Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires the state Department of Justice to collect and report a list of facts about each criminal case filed in Wisconsin.

Highlights:

• Requires the Department of Justice to collect from the director of state courts all of the following information for each criminal case (Sec. 1):

• The county in which the case was filed;

• The name of the prosecuting attorney assigned to the case;

• The name of the court official assigned to the case;

• The criminal charge filed;

• The charging recommendation from the referring law enforcement agency, if applicable;

• For each case, whether the court released the defendant without bail, upon the execution of an unsecured appearance bond, upon the execution of an appearance bond with sufficient solvent sureties, or the deposit of cash in place of sureties, or denied release, and the name of the court official who made the decision;

• For each case for which a court required the execution of an appearance bond with sufficient solvent sureties, the monetary amount of the bond, and the name of the court official who made the decision;

• For each case for which a court required the deposit of cash in place of sureties, the monetary amount of cash required and the name of the court official who made the decision;

• Any other conditions of release imposed on the defendant and the name of the court official who made the decision;

• Whether any plea bargain was offered in the case;

• Whether a deferred prosecution agreement was offered in the case;

• Whether any charge relating to the case was dismissed; and

• Whether the case resulted in a conviction.

• Requires DOJ to annually report the information collected to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature for distribution to the appropriate standing committees, and must maintain a database on its website that contains the information in a searchable format, for 10 years after a criminal charge is filed (Sec. 2).

• Requires DOJ must ensure that the information provided in the database does not contain a criminal defendant's personally identifying information (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect 7 months after its passage and publication (Sec. 5).

Full Bill Text