State Laws And Let Grow Updates in: Wisconsin

In Wisconsin it is criminal neglect for a person who is responsible for a child’s welfare who, through his or her action or failure to take action, for reasons other than poverty, negligently fails to provide any of the following, so as to seriously endanger the physical, mental, or emotional health of the child, is guilty of neglect and may be penalized. Wisc. Stat. § 948.21 “The following” include:

1. Necessary care.
2. Necessary food.
3. Necessary clothing.
4. Necessary medical care.
5. Necessary shelter.

While supervision is not explicitly listed, we assume supervision could fall under “necessary care” as this law is intermated.

Neglect is defined as failure to provide food, shelter and other necessary care; supervision is not specifically enumerated in the Children’s Code at Wisc. Stat. § 48.02. The Wisconsin child welfare policy manual makes clear that care includes “supervision,” stating as follows: the unmodified term “care” in the definition can be assumed to include, at a minimum, a level of supervision consistent with the child’s needs as well as protection from dangers that a caregiver can reasonably be expected to foresee and prevent. DCF Policy Standards at https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/files/cwportal/policy/pdf/access-ia-standards.pdf (p. 83).

This webpage is not a legal document, and Let Grow does not take responsibility for the content. Be mindful that some localities have rules and guidelines even when the state does not. When in doubt, consult your local authorities to confirm the laws where you live. What’s more, laws change, as do judicial interpretations of them, and this webpage may not be updated immediately.