Senate Bill 76 aims to amend the prosecution process for certain serious crimes in Wisconsin by requiring court approval for prosecutors to dismiss or amend charges. Specifically, this bill targets crimes such as domestic abuse, theft of automobiles, sexual assault, and crimes against children, among others. The court can only approve such dismissals or amendments if it finds that doing so aligns with the public's interest in deterring these offenses and the legislature's intent to prosecute them vigorously. Additionally, if the court approves any dismissals or amendments in a given year, 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 of the law to reflect these changes. Notably, it creates new sections that outline the intent to encourage vigorous prosecution of covered crimes and establishes a policy for how prosecutorial offices should execute this intent. The bill emphasizes the importance of accountability in the prosecution of serious offenses, ensuring that the legal system remains focused on deterring crime and protecting the public.

Statutes affected:
Text as Enrolled: 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
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