secured. This is a procedural change to clarify funding mechanisms, not a policy shift on detention standards.
AB 79 prevents the prosecution of minors under 18 for prostitution offenses when a court determines it serves the minor's best interests and protects public safety. Instead, the court may use diversion programs like consent decrees or deferred prosecution agreements under existing laws. The bill amends statutes to remove prosecution as an option for juveniles in these cases while maintaining DNA collection and expungement requirements for other serious juvenile offenses. This change directly affects minors charged with prostitution under section 944.30 (1m) by prioritizing rehabilitation over criminal prosecution.
