Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 938 - Juvenile justice code.
938.343 - Disposition of juvenile adjudged to have violated a civil law or an ordinance.

938.343 Disposition of juvenile adjudged to have violated a civil law or an ordinance. Except as provided by ss. 938.342 and 938.344, if the court finds that the juvenile violated a civil law or an ordinance, the court shall enter an order making one or more of the following dispositions:
(1) Counseling. Counsel the juvenile or the parent or guardian.
(2) Forfeiture. Impose a forfeiture not to exceed the maximum forfeiture that may be imposed on an adult for committing that violation or, if the violation is only applicable to a person under 18 years of age, $50. The order shall include a finding that the juvenile alone is financially able to pay and shall allow up to 12 months for the payment. If a juvenile fails to pay the forfeiture, the court may suspend any license issued under ch. 29 or suspend the juvenile's operating privilege, as defined in s. 340.01 (40), for not more than 2 years. The court shall immediately take possession of the suspended license if issued under ch. 29 or, if the license is issued under ch. 343, the court may take possession of, and if possession is taken, shall destroy, the license. The court shall forward to the department which issued the license the notice of suspension stating that the suspension is for failure to pay a forfeiture imposed by the court, together with any license issued under ch. 29 of which the court takes possession. If the forfeiture is paid during the period of suspension, the court shall immediately notify the department, which shall, if the license is issued under ch. 29, return the license to the person. Any recovery under this subsection shall be reduced by the amount recovered as a forfeiture for the same act under s. 938.45 (1r) (b).
(2m) Teen court program. Order the juvenile to be placed in a teen court program if all of the following conditions apply:
(a) The chief judge of the judicial administrative district has approved a teen court program established in the juvenile's county of residence and the court determines that participation in the teen court program will likely benefit the juvenile and the community.
(b) The juvenile admits or pleads no contest in open court, in the presence of the juvenile's parent, guardian or legal custodian, to the allegations that the juvenile violated the civil law or ordinance.
(c) The juvenile has not successfully completed participation in a teen court program during the 2 years before the date of the alleged civil law or ordinance violation.
(3) Community service work program. Order the juvenile to participate in a supervised work program or other community service work under s. 938.34 (5g).
(3m) Youth report center. Order the juvenile to report to a youth report center after school, in the evening, on weekends, on other nonschool days, or at any other time that the juvenile is not under immediate adult supervision, for participation in the social, behavioral, academic, community service, and other programming of the center. Section 938.34 (5g) applies to any community service work performed by a juvenile under this subsection.
(4) Restitution. If the violation has resulted in damage to the property of another, or in actual physical injury to another excluding pain and suffering, order the juvenile to make repairs of the damage to property or reasonable restitution for the damage or injury, either in the form of cash payments or, if the victim agrees, the performance of services for the victim, or both, if the court, after taking into consideration the well-being and needs of the victim, considers it beneficial to the well-being and behavior of the juvenile. An order requiring payment for repairs or restitution shall include a finding that the juvenile alone is financially able to pay or physically able to perform the services, may allow up to the date of the expiration of the order for the payment or for the completion of the services, and may include a schedule for the performance and completion of the services. If the juvenile objects to the amount of damages claimed, the juvenile is entitled to a hearing on the question of damages before the amount of restitution is ordered. Any recovery under this subsection shall be reduced by the amount recovered as restitution for the same act under s. 938.45 (1r) (a).
(5) Boating safety course. If the violation is related to unsafe use of a boat, order the juvenile to attend a boating safety course under s. 30.74 (1). If the juvenile has a valid boating safety certificate at the time that the court imposes the disposition, the court shall revoke the certificate and order the person to obtain another boating safety certificate under s. 30.74 (1).
(6) Hunting, trapping, or fishing license suspension. If the violation is of ch. 29, suspend the license or licenses of the juvenile issued under that chapter for not more than one year or until the juvenile is 18 years of age, whichever occurs first.
(7) Hunter education program. If the violation is related to the unsafe use of firearms, order the juvenile to attend the hunter education program course under s. 29.591.
(8) Snowmobile safety course. If the violation is one under ch. 350 concerning the use of snowmobiles, order the juvenile to attend a snowmobile safety course under s. 350.055.
(9) All-terrain or utility terrain vehicle safety course. If the violation is one under s. 23.33 or under an ordinance enacted in accordance with s. 23.33 concerning the use of all-terrain vehicles or utility terrain vehicles, order the juvenile to attend an all-terrain vehicle or utility terrain vehicle safety course.
(9m) Off-highway motorcycle safety certification program. If the violation is one under s. 23.335 or under an ordinance enacted in accordance with s. 23.335 concerning the use of off-highway motorcycles, as defined in s. 23.335 (1) (q), order the juvenile to attend the off-highway motorcycle safety certification program under s. 23.335 (14).
(10) Alcohol or drug assessment, treatment, or education. If the violation is related to the use or abuse of alcohol beverages, controlled substances or controlled substance analogs, order the juvenile to do any of the following:
(a) Submit to an alcohol and other drug abuse assessment that conforms to the criteria specified under s. 938.547 (4) and that is conducted by an approved treatment facility. The order shall designate an approved treatment facility to perform the assessment and shall specify the date by which the assessment must be completed.
(b) Participate in an outpatient alcohol and other drug abuse treatment program if an assessment conducted under par. (a) or s. 938.295 (1) recommends treatment.
(c) Participate in a court-approved alcohol or other drug abuse education program.
History: 1995 a. 77, 352, 448; 1997 a. 84, 183, 197, 198, 205, 248; 1999 a. 9, 32, 185; 2001 a. 16; 2005 a. 344; 2009 a. 103, 367; 2011 a. 32, 208; 2015 a. 170.
Municipal courts have statutory authority to order parents of a juvenile to pay a forfeiture imposed on their child for violating a nontraffic municipal ordinance. OAG 4-00.

Structure Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations