Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 938 - Juvenile justice code.
938.255 - Petition; form and content.

938.255 Petition; form and content.
(1) Title and contents. A petition initiating proceedings under this chapter, other than a petition initiating proceedings under s. 938.12, 938.125, or 938.13 (12), shall be entitled, “In the interest of (juvenile's name), a person under the age of 18". A petition initiating proceedings under s. 938.12, 938.125, or 938.13 (12) shall be entitled, “In the interest of (juvenile's name), a person under the age of 17". A petition initiating proceedings under this chapter shall specify all of the following:
(a) The name, birth date, and address of the juvenile and whether the juvenile has been adopted.
(b) The names and addresses of the juvenile's parent, guardian, legal custodian or spouse, if any; or if no such person can be identified, the name and address of the nearest relative.
(c) Whether the juvenile is in custody and, if so, the place where the juvenile is being held and the time he or she was taken into custody unless there is reasonable cause to believe that such disclosures would result in imminent danger to the juvenile or physical custodian.
(cg) If the petition is initiating proceedings under s. 938.13 (4), (6), (6m), or (7), the information required under s. 822.29 (1).
(cm) If the petition is initiating proceedings under s. 938.13 (4), (6), (6m), or (7), whether the juvenile may be subject to the federal Indian Child Welfare Act, 25 USC 1901 to 1963, and, if the juvenile may be subject to that act, the names and addresses of the juvenile's Indian custodian, if any, and Indian tribe, if known.
(cr)
1. If the petition is initiating proceedings under s. 938.12 or 938.13 (12) and all of the following circumstances apply, a statement to that effect:
a. The juvenile is an Indian juvenile.
b. At the time of the alleged delinquent act, the juvenile was under an order of a tribal court, other than a tribal court order relating to adoption, physical placement or visitation with the juvenile's parent, or permanent guardianship.
c. At the time of the delinquent act the juvenile was physically outside the boundaries of the reservation of the Indian tribe of the tribal court and any off-reservation trust land of either that Indian tribe or a member of that Indian tribe as a direct consequence of a tribal court order under subd. 1. b., including a tribal court order placing the juvenile in the home of a relative of the juvenile who on or after the date of the tribal court order resides physically outside the boundaries of a reservation and off-reservation trust land.
2. If the statement under subd. 1. is included in the petition and if the intake worker, district attorney, or corporation counsel has been notified by an official of the Indian tribe that a petition relating to the delinquent act has been or may be filed in tribal court with respect to the alleged delinquent act, a statement to that effect.
(d) If violation of a criminal statute, an ordinance or another law is alleged, the citation to the appropriate law or ordinance as well as facts sufficient to establish probable cause that an offense has been committed and that the juvenile named in the petition committed the offense.
(e) If the juvenile is alleged to come within the provisions of s. 938.13 (4), (6), (6m), (7) or (14) or 938.14, reliable and credible information which forms the basis of the allegations necessary to invoke the jurisdiction of the court and to provide reasonable notice of the conduct or circumstances to be considered by the court together with a statement that the juvenile is in need of supervision, services, care or rehabilitation.
(f) If the juvenile is being held in custody outside of his or her home, reliable and credible information showing that continued placement of the juvenile in his or her home would be contrary to the welfare of the juvenile and, unless any of the circumstances specified in s. 938.355 (2d) (b) 1. to 4. applies, reliable and credible information showing that the person who took the juvenile into custody and the intake worker have made reasonable efforts to prevent the removal of the juvenile from the home, while assuring that the juvenile's health and safety are the paramount concerns, and to make it possible for the juvenile to return safely home.
(g) If the petitioner knows or has reason to know that the juvenile is an Indian juvenile, if the juvenile is alleged to come within the provisions of s. 938.13 (4), (6), (6m), or (7), and if the juvenile has been removed from the home of his or her parent or Indian custodian, reliable and credible information showing that continued custody of the juvenile by the juvenile's parent or Indian custodian is likely to result in serious emotional or physical damage to the juvenile under s. 938.028 (4) (d) 1. and reliable and credible information showing that active efforts under s. 938.028 (4) (d) 2. have been made to prevent the breakup of the Indian juvenile's family and that those efforts have proved unsuccessful. The petition shall set forth with specificity both the information required under this paragraph and the information required under par. (f).
(2) Facts not known. If any of the facts in sub. (1) (a) to (cr), (f), and (g) are not known or cannot be ascertained by the petitioner, the petition shall so state.
(3) If certain information not stated. If the information required under sub. (1) (d) or (e) is not stated the petition shall be amended under s. 938.263 (2) or dismissed.
(4) Copy to juvenile, parents, and others. A copy of the petition shall be given to the juvenile and to the parents, guardian, legal custodian and physical custodian. If the juvenile is an Indian juvenile who is alleged to come within the provisions of s. 938.13 (4), (6), (6m), or (7), and who has been removed from the home of his or her parent or Indian custodian, a copy of the petition shall also be given to the Indian juvenile's Indian custodian and tribe.
History: 1995 a. 77, 352; 2001 a. 109; 2003 a. 284; 2005 a. 344; 2009 a. 94; 2015 a. 373, 381; 2021 a. 238 s. 45.
NOTE: 2003 Wis. Act 284 contains explanatory notes.

Structure Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations