Senate Bill 76 aims to amend the process by which prosecutors can dismiss or amend certain criminal charges and enter into 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 an automobile, 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 crimes and the legislature's intent to prosecute offenders vigorously. Additionally, if the court approves any dismissals or amendments, it must submit an annual report to the legislature detailing these approvals.

The bill also introduces a prohibition on deferred prosecution agreements for defendants charged with 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 conditions under which prosecutors may operate, emphasizing the importance of public safety and accountability in the prosecution of serious offenses. The bill reflects a legislative intent to strengthen the prosecution of violent and serious crimes while ensuring that any changes to charges are carefully scrutinized by the courts.

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