Wisconsin Statutes
Wis. Stat. § 973.03 (2026)
Jail sentence
✓ current as of July 2026
Find cases:
SyfertCases citing this section
WI-LEGdocs.legis.wisconsin.gov
JustiaChapter on Justia
CornellLII Search
CasesGoogle Scholar
973.03(1)(1) If at the time of passing sentence upon a defendant who is to be imprisoned in a county jail there is no jail in the county suitable for the defendant and no cooperative agreement under s. 302.44, the court may sentence the defendant to any suitable county jail in the state. The expenses of supporting the defendant there shall be borne by the county in which the crime was committed.
973.03(2)(2) A defendant sentenced to the Wisconsin state prisons and to a county jail or house of correction for separate crimes shall serve all sentences whether concurrent or consecutive in the state prisons.
973.03(3)(a)(a) If a court sentences a defendant to imprisonment in the county jail, the court may provide that the defendant perform community service work under pars. (b) and (c). Except as provided in par. (am), the defendant earns good time at a rate of one day for each 3 days of work performed. A day of work equals 8 hours of work performed. This good time is in addition to good time authorized under s. 302.43.
973.03(3)(am)(am) If a court provides that a defendant may perform community service work pursuant to par. (a) and the defendant is sentenced to probation or imprisonment in a Huber facility under s. 303.09, or if a defendant has been ordered to perform community service work under s. 800.09, a county may, with the approval of the chief judge in the county, allow the defendant to perform community service work under pars. (b) and (c). The county may determine the rate at which all defendants in the county earn good time, except that a defendant may not earn less than one day of good time for every 3 days of work performed, nor more than one day of good time for each day of work performed. A day of work equals 8 hours of work performed. This good time is in addition to good time authorized under s. 302.43.
973.03(3)(b)(b) The court may require that the defendant perform community service work for a public agency or a nonprofit charitable organization. The number of hours of work required may not exceed what would be reasonable considering the seriousness of the offense and any other offense which is read into the record at the time of conviction. An order may only apply if agreed to by the defendant and the organization or agency. The court shall ensure that the defendant is provided a written statement of the terms of the community service order and that the community service order is monitored.
973.03(3)(c)(c) Any organization or agency acting in good faith to which a defendant is assigned pursuant to an order under this subsection has immunity from any civil liability in excess of $25,000 for acts or omissions by or impacting on the defendant.
973.03(3)(d)(d) This subsection applies to persons who are sentenced to a county jail but are transferred to a Huber facility under s. 303.09, to a county work camp under s. 303.10 or to a tribal jail under s. 302.445.
973.03(3)(e)(e) A court may not provide that a defendant perform community service work under this subsection if the defendant is being sentenced regarding any of the following:
973.03(3)(e)2.2. A crime which is a Class D, E, F, or G felony listed in s. 969.08 (10) (b), but not including any crime specified in s. 943.10.
973.03(4)(a)(a) In lieu of a sentence of imprisonment to the county jail, a court may impose a sentence of detention at the defendant’s place of residence or other place designated by the court. The length of detention may not exceed the maximum possible period of imprisonment. The detention shall be monitored by the use of an electronic device worn continuously on the defendant’s person and capable of providing positive identification of the wearer at the detention location at any time. A sentence of detention in lieu of jail confinement may be imposed only if agreed to by the defendant. The court shall ensure that the defendant is provided a written statement of the terms of the sentence of detention, including a description of the detention monitoring procedures and requirements and of any applicable liability issues. The terms of the sentence of detention may include a requirement that the defendant pay a daily fee to cover the costs associated with monitoring him or her. In that case, the terms must specify to whom the payments are made.
973.03(4)(b)(b) A person sentenced to detention under par. (a) is eligible to earn good time in the amount of one-fourth of his or her term for good behavior if sentenced to at least 4 days, but fractions of a day shall be ignored. The person shall be given credit for time served prior to sentencing under s. 973.155, including good time under s. 973.155 (4). If the defendant fails to comply with the terms of the sentence of detention, the court may order the defendant brought before the court and the court may order the defendant deprived of good time.
973.03(4)(c)(c) If the defendant fails to comply with the terms of the sentence of detention, the court may order the defendant brought before the court and the court may order that the remainder of the sentence of detention be served in the county jail.
973.03(4)(d)(d) A sentence under this subsection is not a sentence of imprisonment, except for purposes of ss. 973.04, 973.15 (8) (a) and 973.19.
973.03(5)(b)(b) In lieu of a continuous sentence, a court may sentence a person to serve a series of periods, not less than 48 hours nor more than 3 days for each period, of imprisonment in a county jail. The person is not subject to confinement between periods of imprisonment.
973.03(5)(c)(c) A court may not sentence a person under par. (b) regarding any violation under ch. 961 or the commission of a serious crime.
973.03 HistoryHistory: 1971 c. 298; 1983 a. 110, 192; 1985 a. 150; 1987 a. 27; 1987 a. 332 s. 64; 1987 a. 398, 399; 1989 a. 31, 85; 1993 a. 48; 1995 a. 281, 448; 2001 a. 109; 2007 a. 178.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 17
cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1989–2022 · leading case: State v. Schaefer, 2008 WI 25 (Wis. 2008).
State v. Schaefer, 2008 WI 25 (Wis. 2008). “01, his subpoena may be quashed, a witness may not be allowed to testify, or evidence may be excluded if the defendant is unable to show the relevance of the testimony or evidence to the rebut probable cause.”
State v. Harris, 2011 WI App 130 (Wis. Ct. App. 2011). “43 because, under Wis. Stat. § 973.03 (2), Harris is serving his sentences as a state prison inmate, not as a county jail inmate.”
State v. Schell, 2003 WI App 78 (Wis. Ct. App. 2003). “At a later hearing where Schell was represented, the court reaffirmed its judgment, concluding it *846 had the authority to prohibit home monitoring because it was an implied power of its authority to order monitoring under Wis. Stat. § 973.03 (4). Schell informed the court of…”
State v. Hezzie R., 580 N.W.2d 660 (Wis. 1998). “, Wis. Stat. § 973.03 -.20. 7 *912 ¶ 104. Of particular concern is the ability of a juvenile court to place a juvenile in secure confinement.”
State v. Charles E. Butts, 2014 WI 54 (Wis. 2014). “038 does not limit a defendant's ability under § 973.03(5) to call witnesses at the preliminary examination.”
State v. Dentici, 2002 WI App 77 (Wis. Ct. App. 2002). “" Thus, Dentici was sentenced on February 3, 1997 a sentence that necessarily commenced with the Sheriff's delivery of Dentici to the House of Correction.”
State v. Yanick, 2007 WI App 30 (Wis. Ct. App. 2007). “5 The State might argue that it should be inferred from Wis. Stat. § 973.03 (2) that there must be express statutory authority for service of concurrent conditional jail time in prison.”
State v. Riske, 448 N.W.2d 260 (Wis. Ct. App. 1989). “Sec. 973.03(1), Stats., provides: If at the time of passing sentence upon a defendant who is to be imprisoned in a county jail there is no jail in the county suitable for the defendant and no cooperative agreement under s.”
State ex rel. Singh v. Kemper, 2014 WI App 43 (Wis. Ct. App. 2014). “113 (4) (2009-10), his sentence on the two counts was one, continuous prison sentence and " Wis. Stat. § 973.03 (2) provides: '[a] defendant sentenced to the Wisconsin state prisons and to a county jail.”
State v. Eastman, 582 N.W.2d 749 (Wis. Ct. App. 1998). “[to] impose a sentence of [electronically monitored] detention at the defendant's place of residence." (Emphasis added.”
State v. Williams, 520 N.W.2d 920 (Wis. Ct. App. 1994). “7 In light of our holding that language and legislative history of § 973.03(10), Stats., governs the appellate issue, we need not address Williams's further argument that certain federal case law supports his reading of the statute.”
State v. Robles, 458 N.W.2d 818 (Wis. Ct. App. 1990). “See sec. 973.03(2), Stats. By the Court. — Judgment affirmed in part, reversed in part and cause remanded with directions.”
— Wis. Stat. § 973.03(1) — 2 cases
State v. Riske, 448 N.W.2d 260 (Wis. Ct. App. 1989). “Sec. 973.03(1), Stats., provides: If at the time of passing sentence upon a defendant who is to be imprisoned in a county jail there is no jail in the county suitable for the defendant and no cooperative agreement under s.”
State v. Galecke, 2005 WI App 172 (Wis. Ct. App. 2005).
— Wis. Stat. § 973.03(10) — 1 case
State v. Williams, 520 N.W.2d 920 (Wis. Ct. App. 1994). “7 In light of our holding that language and legislative history of § 973.03(10), Stats., governs the appellate issue, we need not address Williams's further argument that certain federal case law supports his reading of the statute.”
— Wis. Stat. § 973.03(2) — 7 cases
State v. Yanick, 2007 WI App 30 (Wis. Ct. App. 2007). “5 The State might argue that it should be inferred from Wis. Stat. § 973.03 (2) that there must be express statutory authority for service of concurrent conditional jail time in prison.”
State v. Robles, 458 N.W.2d 818 (Wis. Ct. App. 1990). “See sec. 973.03(2), Stats. By the Court. — Judgment affirmed in part, reversed in part and cause remanded with directions.”
State v. Harris, 2011 WI App 130 (Wis. Ct. App. 2011). “43 because, under Wis. Stat. § 973.03 (2), Harris is serving his sentences as a state prison inmate, not as a county jail inmate.”
State ex rel. Singh v. Kemper, 2014 WI App 43 (Wis. Ct. App. 2014). “113 (4) (2009-10), his sentence on the two counts was one, continuous prison sentence and " Wis. Stat. § 973.03 (2) provides: '[a] defendant sentenced to the Wisconsin state prisons and to a county jail.”
State Ex Rel. Darby v. Litscher, 2002 WI App 258 (Wis. Ct. App. 2002).
— Wis. Stat. § 973.03(4) — 1 case
State v. Riske, 448 N.W.2d 260 (Wis. Ct. App. 1989). “Sec. 973.03(1), Stats., provides: If at the time of passing sentence upon a defendant who is to be imprisoned in a county jail there is no jail in the county suitable for the defendant and no cooperative agreement under s.”
— Wis. Stat. § 973.03(4)(a) — 2 cases
State v. Eastman, 582 N.W.2d 749 (Wis. Ct. App. 1998). “[to] impose a sentence of [electronically monitored] detention at the defendant's place of residence." (Emphasis added.”
State v. Galecke, 2005 WI App 172 (Wis. Ct. App. 2005).
— Wis. Stat. § 973.03(5) — 1 case
State v. Charles E. Butts, 2014 WI 54 (Wis. 2014). “038 does not limit a defendant's ability under § 973.03(5) to call witnesses at the preliminary examination.”
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the
Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and
treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.