Wisconsin Domestic Violence Law
Wisconsin Domestic Violence Defense
What you're facing under Wis. Stat. § 968.075; § 940.19(1), how the penalties scale, and the questions your attorney needs to answer, specific to Wisconsin (WI) domestic violence law.
Offense Class
Class A Misdemeanor (simple battery); enhanced by domestic abuse surcharge and modifier
Maximum Penalty
9 months (simple battery); additional 2 years if felony with DV modifier (§ 939.621)
Maximum Fine
$10,000 plus $100 domestic abuse surcharge
Mandatory Minimum
Wisconsin imposes a mandatory minimum of 72-hour no-contact period (mandatory arrest policy) for this charge. Charge reductions or alternative sentencing are questions worth raising before the plea is entered.
Federal Firearms Prohibition (Lautenberg Amendment)
A conviction for misdemeanor domestic violence in Wisconsin carries a federalfirearms-possession ban under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(9). This consequence is collateral to Wisconsin state penalties and applies regardless of the state sentence imposed.
Penalty Range in Wisconsin
Charge Enhancements
These factors can elevate the charge or penalty in Wisconsin:
- Domestic abuse modifier adds up to 2 years on felony charges (§ 939.621)
- Strangulation (Class H Felony under § 940.235)
- Repeated acts (Class H Felony under § 940.19(1m))
Wisconsin-Specific Detail
Wisconsin has a mandatory arrest policy for domestic abuse. 72-hour no-contact period. $100 domestic abuse surcharge. Strangulation is a standalone felony.
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Important: This page provides legal INFORMATION about Wisconsin domestic violence law as of the date of publication. Laws change frequently. This is not legal advice. The analysis draws on methods developed by defense attorneys, applied to public data. Your attorney remains the final authority on defense direction.