Wisconsin handles bail differently than most states. The state does not allow commercial bail bondsmen or bounty hunters. Wisconsin banned the commercial bail bond industry in 1979, and the ban has survived every legal challenge since. If you face criminal charges in Wisconsin, understanding how bail and bond in Wisconsin actually work is essential to…

How long do my convictions remain online and viewable on Wisconsin CCAP? Upon conviction for a criminal offense, your records remain online for many years. The display periods are governed by Supreme Court Rule ch. 72: Civil (CV) cases not small claims: 20 years Criminal traffic (CT) cases: 20 years Family (FA) cases: 30 years…

Wisconsin has not executed anyone since 1851. For more than 170 years, the state has rejected capital punishment as a tool of justice, making it one of the longest standing abolitions in the country. That record was recently tested. In March 2026, two Republican lawmakers introduced a bill to reinstate the Wisconsin death penalty for…

A brand new Wisconsin law focuses on grooming.  What is it?  What does the law say? Grooming is a term that gets thrown around constantly in the news. But what does it actually mean under Wisconsin law? As of March 2026, it means a felony that can send someone to prison for up to 25…

Around 1.4 million Wisconsin residents have a criminal record. For most of them, that record will follow them for the rest of their lives, limiting their ability to find employment, secure housing, obtain professional licenses, and move on from past mistakes. Wisconsin’s expungement law, codified at Section 973.015 of the Wisconsin Statutes, offers a narrow…

A felony conviction makes life more difficult.  Unfortunately, it also impacts your ability to travel. A felony conviction does not end your life. It does make certain things harder. Applying for jobs, securing apartments, and keeping certain rights all become more difficult. Many people do not realize that a felony conviction also limits their ability…

Every year, thousands of Wisconsin teenagers enter the adult criminal justice system before their 18th birthday. This isn’t because of what they did, but because Wisconsin law places 17-year-olds in adult criminal court. Under Wisconsin law, a 17-year-old charged with any offense, from shoplifting to disorderly conduct to drug possession, is automatically prosecuted as an…

What is rescheduling?  Understanding the basics: The federal government regulates drugs by placing them into five schedules under the Controlled Substances Act. These schedules reflect three primary factors: accepted medical use, potential for abuse, and safety under medical supervision. Congress established this system in 1970, and it continues to shape criminal enforcement, research access, and…

For the past few years, hemp-derived delta-9 products have existed in a legal gray area that many consumers interpreted as a green light.  Business owners signed leases, shops opened, and Wisconsinites started regularly buying hemp-derived cannabinoids.  Delta-8 gummies, THCA flower, delta-9 edibles, and countless other psychoactive hemp-derived products have popped up at gas stations, vape…

Wisconsin’s new vape law has significantly impacted users – why did this happen, and what’s legal? Many nicotine vape users were surprised when they showed up to their local smoke shops on or after September 1, 2025.  On that date, a new law went into effect that applied new limitations to sellers of nicotine vapes. …