THE STANGL LAW BLOG

Disorderly conduct in Wisconsin is one of the most often charged crimes in the entire state, classified as a Class B misdemeanor punishable by a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Whether you’re in a domestic situation or not, altercations stemming from arguments, disagreements, or any other dispute is an easy charge to bring against someone, and most often these charges are easy to prove. 

The exact description of disorderly conduct in Wisconsin is defined in §947.01 (1) Wis. Stats. as follows:

“Whoever, in a public or private place, engages in violent, abusive, indecent, profane, boisterous, unreasonably loud or otherwise disorderly conduct under circumstances in which the conduct tends to cause or provoke a disturbance is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.”

The process of appealing a criminal conviction in Wisconsin can be complicated, especially for those who haven’t been through it before. One missed step or overlooked detail can spell disaster for your chances of getting a case heard before an appellate court.

If you’re considering appealing a criminal conviction in Wisconsin, it’s critical to understand that an experienced Wisconsin appeals attorney is essential to your chances of being successful. Experienced attorneys have been through the process many times before and can identify and articulate the errors that occurred during your trial––combining this direct experience with the skills needed to craft a compelling brief. 

This guide offers a simple, straightforward introduction to the appeals process, including the four main steps involved in filing an appeal.

A statute of limitation sets a specific period of time the state can prosecute a particular crime. After that time passes, they lose the right to bring a case forever.

Generally speaking, the more serious or violent the crime, the longer the statute of limitation is and some offenses have no limitation at all. In certain situations, the state can be granted additional time to bring a case by having the statute of limitation tolled or suspended. (Wis. Stat. § 939.74) 

Have questions regarding the statute of limitations for your offense? Click here to contact me for a free consultation.

Each state has different laws concerning criminal property damage.

What does criminal property damage mean in Wisconsin?

In Wisconsin, Criminal Damage to Property is defined as an intentional act involving damage to any physical property of another individual without the consent of that person. In other words, it's intentionally doing something to damage someone's property without their permission.

This law was addressed by the Crimes against Property 943.01 updated in 2013-14. It was published and certified through section .35.18. April 1, 2015.

If you or someone you love is facing a criminal offense, you likely have many questions--including which lawyer to hire. In times like this, it's only natural to seek the advice of friends and family.

As you may not reside in the same state as your loved one or support system, the name of an out-of-state lawyer may come up, begging the question, "Can I hire a lawyer from another state to represent me in court?"

This article will explain the circumstances when someone charged with a crime in one state would and would not be able to hire a criminal defense lawyer from another state, such as Wisconsin, to represent their legal case in another state.

Battery is a common misdemeanor offense in Wisconsin criminal courts.

Simple battery in Wisconsin, which is a battery that does not cause substantial bodily harm or worse, is Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to a $10,000 fine and 9 months in jail. 

Most people think of battery as a punch, but it is not limited to a punch. So, what qualifies as battery in Wisconsin? Any act done with intent to cause bodily harm may qualify as a battery.

For example, choking, kicking, scratching, or twisting may all qualify as a battery if it:

1. Is done with the intent to cause bodily harm,
2. It causes bodily harm, and
3. Is done without consent of the person harmed.

If life's circumstances have left you facing a criminal charge of disorderly conduct with a firearm, you may be uncertain of your future and ready to take back control.

The first step in regaining your footing is having a better understanding of the charges against you, which is why we've prepared this primer on the fundamentals of defending yourself against the allegations.

There is no specific law that refers to disorderly conduct with a firearm, but two separate codes come into play: disorderly conduct and additional penalties for the use of a dangerous weapon.

Driving on a suspended driver’s license is illegal in Wisconsin. Depending on the circumstances surrounding your arrest, you could be facing misdemeanor charges or even felony charges, as well as a wide range of penalties.

It's possible you may face civil forfeitures (a loss of property). In other cases, you may be charged with a crime, carrying fines and possible prison time.

Here are a number of possible penalties for driving on a suspended license in Wisconsin.

Read Also: Reckless Driving in Wisconsin: Penalties and Next Steps

Unlike other kinds of crimes, sexual assault, rape, and other sex offenses in Wisconsin often require individuals to register with a public catalog of current sex offenders. This is called the Wisconsin Sex Offender Registry.

The information in the registry is made available to law enforcement agencies, victims, neighborhood watch groups and the general public via the official State of Wisconsin Offender Web Site. 

The requirements of registering can be complicated and depend on several factors, as some convictions carry mandatory registration requirements while others may not.

Even those not convicted of crimes categorized specifically as “sex crimes” can be required by a court to register if the nature of their crimes are found to be sexually motivated in one way or another.

Felonies vs. Misdemeanors in WI

All crimes in Wisconsin are first classified as either felonies or misdemeanors.

Later, criminal offenses are broken down into a number of separate categories based on the nature of the crime itself. 

Although the standards of classification are similar from state-to-state, in Wisconsin, the main difference between felonies and misdemeanors is the potential length of incarceration that would result from a conviction and the type of facility they would be housed in (county jail or prison).

Let’s take a deeper look into the differences between these two kinds of crimes and what consequences can result from conviction.