Many parents who are in the midst of a divorce or child custody battle want sole custody. It is normal for a parent to want to have their child with them all the time. However, sole custody is an arrangement of last resort in Wisconsin. In most situations, courts want children to benefit from having a relationship with both parents. This is often true even if one parent has a criminal record, or has struggled with mental illness or substance abuse. Courts are generally reluctant to cut a parent off from their child completely. However, there are situations where a court will agree that sole custody is appropriate. If your child’s other parent has been abusive to your child to the point where your child gains no benefit from being around that parent, a Wisconsin court may find sole custody to be in the child’s best interest. If you believe that excluding the other parent from the child’s life is the best option, it is important to work closely with an experienced child custody lawyer. 

Sole Custody May be Best for Children in Certain Situations

Wisconsin courts will put the best interests of the child first. Situations in which sole custody may be granted include: 

• Abuse - If your child has been physically, sexually, or emotionally abused by the other parent, the court may find that it would be best for the child to stop seeing that parent. Although it is very helpful if the parent has been criminally charged or convicted for the abuse, it is not required. The family law court will evaluate evidence of the abuse. 

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In the past week, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources announced that it will be initiating “Operation Dry Water,” a campaign to increase law enforcement presence in Wisconsin’s lakes and rivers during the Fourth of July Weekend. There will be more law enforcement officers present around the state’s waterways during a designated period of high enforcement. While the goal is for all laws related to safe boating practices to be better enforced, there will be a focus on BUI laws. This means that boaters in Wisconsin will be under increased law enforcement supervision. It is always important to obey boating safety laws, including those related to life vests and remaining sober when driving a boat. If you are arrested for BUI, it is important to take the situation very seriously. Boating may be fun, but your day can change quickly if you are arrested. 

What to Know About Operation Dry Water

Boating while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is illegal in Wisconsin. While many enjoy bringing some beer or wine coolers along on their trip to the water, it is important that you remain sober if you will be the one driving the boat. Statistics show that a majority of boating-related deaths involve the use of alcohol, making BUI enforcement a high priority for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. 

From July 1-3, more officers will be present around Wisconsin’s waterways. There is often a spike in both BUI and DUI arrests and accidents around the holiday weekend. As the Fourth of July falls on a Tuesday, it is likely that many people will be celebrating the weekend before. Waterways are expected to be more crowded during this period due to the celebrations, which does increase the likelihood of an intoxicated boater causing an accident. 

Women are now being arrested for domestic violence nearly as frequently as men. There are a number of reasons for this increase in the number of women being arrested. One is that domestic violence against men is being taken more seriously. However, it can be difficult for police to determine who is the victim and who is the offender when they have not witnessed the violence themselves. While women are being arrested more frequently, men are still far more likely to be convicted. These statistics may suggest that more women are being erroneously arrested, leading their cases to be dismissed later. Yet, defending against a domestic violence charge can be challenging. There is a strong societal distaste for perpetrators of relationship violence. Even if you were defending yourself or did not commit the offense you are accused of, it is very important to have a skilled attorney representing you. 

Facts About Domestic Violence Arrests and Gender

Perpetrators of domestic violence and victims of domestic violence can be people of any gender. However, some evidence suggests that women are more likely to be arrested for an offense they did not commit. Roughly 30-40% of people arrested for domestic violence are women. However, more than 90% of those convicted of domestic violence are men. This likely means that many women who are arrested for domestic violence will not be convicted. This statistic may give you hope if you are a woman who has been arrested for a crime of domestic violence. 

One possible explanation is that some women are arrested for defending themselves. Police cannot always tell which party is the aggressor and which is the victim. Generally, when police respond to a domestic violence call, neither party is calm and collected when they arrive. Women who have been the victim of domestic violence may display anger and fear, causing police to misinterpret the situation and believe that the victim is actually the perpetrator. 

Raising a child can be expensive, and there are numerous costs that parents will need to address on an ongoing basis. When parents are married or living together, they will usually be able to work together to cover these costs as they manage their family's budget. However, when parents are divorced or when unmarried parents are no longer in a relationship, they will need to determine how to share the costs of raising their children. Child support orders will usually be put in place in these situations, and parents will need to understand what these orders will cover and how different types of expenses may be shared.

Addressing Children's Basic Needs

Wisconsin law provides guidelines that are used to calculate child support obligations. Under these guidelines, each parent's income may be considered, and they will be required to put a percentage of their income toward supporting their children. The number of children the parents share and the amount of time that children will live with each parent will be factored into the calculation, and one parent will typically make payments to the other parent.

The child support amounts calculated using these methods are meant to cover expenses related to children's basic needs, such as food, clothing, and shelter. If necessary, the court may choose to deviate from the guidelines based on evidence that these calculations would lead to results that would be unfair to the children or either parent. If children have extraordinary needs, or if there are issues that may affect a parent's ability to pay support while addressing their own needs, the amount of child support payments may be increased or decreased.

For Wisconsin residents, drug charges can be very serious. Law enforcement officials in the state may investigate a person for a variety of offenses related to controlled substances, and a person who is convicted on these charges may be sentenced to serve time in prison, be required to pay large fines, or face other requirements, such as mandatory drug testing during a period of probation. While many of these cases involve accusations of drug possession, those who are accused of manufacturing controlled substances will likely face more serious charges. By understanding the offenses that may fall under the category of drug manufacturing and the potential penalties that may apply following a conviction, people facing these charges can determine their best options for defense.

Understanding Charges Related to Manufacturing Controlled Substances

Drug manufacturing generally involves the production or creation of illegal drugs. This can include making, growing, synthesizing, or processing controlled substances. For example, a person could be charged with drug manufacturing if they allegedly operated a meth lab in order to synthesize methamphetamines, and these charges may apply regardless of whether drugs were created for personal use or with the intent to sell or distribute them to others.

In addition to activities involving the production of drugs, manufacturing charges may also apply in cases where a person is accused of packaging or repackaging controlled substances. For example, if a person received a large quantity of a drug and then divided the substance into smaller portions and packaged or labeled it in individual containers, this could be considered drug manufacturing. In some cases, a drug possession offense may be elevated to drug manufacturing based on items found in a person's possession that could be used to package controlled substances, such as small baggies or scales that could be used to weigh quantities of drugs.