Criminal Justice (Corrections)

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 738: Relating to: decertification of law enforcement, jail, or juvenile detention officers and tactical emergency medical services professionals and the use of force by law enforcement officers. (FE)

AB 738 requires the decertification (removal of professional certification) of law enforcement, jail, juvenile detention, and tactical emergency medical services officers within 30 days for specific actions, including resigning to avoid termination for cause or violating training rules. It also mandates that officers terminated while under investigation for misconduct cannot be recertified without a waiver from a police commission or local governing body. The bill directs the licensing board to develop and update biennially model "best practices" use-of-force policies, emphasizing de-escalation, limiting force against vulnerable populations (like those with disabilities or mental health conditions), and requiring officers to use the least force necessary. This applies directly to certified officers in law enforcement, jail, and juvenile detention roles across the state.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates decertification for misconduct and blocks recertification without waiver, enhancing police accountability in criminal justice.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement Policing

Track

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 724: Relating to: Department of Corrections reporting of complaints in state correctional institutions and making an appropriation. (FE)

AB 724 requires the Department of Corrections to create a public, interactive website that updates complaint data from state correctional institutions every 72 hours. The system must display the total annual complaints per facility and show all complaint details broken down by category (without personal information about inmates or staff). The bill appropriates $70,000 for fiscal year 2025-26 to establish the system and $30,000 for 2026-27 to operate it. This affects state correctional institutions (which must submit data) and the public (which gains access to the searchable complaint information).

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires public transparency of correctional complaint data, enhancing oversight and accountability in state prisons per criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

Track

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 734: Relating to: climate control in state correctional institutions and county jails and houses of correction and making an appropriation. (FE)

AB 734 establishes specific temperature standards for state correctional institutions and county jails, requiring indoor temperatures to stay between 68°F and 76°F at all times in housing units. It mandates facilities to record temperatures in common areas and random cells during extreme weather (below 10°F or above 90°F) and submit annual reports to the legislature. The bill appropriates $65 million for 2026-27 to install and operate heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, with phased implementation: one-third of facilities by 2029, another third by 2031, and the final third by 2035. This directly affects all state prisons and county jails/houses of correction in Wisconsin, requiring them to meet new climate control requirements and report compliance data.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly appropriates $65M for HVAC systems in correctional facilities, directly increasing state budget allocation for public infrastructure maintenance.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds HVAC systems to establish humane temperature standards in correctional facilities, advancing inmate welfare and aligning with criminal justice reform goals.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Corrections

Track

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 729: Relating to: inmate access to transparent windows and making an appropriation. (FE)

AB 729 requires all state correctional institutions and county jails to install transparent windows in inmate cells by October 2030 that are at least 1.5 square feet and provide 92% visibility to the outdoors. It mandates that every inmate must have access to view outdoors through such windows for at least 3 hours daily (unless in lockdown or solitary), achievable via time outdoors, in-cell viewing, or shared facility windows. The bill directly affects all state prisons and county jails in the state, requiring physical modifications to cell structures. Funding of $500,000 for 2025-26 and $3 million for 2026-27 is allocated specifically for window installation under this law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates transparent windows in cells to improve inmate mental health and rehabilitation access, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

Track

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 755: Relating to: the treatment of a pregnant or postpartum person in prison or jail. (FE)

SB 755 requires correctional facilities to provide specific healthcare and support services to incarcerated people who are pregnant or within six weeks postpartum. It bans unnecessary physical restraints during pregnancy and the immediate postpartum period, mandating staff training on these requirements. Facilities must offer pregnancy testing, STI/HIV screening, continuing medication, educational materials on parenting, and access to doula or lactation support services. They must also provide mental health assessments, breastfeeding supplies, and opportunities to express milk to maintain milk supply. These requirements apply to all state correctional facilities under the law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates healthcare, bans restraints for pregnant incarcerated people, and requires staff training - aligning with criminal justice reform by protecting civil rights and improving correctional conditions.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates pregnancy testing, STI/HIV screening, doula/lactation support, and bans restraints for incarcerated pregnant/postpartum individuals, expanding healthcare access and protecting rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Mental Health

Track

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 714: Relating to: bathing periods for inmates of state correctional institutions and county jails or houses of correction. (FE)

SB 714 establishes minimum bathing standards for inmates in state correctional facilities and county jails or houses of correction. It requires each facility to provide at least four bathing periods per week, with each period including a minimum of 10 minutes of heated running water and 15 minutes of total time. The bill directly affects all inmates in these facilities by setting concrete, measurable requirements for hygiene access. It creates a new statute (302.072) to implement these standards, applying equally to both state and county custody settings.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes minimum hygiene standards for inmates in correctional facilities, promoting humane treatment and aligning with criminal justice reform principles focused on inmate welfare.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

Track

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 370: Relating to: crime victim notification cards. (FE)

AB 370 creates standardized crime victim notification cards to help victims stay informed about court proceedings involving offenders. The bill directs the Director of State Courts to design these free cards, which victims can fill out with their contact information and details about the inmate or probationer. County courts and victim-witness offices must provide the cards to victims, who can then send completed cards to the relevant court to receive updates. The bill also protects victims' mailing addresses in court records from public inspection under state law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates standardized victim notification cards to ensure victims receive court updates, enhancing victim services within the criminal justice system.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Victims' Rights

Track

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 153: Relating to: expanding the treatment alternatives and diversion programs. (FE)

SB 153 expands a grant program for counties and tribes to create treatment and diversion programs for individuals with substance use disorders or mental illness who are charged with or convicted of crimes related to these conditions. The bill requires programs to use evidence-based practices, integrate mental health services, include case management, and collaborate with courts, prosecutors, and treatment providers. It also modifies sentencing rules to exempt participants in approved programs from losing good time in jail. This bill directly affects individuals facing charges related to substance use or mental health, as well as local governments and service providers.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill expands state grant program funding for treatment/diversion programs, directly allocating state resources to support public health and criminal justice services.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands diversion programs for substance/mental health-related offenses, mandates evidence-based treatment, and modifies sentencing to exempt participants - directly advancing criminal justice reform by reducing incarceration and promoting rehabil...95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands mental health treatment programs through diversion initiatives, integrates evidence-based services, and requires case management for substance use/mental illness cases in criminal justice system.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy Sentencing Mental Health Substance Abuse

Track

vetoed · Wisconsin · Assembly May 13, 2026

AB 672: Relating to: penalty enhancer for crimes committed by a person acting as an agent of a foreign government or terrorist organization with the intent to silence or punish persons for their political view, criminalizing the enforcement of foreign laws without federal or state approval, and providing a penalty. (FE)

AB 672 creates new Wisconsin statutes to address "transnational repression," defined as actions by foreign government or terrorist organization agents targeting dissidents (like activists, journalists, or minority group members) to silence them over political views. It establishes a state training program for law enforcement, a public awareness campaign, and a digital reporting portal to identify such cases. The bill increases penalties for crimes committed as part of this repression (e.g., elevating a Class B felony to a Class A felony) and criminalizes enforcing foreign laws without federal or state approval, punishable by a minimum 3-year prison term. These provisions directly affect foreign agents operating within Wisconsin and target actions intended to suppress political dissent.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill targets transnational repression against dissidents, creates law enforcement training/reporting, and enhances penalties for silencing political views - aligning with civil rights protection and accountability in criminal justice.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement

Track

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 178: Relating to: expanding the treatment alternatives and diversion programs. (FE)

AB 178 creates a new state grant program to fund county and tribal programs that offer treatment alternatives to jail for people facing criminal charges related to substance use or mental health issues. It requires these programs to use evidence-based treatment, integrate mental health services, and include graduated incentives for participants. The bill directly affects criminal defendants with substance use disorders or mental illness who qualify for these programs, as well as counties and tribes receiving grants. Key provisions include mandating collaboration between courts, prosecutors, public defenders, and health agencies to develop and oversee the programs, while exempting participants in approved programs from losing good time credit in jail.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds evidence-based treatment alternatives to jail for substance use/mental health cases, reducing incarceration and promoting rehabilitation through diversion programs.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates state grant program for evidence-based mental health/substance use treatment, expanding access to healthcare services through diversion from jail.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Mental Health Substance Abuse

Track