Wisconsin Statutes
Wis. Stat. § 48.207 (2026)
Places where a child or expectant mother may be held in nonsecure custody
✓ current as of July 2026
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48.207(1)(1) A child held in physical custody under s. 48.205 (1) may be held in any of the following places:
48.207(1)(a)(a) The home of a parent or guardian, except that a child may not be held in the home of a parent or guardian if the parent or guardian has been convicted under s. 940.01 of the first-degree intentional homicide, or under s. 940.05 of the 2nd-degree intentional homicide, of a parent of the child, and the conviction has not been reversed, set aside or vacated, unless the person making the custody decision determines by clear and convincing evidence that the placement would be in the best interests of the child. The person making the custody decision shall consider the wishes of the child in making that determination.
48.207(1)(b)(b) The home of a relative or like-kin, except that a child may not be held under this paragraph in the home of a person who has been convicted under s. 940.01 of the first-degree intentional homicide, or under s. 940.05 of the 2nd-degree intentional homicide, of a parent of the child, and the conviction has not been reversed, set aside or vacated, unless the person making the custody decision determines by clear and convincing evidence that the placement would be in the best interests of the child. The person making the custody decision shall consider the wishes of the child in making that determination.
48.207(1)(c)(c) A licensed foster home if the placement does not violate the conditions of the license.
48.207(1)(cm)(cm) A licensed group home provided that the placement does not violate the conditions of the license.
48.207(1)(f)(f) The home of a person not a relative or like-kin, if the placement does not exceed 30 days, though the placement may be extended for an additional 30 days for cause by the court, and if the person has not had a license under s. 48.62 refused, revoked, or suspended within the last 2 years.
48.207(1)(g)(g) A hospital as defined in s. 50.33 (2) (a) and (c) or physician’s office if the child is held under s. 48.20 (4) or (4m).
48.207(1)(i)(i) An approved public treatment facility for emergency treatment if the child is held under s. 48.20 (6).
48.207(1)(L)(L) With a parent in a qualifying residential family-based treatment facility if the child’s permanency plan includes a recommendation for such a placement under s. 48.38 (4) (em) before the placement is made and the parent consents to the placement.
48.207(1g)(1g) An Indian child held in physical custody under s. 48.205 (1) shall be placed in compliance with s. 48.028 (7) (b) or, if applicable, s. 48.028 (7) (c), unless the person responsible for determining the placement finds good cause, as described in s. 48.028 (7) (e), for departing from the order of placement preference under s. 48.028 (7) (b) or finds that emergency conditions necessitate departing from that order. When the reason for departing from that order is resolved, the Indian child shall be placed in compliance with the order of placement preference under s. 48.028 (7) (b) or, if applicable, s. 48.028 (7) (c).
48.207(1m)(1m) An adult expectant mother of an unborn child held in physical custody under s. 48.205 (1m) may be held in any of the following places:
48.207(1m)(b)(b) A licensed community-based residential facility, as defined in s. 50.01 (1g), if the placement does not violate the conditions of the license.
48.207(1m)(c)(c) A hospital, as defined in s. 50.33 (2) (a) and (c), or a physician’s office if the adult expectant mother is held under s. 48.203 (3).
48.207(1m)(d)(d) A place specified in s. 51.15 (2) (d) if the adult expectant mother is held under s. 48.203 (4).
48.207(1m)(e)(e) An approved public treatment facility for emergency treatment if the adult expectant mother is held under s. 48.203 (5).
48.207(2)(a)(a) If a facility listed in sub. (1) (b) to (k) is used to hold a child in custody, or if supervisory services of a home detention program are provided to a child held under sub. (1) (a), the authorized rate of the facility for the care of the child or the authorized rate for those supervisory services shall be paid by the county in a county having a population of less than 750,000 or by the department in a county having a population of 750,000 or more. If no authorized rate has been established, a reasonable sum to be fixed by the court shall be paid by the county in a county having a population of less than 750,000 or by the department in a county having a population of 750,000 or more for the supervision or care of the child.
48.207(2)(b)(b) If a facility listed in sub. (1m) (b) to (e) is used to hold an expectant mother of an unborn child in custody, or if supervisory services of a home detention program are provided to an expectant mother held under sub. (1m) (a), the authorized rate of the facility for the care of the expectant mother or the authorized rate for those supervisory services shall be paid by the county in a county having a population of less than 750,000 or by the department in a county having a population of 750,000 or more. If no authorized rate has been established, a reasonable sum to be fixed by the court shall be paid by the county in a county having a population of less than 750,000 or by the department in a county having a population of 750,000 or more for the supervision or care of the expectant mother.
48.207(3)(3) A child taken into custody under s. 48.981 may be held in a hospital, foster home, relative’s home, or other appropriate medical or child welfare facility that is not used primarily for the detention of delinquent children.
48.207 HistoryHistory: 1977 c. 354, 355, 447; 1979 c. 300; 1983 a. 172; 1983 a. 189 s. 329 (5); 1985 a. 332; 1993 a. 446; 1997 a. 27, 292; 1999 a. 9; 2009 a. 28, 94; 2015 a. 172; 2017 a. 140; 2019 a. 9; 2023 a. 119.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 7
cases, 1991–2018 · leading case: Dane Cnty. Dep't of Human Servs. v. Ponn P., 2005 WI 32 (Wis. 2005).
Dane Cnty. Dep't of Human Servs. v. Ponn P., 2005 WI 32 (Wis. 2005). “[7] A child may initially be held in governmental custody, which Wis. Stat. § 48.207 (1)(c) explains includes foster care, only when there is probable cause to believe that one of the criteria enumerated under Wis.”
State Ex Rel. Angela M.W. v. Kruzicki, 561 N.W.2d 729 (Wis. 1997). “be detained under Section 48.207(1)(g), Wis. Stats., by the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department and transported to Waukesha Memorial Hospital for inpatient treatment and protection.”
State Ex Rel. Angela M.W. v. Kruzicki, 541 N.W.2d 482 (Wis. Ct. App. 1995). “, which is satisfactory to this Court, the Circuit Court hereby directs that [the viable fetus], be detained under Section 48.207(1)(g), Wis. Stats., by the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department and transported to Waukesha Memorial Hospital for inpatient treatment and protection.”
Loertscher v. Anderson, 893 F.3d 386 (7th Cir. 2018). “Custody includes placement (1) in the home of an adult friend or relative, (2) in a licensed community-based residential facility, (3) in a hospital, or, in some situations (4) in an emergency treatment facility.”
In Re Termination of Parental Rights to Diana, 2005 WI 32 (Wis. 2005). “[7] A child may initially be held in governmental custody, which Wis. Stat. § 48.207 (1)(c) explains includes foster care, only when there is probable cause to believe that one of the criteria enumerated under Wis.”
In Interest of FQ, 470 N.W.2d 1 (Wis. Ct. App. 1991). “The court did so under the authority of sec. 48.207(1)(c), Stats. The trial court followed this action by ordering a custodial hearing pursuant to sec.”
N.Q. v. Milwaukee Cnty. Dep't of Soc. Servs., 470 N.W.2d 1 (Wis. Ct. App. 1991). “The court did so under the authority of sec. 48.207(l)(c), Stats. The trial court followed this action by ordering a custodial hearing pursuant to sec.”
— Wis. Stat. § 48.207(1)(c) — 1 case
In Interest of FQ, 470 N.W.2d 1 (Wis. Ct. App. 1991). “The court did so under the authority of sec. 48.207(1)(c), Stats. The trial court followed this action by ordering a custodial hearing pursuant to sec.”
— Wis. Stat. § 48.207(1)(g) — 2 cases
State Ex Rel. Angela M.W. v. Kruzicki, 561 N.W.2d 729 (Wis. 1997). “be detained under Section 48.207(1)(g), Wis. Stats., by the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department and transported to Waukesha Memorial Hospital for inpatient treatment and protection.”
State Ex Rel. Angela M.W. v. Kruzicki, 541 N.W.2d 482 (Wis. Ct. App. 1995). “, which is satisfactory to this Court, the Circuit Court hereby directs that [the viable fetus], be detained under Section 48.207(1)(g), Wis. Stats., by the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department and transported to Waukesha Memorial Hospital for inpatient treatment and protection.”
— Wis. Stat. § 48.207(l)(c) — 1 case
N.Q. v. Milwaukee Cnty. Dep't of Soc. Servs., 470 N.W.2d 1 (Wis. Ct. App. 1991). “The court did so under the authority of sec. 48.207(l)(c), Stats. The trial court followed this action by ordering a custodial hearing pursuant to sec.”
— Wis. Stat. § 48.207(l)(g) — 1 case
State Ex Rel. Angela M.W. v. Kruzicki, 541 N.W.2d 482 (Wis. Ct. App. 1995). “, which is satisfactory to this Court, the Circuit Court hereby directs that [the viable fetus], be detained under Section 48.207(1)(g), Wis. Stats., by the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department and transported to Waukesha Memorial Hospital for inpatient treatment and protection.”
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