Wisconsin Code § 971.23

Discovery and inspection
Open in Lexace · Ask the AI about this section
(1) WHAT A DISTRICT
ATTORNEY MUST DISCLOSE TO A DEFENDANT. Upon demand, the
district attorney shall, within a reasonable time before trial, disclose to the defendant or his or her attorney and permit the defendant or his or her attorney to inspect and copy or photograph all
of the following materials and information, if it is within the possession, custody or control of the state:
(a) Any written or recorded statement concerning the alleged
crime made by the defendant, including the testimony of the defendant in a secret proceeding under s. 968.26 or before a grand
jury, and the names of witnesses to the defendant’s written
statements.
(b) A written summary of all oral statements of the defendant

which the district attorney plans to use in the course of the trial
and the names of witnesses to the defendant’s oral statements.
(bm) Evidence obtained in the manner described under s.
968.31 (2) (b), if the district attorney intends to use the evidence
at trial.
(c) A copy of the defendant’s criminal record.
(d) A list of all witnesses and their addresses whom the district attorney intends to call at the trial. This paragraph does not
apply to rebuttal witnesses or those called for impeachment only.
(e) Any relevant written or recorded statements of a witness
named on a list under par. (d), including any audiovisual recording of an oral statement of a child under s. 908.08, any reports or
statements of experts made in connection with the case or, if an
expert does not prepare a report or statement, a written summary
of the expert’s findings or the subject matter of his or her testimony, and the results of any physical or mental examination, scientific test, experiment or comparison that the district attorney
intends to offer in evidence at trial.
(f) The criminal record of a prosecution witness which is
known to the district attorney.
(g) Any physical evidence that the district attorney intends to
offer in evidence at the trial.
(h) Any exculpatory evidence.
(2m) WHAT A DEFENDANT MUST DISCLOSE TO THE DISTRICT
ATTORNEY. Upon demand, the defendant or his or her attorney
shall, within a reasonable time before trial, disclose to the district
attorney and permit the district attorney to inspect and copy or
photograph all of the following materials and information, if it is
within the possession, custody or control of the defendant:
(a) A list of all witnesses, other than the defendant, whom the
defendant intends to call at trial, together with their addresses.
This paragraph does not apply to rebuttal witnesses or those
called for impeachment only.
(am) Any relevant written or recorded statements of a witness
named on a list under par. (a), including any reports or statements
of experts made in connection with the case or, if an expert does
not prepare a report or statement, a written summary of the expert’s findings or the subject matter of his or her testimony, and
including the results of any physical or mental examination, scientific test, experiment or comparison that the defendant intends
to offer in evidence at trial.
(b) The criminal record of a defense witness, other than the
defendant, which is known to the defense attorney.
(c) Any physical evidence that the defendant intends to offer
in evidence at the trial.
(3) COMMENT OR INSTRUCTION ON FAILURE TO CALL WITNESS. No comment or instruction regarding the failure to call a
witness at the trial shall be made or given if the sole basis for such
comment or instruction is the fact the name of the witness appears upon a list furnished pursuant to this section.
(5) SCIENTIFIC TESTING. On motion of a party subject to s.
971.31 (5) , the court may order the production of any item of
physical evidence which is intended to be introduced at the trial
for scientific analysis under such terms and conditions as the
court prescribes.
(5c) PSYCHIATRIC TESTING OF VICTIMS OR WITNESSES. In a
prosecution of s. 940.225, 948.02, or 948.025 or of any other
crime if the court determines that the underlying conduct was
sexually motivated, as defined in s. 980.01 (5), the court may not
order any witness or victim, as a condition of allowing testimony,
to submit to a psychiatric or psychological examination to assess
his or her credibility.
(6) PROTECTIVE ORDER. Upon motion of a party, the court
may at any time order that discovery, inspection or the listing of
witnesses required under this section be denied, restricted or deferred, or make other appropriate orders. If the district attorney
or defense counsel certifies that to list a witness may subject the
witness or others to physical or economic harm or coercion, the
court may order that the deposition of the witness be taken pursuant to s. 967.04 (2) to (6). The name of the witness need not be
divulged prior to the taking of such deposition. If the witness becomes unavailable or changes his or her testimony, the deposition
shall be admissible at trial as substantive evidence.
(6c) INTERVIEWS OF VICTIMS BY DEFENSE. Except as provided in s. 967.04, the defendant or his or her attorney may not
compel a victim of a crime to submit to a pretrial interview or
deposition.
(6m) IN CAMERA PROCEEDINGS. Either party may move for
an in camera inspection by the court of any document required to
be disclosed under sub. (1) or (2m) for the purpose of masking or
deleting any material which is not relevant to the case being tried.
The court shall mask or delete any irrelevant material.
(7) CONTINUING DUTY TO DISCLOSE. If, subsequent to compliance with a requirement of this section, and prior to or during
trial, a party discovers additional material or the names of additional witnesses requested which are subject to discovery, inspection or production under this section, the party shall promptly notify the other party of the existence of the additional material or
names.
(7m) SANCTIONS FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY. (a) The court
shall exclude any witness not listed or evidence not presented for
inspection or copying required by this section, unless good cause
is shown for failure to comply. The court may in appropriate
cases grant the opposing party a recess or a continuance.
(b) In addition to or in lieu of any sanction specified in par.
(a), a court may, subject to sub. (3), advise the jury of any failure
or refusal to disclose material or information required to be disclosed under sub. (1) or (2m), or of any untimely disclosure of
material or information required to be disclosed under sub. (1) or
(2m).
(8) NOTICE OF ALIBI. (a) If the defendant intends to rely
upon an alibi as a defense, the defendant shall give notice to the
district attorney at the arraignment or at least 30 days before trial
stating particularly the place where the defendant claims to have
been when the crime is alleged to have been committed together
with the names and addresses of witnesses to the alibi, if known.
If at the close of the state’s case the defendant withdraws the alibi
or if at the close of the defendant’s case the defendant does not
call some or any of the alibi witnesses, the state shall not comment on the defendant’s withdrawal or on the failure to call some
or any of the alibi witnesses. The state shall not call any alibi witnesses not called by the defendant for the purpose of impeaching
the defendant’s credibility with regard to the alibi notice. Nothing in this section may prohibit the state from calling said alibi
witnesses for any other purpose.
(b) In default of such notice, no evidence of the alibi shall be
received unless the court, for cause, orders otherwise.
(c) The court may enlarge the time for filing a notice of alibi
as provided in par. (a) for cause.
(d) Within 20 days after receipt of the notice of alibi, or such
other time as the court orders, the district attorney shall furnish
the defendant notice in writing of the names and addresses, if
known, of any witnesses whom the state proposes to offer in rebuttal to discredit the defendant’s alibi. In default of such notice,
no rebuttal evidence on the alibi issue shall be received unless the
court, for cause, orders otherwise.
(e) A witness list required under par. (a) or (d) shall be provided in addition to a witness list required under sub. (1) (d) or
(2m) (a), and a witness disclosed on a list under sub. (1) (d) or

(2m) (a) shall be included on a list under par. (a) or (d) if the witness is required to be disclosed under par. (a) or (d).
(9) DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID EVIDENCE. (a) In this subsection “deoxyribonucleic acid profile” has the meaning given in s.
939.74 (2d) (a).
(b) Notwithstanding sub. (1) (e) or (2m) (am), if either party
intends to submit deoxyribonucleic acid profile evidence at a trial
to prove or disprove the identity of a person, the party seeking to
introduce the evidence shall notify the other party of the intent to
introduce the evidence in writing by mail at least 45 days before
the date set for trial; and shall provide the other party, within 15
days of request, the material identified under sub. (1) (e) or (2m)
(am), whichever is appropriate, that relates to the evidence.
(c) The court shall exclude deoxyribonucleic acid profile evidence at trial, if the notice and production deadlines under par.
(b) are not met, except the court may waive the 45 day notice requirement or may extend the 15 day production requirement upon
stipulation of the parties, or for good cause, if the court finds that
no party will be prejudiced by the waiver or extension. The court
may in appropriate cases grant the opposing party a recess or
continuance.
(10) PAYMENT OF COPYING COSTS IN CASES INVOLVING INDIGENT DEFENDANTS. When the state public defender or a private
attorney appointed under s. 977.08 requests copies, in any format,
of any item that is discoverable under this section, the state public
defender shall pay any fee charged for the copies from the appropriation account under s. 20.550 (1) (a). If the person providing
copies under this section charges the state public defender a fee
for the copies, the fee may not exceed the applicable maximum
fee for copies of discoverable materials that is established by rule
under s. 977.02 (9).
(11) CHILD PORNOGRAPHY RECORDINGS. (a) In this
subsection:
1. “Defense” means the defendant, his or her attorney, and
any individual retained by the defendant or his or her attorney for
the purpose of providing testimony if the testimony is expert testimony that relates to an item or material included under par. (b).
2. “Reasonably available” means sufficient opportunity for
inspection, viewing, and examination at a law enforcement or
government facility.
3. “Sexually explicit conduct” has the meaning given in s.
948.01 (7).
(b) Any undeveloped film, photographic negative, photograph, motion picture, videotape, or recording, which includes
any item or material that would be included under s. 948.01 (3r),
or any copy of the foregoing, that is of a person who has not attained the age of 18 and who is engaged in sexually explicit conduct and that is in the possession, custody, and control of the state
shall remain in the possession, custody, and control of a law enforcement agency or a court but shall be made reasonably available to the defense.
(c) 1. Notwithstanding sub. (1) (e) and (g), a court shall deny
any request by the defense to provide, and a district attorney or
law enforcement agency may not provide to the defense, any item
or material required in par. (b) to remain in the possession, custody, and control of a law enforcement agency or court, except
that a court may order that a copy of an item or material included
under par. (b) be provided to the defense if that court finds that a
copy of the item or material has not been made reasonably available to the defense. The defense shall have the burden to establish that the item or material has not been made reasonably
available.
2. If a court orders under subd. 1. a copy of an item or material included under par. (b) to be provided to the defense, the
court shall enter a protective order under sub. (6) that includes an
order that the copy provided to the defense may not be copied,
printed, or disseminated by the defense and shall be returned to
the court or law enforcement agency, whichever is appropriate, at
the completion of the trial.
(d) Any item or material that is required under par. (b) to remain in possession, custody, and control of a law enforcement
agency or court is not subject to the right of inspection or copying
under s. 19.35 (1).
(12) DEFINITIONS. In this section:
(a) 1. Subject to subds. 2. and 3., “address” means an individual’s residential street address.
2. If the individual under subd. 1. is a witness who is a law
enforcement officer, tribal law enforcement officer, public officer, or public employee whose testimony will be regarding events
or actions taken in the individual’s official capacity or within the
scope of the individual’s employment, “address” means the street
address of the primary location of the employer where the individual is or was employed at the time of the events or actions that
are subject to discovery under this section.
3. If the individual under subd. 1. is a witness who is a participant in the address confidentiality program under s. 165.68, “address” means the assigned address designated for the individual
by the department of justice.
(b) “Law enforcement officer” has the meaning given in s.
165.85 (2) (c).
(c) “Public officer” and “public employee” have the meaning
given in s. 939.22 (30).
(d) “Tribal law enforcement officer” has the meaning given in
s. 165.85 (2) (g).

‹ Prev All Wisconsin sections Next ›


Lexace provides legal information, not legal advice, and no attorney–client relationship is created. Statute text is provided for general information and may not reflect the most recent amendments; verify against the official state code.