Not all crimes are created equally, so it goes without saying that not all crimes will be punished equally either. There are actually a variety of options when it comes to sentencing a person for committing a crime in Wisconsin. The most obvious punishment that a person thinks of for a criminal would be jail time, but many studies have found that spending time in jail does not actually provide much in the way of rehabilitative services, especially when it comes to juveniles and other low-level offenders. In some situations, a judge may believe it is appropriate to sentence an offender to a type of community supervision. This type of sentence allows the offender to complete his or her sentence outside of jail while supervised by the Department of Corrections (DOC).

Types of Community Supervision

In general, community supervision is the broad term used to refer to the sentences offenders serve while they are outside of prison. There are various types of community supervision, including:

With temperatures dropping and snow beginning to fall, people across the country are getting their families and homes ready for the upcoming winter holidays. For many people, celebrating holidays often means going to social events where alcohol is present, but this can spell trouble for some. Drinking and driving is extremely dangerous and can even cause harm or death to others if you do not drink responsibly. This is why the state of Wisconsin, as well as all of the other 49 states,  have laws against consuming alcohol and then operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated (OWI). The holiday season is the most stressful time of year to be dealing with a drunk driving charge, so it is important that you avoid an arrest and criminal charge if you have been pulled over for OWI. 

Tips to Avoid an OWI Conviction in Wisconsin

Many people travel by car to visit family and friends over the Christmas holiday season and combined with increased alcohol use, this can (and has been shown to) produce a deadly situation. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), only about 29 percent of all traffic deaths typically involve alcohol, but during the Christmas Day period, approximately 37 percent of all traffic deaths can be attributed to alcohol involvement. When a death is involved in an OWI charge, consequences can become extremely serious, so avoiding an arrest is the best strategy to use. Here are a few tips if you are faced with this type of situation: 

When you are arrested for a crime, there are only two ways you can hope to get out any time soon: by having the charges against you dropped or by being able to post bail or have someone else post bail for you. Bail is a crucial part of criminal cases because it often means the difference between spending months or years in jail awaiting trial and spending that time living at home and continuing to work. No two bail determinations are the same and there is no guarantee that you will even be granted bail during your trial. A Wisconsin criminal defense attorney with knowledge of the bail system can advocate on your behalf for your release.

What Is Bail?

The idea of bail is not a novel one. In nearly all state and local governments, there is some type of system for releasing certain individuals who have been arrested and charged with committing crimes. The purpose of bail is to ensure the defendant returns to court at the times that are required of them and works by requiring something to be offered up in collateral. The defendant or a close friend or relative of the defendant must pay a specified monetary amount before the defendant is released. If the defendant does not appear in court, the money is forfeited. If the defendant does appear in court, most of the money is typically returned. 

Does Everyone Get Bail?

Bail is not a guaranteed benefit of the criminal justice system in Wisconsin or anywhere in the Country, for that matter. Unfortunately, there are many situations in which defendants are not eligible for bail or that the judge does not grant them bail. Wisconsin law states that defendants charged with certain crimes are not eligible for bail. These crimes include:

Homicide is one of the most serious and violent crimes with which you can be charged, especially if you are facing intentional homicide charges. In the state of Wisconsin, first-degree intentional homicide can result in a mandatory life prison sentence, while attempted first-degree homicide could carry a prison sentence that lasts for decades. This is what a North Dakota man is facing after he was apprehended recently in connection with the shootings of two Wisconsin law enforcement officers.  

Man Wanted for Attempted Homicide in North Dakota, Shoots Cops in Wisconsin

A manhunt was underway in early November in Waukesha County as police searched for a 23-year-old North Dakota man wanted for shooting two Wisconsin police officers. The incident occurred after two officers responded to a call about a car crash. During the stop, shots were exchanged and the two officers were hit, both suffering non-life-threatening injuries, while the 23-year-old fled on foot. The suspect is also wanted by police in Fargo, ND for an attempted homicide incident.

Throughout the United States, domestic violence has been a social issue of focus for the past couple of decades. Despite numerous campaigns and years of education dedicated to preventing domestic violence, it still remains a prevalent social issue. According to The National Domestic Violence Hotline, more than 12 million people experience some form of domestic violence each year. Situations that involve domestic violence are extremely tricky and are detrimental not only to the victim but also to the perpetrator. If the victim decides to pursue a restraining order, you could face criminal charges, among other consequences if you live in Wisconsin.

What Is Considered “Domestic Abuse?”

Domestic abuse is a complicated term. The state of Wisconsin has a very broad definition of domestic violence acts, leaving much of the interpretation to individual judges and courts. Currently, Wisconsin law defines domestic abuse as: