Non-Monogamous Families and the Law, Part 50: Summary of Wisconsin Laws

Non-Monogamous Families and the Law, Part 50: Summary of Wisconsin Laws

Adultery:

Wisconsin adultery is liable to both parties as a class I felony (Wisconsin State Legislature, 2012i), punishable by up to 3.5 years imprisonment and a fine up to $10,000 (Wisconsin State Legislature, 2012e). Repeat escalation increases imprisonment to be up to 7.5 years (Wisconsin State Legislature, 2012g). Inchoate laws apply in full, with accomplice, conspiracy and solicitation at the same level as adultery (Wisconsin State Legislature, 2012a; Wisconsin State Legislature, 2012b; Wisconsin State Legislature, 2012c). Attempt is at a class A misdemeanor (Wisconsin State Legislature, 2012d), punishable by up to 9 months imprisonment and a fine up to $10,000 (Wisconsin State Legislature, 2012f).

Wisconsin has no fornication law.

Bigamy:

Wisconsin has simple bigamy, with no purportation or cohabitation, and is liable to both marryer & marryee (Wisconsin State Legislature, 2012h). Liability is as a class I felony (Wisconsin State Legislature, 2012h), the same as adultery, with the same punishments, repeat escalation and inchoate applicability (Wisconsin State Legislature, 2012a; Wisconsin State Legislature, 2012b; Wisconsin State Legislature, 2012c; Wisconsin State Legislature, 2012d; Wisconsin State Legislature, 2012e; Wisconsin State Legislature, 2012f; Wisconsin State Legislature, 2012g).

Round-Up of Laws:

With the absence of fornication, but the presence of adultery and bigamy, only unmarried non-monogamists have no criminal liability. Liability for dyadic and non-dyadic non-monogamists is identical.

Non-Monogamous Strategies:

Because Wisconsin has simple bigamy and an adultery law, but does not have a fornication law, liability can only be avoided by not having a legal marriage within the family.

References

Wisconsin State Legislature. (2012a). Parties to a crime. (Wisconsin Statutes 939.05). Madison, WI: Wisconsin State Legislature.

Wisconsin State Legislature. (2012b). Solicitation. (Wisconsin Statutes 939.30). Madison, WI: Wisconsin State Legislature.

Wisconsin State Legislature. (2012c). Conspiracy. (Wisconsin Statutes 939.31). Madison, WI: Wisconsin State Legislature.

Wisconsin State Legislature. (2012d). Attempt. (Wisconsin Statutes 939.32). Madison, WI: Wisconsin State Legislature.

Wisconsin State Legislature. (2012e). Classification of felonies. (Wisconsin Statutes 939.50). Madison, WI: Wisconsin State Legislature.

Wisconsin State Legislature. (2012f). Classification of misdemeanors. (Wisconsin Statutes 939.51). Madison, WI: Wisconsin State Legislature.

Wisconsin State Legislature. (2012g). Increased penalty for habitual criminality. (Wisconsin Statutes 939.62). Madison, WI: Wisconsin State Legislature.

Wisconsin State Legislature. (2012h). Bigamy. (Wisconsin Statutes 944.05). Madison, WI: Wisconsin State Legislature.

Wisconsin State Legislature. (2012i). Adultery. (Wisconsin Statutes 944.16). Madison, WI: Wisconsin State Legislature.