WisconsinTrafficking at least three children carries life in prison
Wisconsin requires life sentences without release to community supervision for trafficking at least three children for commercial sex, including for people who knowingly benefit.
What it does
Trafficking at least three children for commercial sex, or knowingly benefiting from that crime, carries life in prison without release to community supervision. These prisoners cannot be considered for work release.
Argument forKeeping people convicted of trafficking multiple children in prison for life could prevent them from exploiting more children in the community.
Argument againstMandatory life sentences could keep judges from weighing different levels of involvement, including for people who knowingly benefit from trafficking.
More detail
Courts must impose life sentences without release to supervision in the community for these offenses. The rules cover knowingly trafficking children for commercial sex, including attempts, and benefiting in any way while knowing the benefits come from that crime. The offense must involve at least three victims who were children when it occurred. People serving these life sentences cannot receive release to parole supervision under the cited provision. These rules first apply to offenses committed on the law's effective date.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 3Published 4-4-2026Latest
- Apr 3Report approved by the Governor Tony Evers on 4-3-2026. 2025 Wisconsin Act 187Became Law
- Apr 2Presented to the Governor on 4-2-2026To Governor
- Mar 25Report correctly enrolled on 3-25-2026Minor
- Mar 25LRB correction
- Mar 18Received from Senate concurred inMinor
- Mar 17Ordered immediately messaged
- Mar 17Senator Smith added as a cosponsor
- Mar 17Read a third time and concurred inPassed Senate
- Mar 17Rules suspended to give bill its third reading
- Mar 17Ordered to a third readingMinor
- Mar 17Read a second timeMinor
- Mar 16Placed on calendar 3-17-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Vote recorded Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 16Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2
- 2025
- Apr 15Fiscal estimate receivedMinor
- Vote recorded Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 6, Noes 1. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 15Available for scheduling
- Apr 15Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 6, Noes 1Minor
- Apr 15Executive action taken
- Apr 9Fiscal estimate receivedMinor
- Mar 14Read first time and referred to committee on Judiciary and Public SafetyMinor
- Mar 13Received from AssemblyMinor
- Mar 13Ordered immediately messaged
- Mar 13Read a third time and passedPassed Assembly
- Mar 13Rules suspended
- Mar 13Ordered to a third readingMinor
- Mar 13Read a second timeMinor
- Mar 13Fiscal estimate receivedMinor
- Mar 13Fiscal estimate receivedMinor
- Mar 13Representative Anderson added as a coauthor
- Mar 11Referred to calendar of 3-13-2025 pursuant to Assembly Rule 45 (1)Minor
- Vote recorded Report passage recommended by Committee on Judiciary, Ayes 4, Noes 0. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 11Report passage recommended by Committee on Judiciary, Ayes 4, Noes 0Minor
- Mar 10Executive action taken
- Mar 4Public hearing held
- Feb 28Read first time and referred to Committee on JudiciaryMinor
- Feb 28Introduced by Representatives Sortwell, Allen, Behnke, Goeben, Gundrum, Knodl, Kreibich, Murphy, Mursau and Wichgers; cosponsored by Senator JacqueIntroduced
- Apr 15Fiscal estimate receivedMinor
Criminal Justice