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Code · Wisconsin · Chapter 973 — Sentencing

973.09 Probation.

2,084 words·~9 min read·/wi/chapter-973/973-09

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

973.09 Probation.
(a)Except as provided in par.
(c)or if probation is prohibited for a particular offense by statute, if a person is convicted of a crime, the court, by order, may withhold sentence or impose sentence under s. 973.15 and stay its execution, and in either case place the person on probation to the department for a stated period, stating in the order the reasons therefor. The court may impose any conditions which appear to be reasonable and appropriate. The period of probation may be made consecutive to a sentence on a different charge, whether imposed at the same time or previously. If the court imposes a term of probation under sub.
(a)1. or 2. or
(b)2. , it shall place its reasons for doing so on the record.
(b)If the court places the person on probation, the court shall order the person to pay restitution under s. 973.20 , unless the court finds there is substantial reason not to order restitution as a condition of probation. If the court does not require restitution to be paid to a victim, the court shall state its reason on the record. If the court does require restitution, it shall notify the department of justice of its decision if the victim may be eligible for compensation under subch. I of ch. 949 .
(c)When a person is convicted of any crime which is punishable by life imprisonment, the court shall not place the person on probation.
(d)If a person is convicted of an offense that provides a mandatory or presumptive minimum period of one year or less of imprisonment, a court may place the person on probation under par.
(a)if the court requires, as a condition of probation, that the person be confined under sub.
(4)for at least that mandatory or presumptive minimum period. The person is eligible to earn good time credit calculated under s. 302.43 regarding the period of confinement.
(e)The court may impose a sentence under s. 973.032 , stay its execution and place the person on probation. A court may not provide that a condition of any probation involves participation in the intensive sanctions program.
(1d)If a person is placed on probation for a felony or for any violation of ch. 940 , 948 , or 961 , the person, his or her residence, and any property under his or her control may be searched by a law enforcement officer at any time during his or her period of supervision if the officer reasonably suspects that the person is committing, is about to commit, or has committed a crime or a violation of a condition of probation. Any search conducted pursuant to this subsection shall be conducted in a reasonable manner and may not be arbitrary, capricious, or harassing. A law enforcement officer who conducts a search pursuant to this subsection shall, as soon as practicable after the search, notify the department of corrections.
(1g)If the court places the person on probation, the court may require, upon consideration of the factors specified in s. 973.20
(a)2. to 5. , that the probationer reimburse the county or the state, as applicable, for any costs for legal representation to the county or the state for the defense of the case. In order to receive this reimbursement, the county or the state public defender shall provide a statement of its costs of legal representation to the defendant and court within the time period set by the court.
(2)The original term of probation shall be:
1. Except as provided in subd. 2. , for any of the following misdemeanors, not less than 6 months nor more than 2 years:
a. A misdemeanor that the defendant committed while possessing a firearm.
b. A misdemeanor that was an act of domestic abuse, as defined in s. 968.075
(a).
c. A misdemeanor under s. 940.225
(3m)or ch. 948 .
d. A misdemeanor under s. 23.33
(4c)or
(e), 23.335
(a),
(b), or
(h), 30.681 , 30.684
(5), 350.101 , 350.104
(5), or 350.17 or a misdemeanor under s. 346.63 to which s. 973.09
(d)applies.
1m. Except as provided in subd. 2. , for Class A misdemeanors not covered by subd. 1. , not less than 6 months nor more than one year.
1r. Except as provided in subd. 2. , for misdemeanors not covered by subd. 1. or 1m. , not more than one year.
2. If the probationer is convicted of not less than 2 nor more than 4 misdemeanors at the same time, the maximum original term of probation may be increased by one year. If the probationer is convicted of 5 or more misdemeanors at the same time, the maximum original term of probation may be increased by 2 years.
(ar)Notwithstanding par.
(a)1r. , and except as provided in par.
(a)2. , for a violation punishable under s. 813.12
(8)or 813.125
(7), not less than 6 months or more than the period of the injunction issued under s. 813.12 or 813.125 .
1. Except as provided in subd. 2. , for felonies, not less than one year nor more than either the maximum term of confinement in prison for the crime or 3 years, whichever is greater.
2. If the probationer is convicted of 2 or more crimes, including at least one felony, at the same time, the maximum original term of probation may be increased by one year for each felony conviction.
(2m)If a court imposes a term of probation in excess of the maximum authorized by statute, the excess is void and the term of probation is valid only to the extent of the maximum term authorized by statute. The term is commuted without further proceedings.
(a)Prior to the expiration of any probation period, the court, for cause and by order, may extend probation for a stated period or modify the terms and conditions thereof.
(b)The department shall notify the sentencing court, any person to whom unpaid restitution is owed and the district attorney of the status of the ordered restitution payments unpaid at least 90 days before the probation expiration date. If payment as ordered has not been made, the court shall hold a probation review hearing prior to the expiration date, unless the hearing is voluntarily waived by the probationer with the knowledge that waiver may result in an extension of the probation period or in a revocation of probation. If the court does not extend probation, it shall issue a judgment for the unpaid restitution and direct the clerk of circuit court to file and enter the judgment in the judgment and lien docket, without fee, unless it finds that the victim has already recovered a judgment against the probationer for the damages covered by the restitution order. If the court issues a judgment for the unpaid restitution, the court shall send to the person at his or her last-known address written notification that a civil judgment has been issued for the unpaid restitution. The judgment has the same force and effect as judgments entered under s. 806.10 .
1. At least 90 days before the expiration date of a probationer’s period of probation, the department shall notify the sentencing court and district attorney that a probationer owes an unpaid surcharge imposed under s. 973.045 . Upon receiving notice from the department, the court shall schedule a probation review hearing to be held before the expiration date of the period of probation unless the probationer either pays the unpaid surcharge before the scheduled hearing date or voluntarily waives the hearing.
A waiver of a probation review hearing under this paragraph must include an acknowledgment by the probationer that waiver may result in an extension of the probation period, a modification of the terms and conditions of probation, or a revocation of probation.
2. If the court does not extend probation, the court shall issue a judgment for the unpaid surcharge and direct the clerk of circuit court to file and enter the judgment in the judgment and lien docket. The judgment has the same force and effect as judgments entered under s. 806.10 .
3. At a probation review hearing scheduled under subd. 1. , the department has the burden of proving that the probationer owes an unpaid surcharge imposed under s. 973.045 and the amount of the unpaid surcharge. If the department proves by a preponderance of the evidence that the probationer owes an unpaid surcharge under s. 973.045 , the court may, by order, extend the period of probation for a stated period or modify the terms and conditions of probation.
4. If the court does not extend or modify the terms of probation under subd. 3. , the court shall issue a judgment for the unpaid surcharge and direct the clerk of circuit court to file and enter the judgment in the judgment and lien docket without fee. If the court issues a judgment for the unpaid surcharge, the court shall send to the department a written notification that a civil judgment has been issued for the unpaid fees. The judgment has the same force and effect as judgments entered under s. 806.10 .
1. At least 90 days before the expiration date of a probationer’s period of probation, the department may notify the sentencing court and the district attorney that a probationer owes unpaid fees to the department under s. 304.074 .
2. Upon receiving notice from the department under subd. 1. , the court shall schedule a probation review hearing to be held before the expiration date of the period of probation unless the probationer either pays the fees before the scheduled hearing date or voluntarily waives the hearing. A waiver of a probation review hearing under this subdivision shall include an acknowledgement by the probationer that waiver may result in an extension of the probation period, a modification of the terms and conditions of probation or a revocation of probation.
3. At a probation review hearing under subd. 2. , the department has the burden of proving that the probationer owes unpaid fees under s. 304.074 and the amount of the unpaid fees. If the department proves by a preponderance of the evidence that the probationer owes unpaid fees under s. 304.074 , the court may, by order, extend the period of probation for a stated period or modify the terms and conditions of probation.
4. If the court does not extend or modify the terms of probation under subd. 3. , it shall issue a judgment for the unpaid fees and direct the clerk of circuit court to file and enter the judgment in the judgment and lien docket, without fee. If the court issues a judgment for the unpaid fees, the court shall send to the department a written notification that a civil judgment has been issued for the unpaid fees. The judgment has the same force and effect as judgments entered under s. 806.10 .
(c)Any of the following may constitute cause for the extension of probation:
1. The probationer has not made a good faith effort to discharge court-ordered payment obligations or to pay fees owed under s. 304.074 .
2. The probationer is not presently able to make required restitution payments and the probationer and the person to whom restitution is owed consent to the performance of community service work under sub.
(7m)in satisfaction of restitution ordered for that person, for which an extended period of probation is required.
3. The probationer stipulates to the extension of supervision and the court finds that extension would serve the purposes for which probation was imposed.
(d)The court may modify a person’s period of probation and discharge the person from probation if all of the following apply:
1. The department petitions the court to discharge the person from probation.
2. The probationer has completed 50 percent of his or her period of probation.
3. The probationer has satisfied all conditions of probation that were set by the sentencing court.
4. The probationer has satisfied all rules and conditions of probation that were set by the department.
5. The probationer has fulfilled all financial obligations to his or her victims, the court, and the department, including the payment of any fine, forfeiture, fee or surcharge, or order of restitution.
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