Wisconsin’s current constitutional bail system is held out as an example of what not to do.  There are two bail-related questions on the ballot in the spring election – both are binding and critically important.
 
Question #1 relates to non-monetary conditions of release. Under Wisconsin’s Constitution, a judge can’t prohibit a child sex offender from going to a playground. That’s because the Constitution currently restricts conditions of release to those trying to prevent injuries with a “substantial risk of death,” a very high hurdle. Question #1 gives judges the flexibility to consider “serious harm” (public safety) when setting non-monetary conditions of release.
 
Question #2 relates to cash bail. Because of a 1981 constitutional change, Wisconsin is the only state that only considers a single factor – flight risk – when setting cash bail.  Question #2 puts Wisconsin more in line with every other state by allowing judges to consider the “totality of the circumstances” when setting cash bail for violent crimes.
 
I can’t urge you to vote one way or the other here, but I authored this proposal, and I think these changes are common sense. These questions had overwhelming bipartisan support in the Legislature, and are supported by all of the Supreme Court candidates. 
 

Wednesday, April 5, 2023
Waukesha County Expo Center, Main Arena
1000 Northview Rd, Waukesha
 
Tuesday, April 11, 2023        
UW-Eau Claire, Davies Student Center
Ojibwe Grand Ballroom (Third Floor) 
77 Roosevelt Ave., Eau Claire
 
Wednesday, April 12, 2023         
Wilderness Resort, Glacier Canyon Conference Center
Sandstone Meeting Room
45 Hillman Road, Wisconsin Dells
 
Wednesday, April 26, 2023       
Lakeland Union High School
9573 State Highway 70, Minocqua

 
Public Hearings on the state budget will begin each day at 10 a.m. and conclude at 5 p.m. Attendees will be asked to fill out a form upon arrival to be added to the queue to testify.
 
To find more information, or if you would like to submit comments that will be shared with the budget writing committee and cannot attend a public hearing, please visit the following website:

https://legis.wisconsin.gov/topics/budgetcomments/