Wisconsin Report Card

Wisconsin scored an F in the 2021 Shared Hope International Report cards.

The Project

Since 2011, Shared Hope has laid the foundation for transformational policy, practice, and cultural change by supporting state legislators and stakeholders to enact the minimum fabric of laws needed to address child sex trafficking. The Report Cards on Child & Youth Sex Trafficking build upon the last decade of progress, challenging states to take the next step in the fight against sex trafficking by focusing on the area where the largest gaps remain—victim protections. These materials provide an in-depth analysis of current laws and include recommendations to strengthen those laws.

Wisconsin Report Card Issue Highlights

Wisconsin Criminal Provisions

Policy goals accomplished in areas related to buyer accountability under the trafficking law, buyer and trafficker accountability under state CSEC laws, and mistake of age defenses. Gaps remain in areas related to decoy defenses, business entity liability under the trafficking law, and financial penalties.

Wisconsin Identification of and Response to Victims

Policy goals accomplished in areas related to third party control, affirmative defenses for violent felonies, and child abuse definitions. Gaps remain in areas related to foreign national victims, screening through child welfare and the juvenile justice system, non-criminalization for prostitution offenses, expanded non-criminalization, juvenile court jurisdiction, and non-familial trafficking cases.

Wisconsin Continuum of Care

Gaps remain in all areas, including services through a non-punitive system, MDT responses, services through the juvenile justice system, extended foster care services, and appropriations.

Access to Justice for Trafficking survivors in Wisconsin

Policy goals accomplished in areas related to civil orders of protection, restitution, and civil remedies. Gaps remain in areas related to crime victims’ compensation, vacatur, and statutes of limitation.

Tools for a Victim-Centered Criminal Justice response in Wisconsin

Policy goal accomplished related to privileged communications. Gaps remain in areas related to hearsay exceptions, alternatives to live, in-court testimony, and victim supports.

Prevention and Training in Wisconsin

Gaps remain in all areas, including training for child welfare, juvenile justice agencies, law enforcement, prosecutors, and school personnel as well as prevention education in schools.

Supporting Youth (18+) in Wisconsin

Protections related to affirmative defenses for violent felonies, civil remedies, and privileged communications are extended to sex trafficked youth.

Laws regarding Child Labor Trafficking in Wisconsin

Protections related to affirmative defenses for violent felonies, restitution, civil remedies, and privileged communications are extended to child labor trafficking victims.

Wisconsin Download Library

Shared Hope International continues to deploy new law review, grading, and analysis packages from November 2021 through February 2022.

Wisconsin Law Analysis Report

State Ratings under the Protected Innocence Challenge (previous framework 2011-2019) can be found here.

Download the Complete Toolkit

Get each state’s report card and analysis conveniently packaged in our 2022 Report Cards Toolkit. Download the Full Toolkit (20MB)

Legislative Technical Assistance

For legislators and partner non-profits that assist elected officials in creating legislation, request a consultation with our Policy Team. We will set up a meeting to discuss your legislative goals and create a customized goal for ongoing technical assistance, bill drafting services, and legislative support.
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