Assembly Bill 66 aims to amend the current legal framework regarding the dismissal or amendment of certain criminal charges and the use of deferred prosecution agreements in Wisconsin. Under the proposed legislation, prosecutors would be required to obtain court approval to dismiss or amend charges related to specific serious crimes, including domestic abuse, theft of automobiles, sexual assault, and crimes against children, among others. The court can only approve such actions if they align with the public interest in deterring these offenses and the legislature's intent to prosecute them vigorously. Additionally, if a court approves any dismissals or amendments, it must submit an annual report to the legislature detailing these approvals.

The bill also introduces restrictions on deferred prosecution agreements, prohibiting prosecutors from entering into such agreements for the same serious crimes listed above. It repeals existing statutes related to deferred prosecution agreements and amends various sections to reflect these changes. Notably, it creates new sections that define "covered crimes" and outline the intent of the legislature to encourage vigorous prosecution of these offenses. The bill emphasizes accountability and transparency in the prosecution process, ensuring that any dismissals or amendments are carefully scrutinized and reported.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 20.437(1)(hh), 20.437, 814.75(8), 814.75, 814.75(8m), 814.76(6), 814.76, 814.80(6), 814.80, 814.81(6), 814.81, 971.37, 971.38(1), 971.38, 971.39(1)(intro.), 971.39