Wisconsin Criminal Defense Attorneys

At DearLegal, we connect you with experienced Wisconsin criminal defense attorneys who navigate the Class A-I felony framework, Deferred Prosecution Agreements (DPA), Truth-in-Sentencing, Wisconsin’s Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) laws, and the state’s nationally-recognized expungement framework.

Free to use — fees quoted upfront, before you commit
Matched with a Wisconsin attorney in 24 hours
30,000+ plaintiffs served nationwide

Free Wisconsin criminal defense case review

A Wisconsin attorney will take a look. Or call 1-833-WELEGAL.

How we match your Wisconsin criminal defense case

When you submit a Wisconsin criminal defense matter, we route it through a national network of independent partner firms and put it in front of the one that fits best — based on the kind of case it is, what it is likely to involve, where it has to be handled, and who has capacity to take it on now.

Case type

A criminal defense matter needs someone who handles criminal defense work day to day, not a generalist. Practice area is the first filter.

Size and complexity

Some firms are built for catastrophic injury and multi-party litigation; others resolve straightforward claims quickly. We weigh what your matter is likely to involve against how each firm actually works.

Jurisdiction and licensing

Your matter is decided under Wisconsin law, so it goes to an attorney licensed in Wisconsin who regularly appears where your case would be heard.

Capacity and fit

Availability, conflicts of interest and language all matter. If the best-fit firm cannot take your case, we route it to the next one that can — or tell you plainly when no one in the network is the right answer.

Every partner reviews your case for free. Injury and workers’ compensation matters are handled on contingency — no fee unless you win. Other matters are quoted upfront, before you commit to anything.

Get started How DearLegal works

DearLegal provides marketing and matching services and is not a law firm. Submitting a case does not create an attorney-client relationship. Matches depend on case type, jurisdiction and firm availability.

Exhibit A

What happens with a criminal defense claim in Wisconsin

Day 0
Arrest or charge.
Say nothing beyond identifying yourself and ask for a lawyer. Do not consent to searches. Everything after this is built on what you did not say.
Within 24 hours
Tell us what happened.
Two minutes on this page. A Wisconsin criminal defense attorney reviews it for free and, if it’s a fit, you’re matched within 24 hours.
Days 1–14
First appearance and bail.
Your attorney addresses release conditions and gets the charging documents. In Wisconsin, this is where the tone of the case is set.
Weeks to months
Discovery and motions.
Police reports, video, lab work, witness statements. Motions to suppress or dismiss are filed where the evidence was obtained improperly.
Before trial
Negotiation or trial.
Most cases resolve by dismissal or plea; some go to trial. Your attorney advises on the risk of each with the actual evidence in hand.
Resolution
Outcome and record.
Fees are quoted before you commit — hourly or a retainer, spelled out in writing at the free consultation.

Felony Statute of Limitations: No limit
No limit for first-degree intentional homicide, second-degree intentional homicide, first-degree reckless homicide; 6 years for most other felonies (Wis. Stat. § 939.74)
Misdemeanor Statute of Limitations: 3 years
3 years for most misdemeanors (§ 939.74(1))
Sentencing Structure: Felony Classes
Felony Classes A-I and Misdemeanor Classes A-C under Wis. Stat. § 939.50; Truth-in-Sentencing under § 973.01 — bifurcated sentence (initial confinement + extended supervision), no parole for offenses post-1999; mandatory minimums for certain firearms (§ 939.617), drug, repeat OWI, and aggravated offenses
Expungement / Record Sealing: 6 years
Wis. Stat. § 973.015 — unique: must be ordered at sentencing for defendants under age 25 with maximum sentence 6 years or less and on offense not excluded by statute; juvenile expungement (§ 938.355(4m)); 2024 reforms expanded eligibility
Bail / Pretrial Release: Bail
Bail under Wis. Stat. § 969; constitutional right to bail with exceptions (Wis. Const. Art. I, § 8); 2023 constitutional amendment (Question 1) expanded judicial discretion for bail conditions including factors like protecting community
Typical attorney fee: Hourly
Hourly / Flat Fee

Wisconsin classifies crimes under Wis. Stat. Chapters 939-948. Felonies are Class A (life without parole), Class B (60 years), Class C (40 years and/or $100,000), Class D (25 years and/or $100,000), Class E (15 years and/or $50,000), Class F (12.5 years and/or $25,000), Class G (10 years and/or $25,000), Class H (6 years and/or $10,000), Class I (3.5 years and/or $10,000) under Wis. Stat. § 939.50. Misdemeanors are Class A (9 months, $10,000), Class B (90 days, $1,000), Class C (30 days, $500). Wisconsin abolished the death penalty in 1853 (second state to do so) and never reinstated it. Wisconsin marijuana remains strictly criminalized: simple possession misdemeanor first offense (Wis. Stat. § 961.41(3g)(e)) up to $1,000 fine plus 6 months; second or subsequent offense Class I felony. No medical or recreational marijuana statewide. Wisconsin uses Truth-in-Sentencing (TIS) under Wis. Stat. § 973.01 — bifurcated sentence (initial confinement + extended supervision) with no parole (parole was eliminated for offenses committed after Dec. 31, 1999). Deferred Prosecution Agreements (Wis. Stat. § 971.39, 971.40) are widely used — completion = dismissal. Wisconsin OWI law is famously strict — first OWI is non-criminal forfeiture (civil), but penalties escalate aggressively with priors. Expungement under Wis. Stat. § 973.015 is unique: must be ordered at sentencing for eligible defendants under age 25 with sentences not exceeding 6 years.

Exhibit B

When to call a criminal defense attorney in Wisconsin

Does any of this sound like you? Tap what applies.

0of 6 apply

Tick anything that applies. Even one is reason enough to talk to a Wisconsin criminal defense attorney before you talk to an insurer.

Talk to an attorney anyway

Meanwhile, don’t

Talking to WSP, DCI, Milwaukee PD, Madison PD, or any Wisconsin officer without an attorney
Consenting to a search when Wis. Const. Art. I, § 11 may require a warrant
Missing a Wisconsin court date — bench warrants and bond forfeiture follow
Posting about the case on social media — Wisconsin DAs subpoena platforms aggressively
Deleting messages or photos from your phone — Obstruction (§ 946.41) is a Class A misdemeanor; tampering with evidence offenses can be felonies
Accepting the DA’s first plea offer without exploring DPA, drug court, mental health court, OWI Treatment Court, veterans court, or charge reduction — AND failing to request expungement at sentencing for eligible offenders under 25

Exhibit C

Criminal Defense cases we take in Wisconsin

Which one is closest to yours?

OWI

Wisconsin OWI under § 346.63 — BAC .08+ adult, .02 under 21 (Not a Drop), .04 CDL. First OWI non-criminal forfeiture (civil) — unique among states except DC. Second OWI Class A misdemeanor mandatory 5 days. Third OWI Class I felony mandatory 45 days. Fourth+ Class H felony. OWI-related Homicide (§ 940.09) Class D felony.

Sound like yours? A Wisconsin attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.

Start my free review

Exhibit D

How much do Wisconsin criminal defense attorneys cost?

Typical fee schedule

Wisconsin · Criminal Defense

Fee modelHourly / Flat Fee

Feequoted per petition or matter

Filing costsitemized upfront

Case reviewFree

Illustrative only. Your fee terms are set in a written agreement with your attorney and may include costs and expenses regardless of outcome.

Criminal Defense matters in Wisconsin are usually a flat fee per filing — quoted before you commit, not billed by the hour.

Criminal defense attorneys in Wisconsin work on hourly or flat-fee retainers — contingency fees are prohibited in criminal cases under Wis. SCR 20:1.5(d) and ABA Model Rule 1.5(d). Misdemeanors and most felonies are flat-fee; complex cases (federal, white-collar, OWI defenses) use hourly billing. The Wisconsin State Public Defender system represents indigent defendants statewide.

A good attorney walks through every number at your free consultation — before you sign anything.

Get startedTakes about two minutes. No obligation.

Exhibit E

What your Wisconsin criminal defense compensation can include

A Wisconsin criminal defense recovery is built from several parts. Tap one to see what it covers.

Charge Dismissal

Outright dismissal through motion to suppress, motion to dismiss for insufficient evidence, DA dismissal, or speedy trial dismissal.

DearLegal is a legal referral service, not a law firm. We connect individuals with licensed attorneys who can evaluate their case. Nothing on this page constitutes legal advice. Results vary based on individual circumstances.

Exhibit F

Wisconsin criminal defense questions, answered

Still unsure? Tell us what happened and a Wisconsin attorney will review it for free.

Start free review

No. Politely decline and ask for an attorney. Wisconsin State Patrol, DCI (Division of Criminal Investigation), Milwaukee PD, Madison PD, and local sheriffs use trained interrogation. Anything you say is admissible. Invoke your Fifth Amendment right to silence and Wis. Const. Art. I, § 8 right against self-incrimination.

Yes. Wisconsin Class A misdemeanors carry up to 9 months and $10,000 fine; Class B up to 90 days and $1,000. Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA, § 971.39, 971.40) — completion = dismissal — and expungement under § 973.015 (must be requested at sentencing) make early counsel critical. DV (§ 968.075) and OWI convictions trigger major collateral consequences.

State cases go through Wisconsin Circuit Court. Federal cases go to U.S. District Court for the Eastern (Milwaukee, Green Bay) or Western (Madison) District of Wisconsin under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. Federal cases commonly involve drug trafficking (I-94 corridor, Milwaukee), § 922(g) firearm cases, wire fraud, healthcare fraud, and federal program fraud.

Wisconsin plea agreements under Wis. Stat. § 971.08 are negotiated between the district attorney and defense. Pleas can include charge reductions, Deferred Prosecution Agreement (§ 971.39, 971.40 — completion = dismissal), drug court entry, mental health court entry, OWI court (Treatment Court), veterans court, and stipulated sentence recommendations within TIS framework.

Wisconsin expungement is uniquely narrow — § 973.015 requires the court to grant expungement at sentencing (not later) for defendants under age 25 with maximum sentence 6 years or less, on offenses not statutorily excluded (violent offenses, sex offenses, OWI, certain others excluded). The 2024 reforms expanded eligibility. Juvenile expungement under § 938.355(4m). If expungement was not ordered at sentencing for an eligible offense, it cannot be obtained later.

Wisconsin handles juveniles under 17 in Children’s Court under Wis. Stat. Ch. 938 (17-year-olds prosecuted as adults — Wisconsin is one of few states that have not raised the age to 18, though "Raise the Age" reform efforts continue). Juvenile records confidential. Expungement of juvenile records under § 938.355(4m). Transfer to adult court for 10+ for serious offenses under § 938.18; certain offenses for 10+ have automatic adult jurisdiction under § 938.183.

Wisconsin Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) under Wis. Stat. § 346.63: BAC .08+ adult, .02 under 21 (Not a Drop), .04 CDL. First OWI: non-criminal forfeiture (civil) $150-$300, license revocation 6-9 months — unless first OWI involved injury, child passenger, or BAC .15+ (which can be criminal). Second OWI within lifetime: Class A misdemeanor, mandatory 5 days jail. Third OWI: Class I felony, mandatory 45 days. Fourth and subsequent: Class H felony or higher. OWI-related Homicide (§ 940.09) Class D felony. Implied consent under § 343.305 — refusal triggers 1-year administrative license revocation. Wisconsin is one of only two states (with DC) where first OWI is non-criminal.

Criminal Defense attorneys by city in Wisconsin

Same Wisconsin rules and the same attorneys — with what’s local to each city.

Other case types in Wisconsin

All Wisconsin practice areas →

Animal Incident attorneysWisconsin holds dog owners strictly responsible for a bite — the first $1,000 is automatic, and the rest depends on showing the owner was careless.

Business Dispute attorneysWisconsin enforces reasonable non-competes — but if one is written too broadly, courts throw out the whole thing instead of trimming it back.

Car Accident attorneysWisconsin is a fault state where you can’t recover if you’re more than half at fault — and minimum liability coverage of $25K/$50K leaves many crashes underinsured.

Consumer Protection attorneysThe Wisconsin Consumer Act and the state’s false-advertising law give consumers strong remedies, including set statutory damages and attorney fees.

Defective Product attorneysWisconsin holds manufacturers strictly liable for defective products — and the state supreme court has repeatedly refined how the consumer-expectations test works.

Employment attorneysWisconsin’s Fair Employment Act covers more than federal law — including arrest and conviction records and using lawful products off the clock.

Family Law attorneysWisconsin is a community-property state (one of only nine) — and the law presumes an equal split of marital property at divorce.

Immigration attorneysWisconsin cases are heard at the immigration court in Chicago — and growing immigrant communities in Milwaukee, Madison, and the Fox Valley drive case volume.

Lemon Law attorneysThe Wisconsin Lemon Law is one of the more pro-consumer in the country — manufacturers face double damages for refusing to refund or replace.

Medical Malpractice attorneysWisconsin medical malpractice claims run through the state’s Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund — and the state supreme court struck down the cap on pain-and-suffering damages in 2018.

Personal Injury attorneysA three-year filing window and a unique Safe Place law that raises the duty owed by property owners make Wisconsin distinctive among Midwest injury states.

Slip and Fall attorneysWisconsin’s Safe Place law puts a heightened duty of care on public buildings and workplaces — broader than ordinary premises liability.

Social Security Disability attorneysWisconsin Social Security hearing offices in Milwaukee and Madison process moderate volumes — and federal appeals court precedent for the region shapes review.

Workers’ Compensation attorneysWisconsin workers’ comp runs through the state Worker’s Compensation Division — and Wisconsin has one of the longest comp histories in the country (first state, 1911).

Wisconsin Criminal Defense Attorneys

How we match your Wisconsin criminal defense case

Case type

Size and complexity

Jurisdiction and licensing

Capacity and fit

What happens with a criminal defense claim in Wisconsin

Arrest or charge.

Tell us what happened.

First appearance and bail.

Discovery and motions.

Negotiation or trial.

Outcome and record.

When to call a criminal defense attorney in Wisconsin

Criminal Defense cases we take in Wisconsin

OWI

Drug possession and delivery

Battery / Assault

Domestic violence / DV

Theft

White-collar crimes

Gun and firearm charges

Sex offenses

Homicide

Juvenile offenses

Probation and extended supervision violations

Federal crimes in Wisconsin

How much do Wisconsin criminal defense attorneys cost?

What your Wisconsin criminal defense compensation can include

Charge Dismissal

Charge Reduction

Deferred Prosecution / Diversion

Plea Agreement

Trial Acquittal

Post-Conviction Relief

Wisconsin criminal defense questions, answered

Criminal Defense attorneys by city in Wisconsin

Other case types in Wisconsin

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