Wisconsin Senate Bill SB640

Wisconsin 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 11/7/23
• Refer: 11/7/23
• Failed: 4/15/24

Caption

Hiding, burying, or mutilating a corpse to conceal a crime and providing a penalty.

Impact

With this change, the potential consequences for those found guilty of these actions would significantly increase. A Class F felony currently carries a penalty of imprisonment for up to 12 years and 6 months and fines of up to $25,000. Under SB640, the penalties for a Class C felony would rise to imprisonment for a maximum of 40 years and fines reaching up to $100,000. This adaptation in penalties is designed to act as a deterrent against committing such heinous acts.

Summary

Senate Bill 640 aims to amend the existing laws related to the treatment of corpses in the context of crime concealment. The bill proposes increasing the penalty for mutilating, dismembering, hiding, or burying a corpse from a Class F felony to a Class C felony. Such acts are primarily committed with the intent to conceal a crime or evade law enforcement. The revision reflects a stronger stance against such offenses by introducing harsher penalties for offenders.

Contention

Although the bill primarily focuses on enhancing penalties for existing laws, discussions may arise regarding the implications of such increases on the criminal justice system. Some stakeholders may argue that harsher penalties serve as effective deterrence, while others could raise concerns about potential overreach and the impact on judicial discretion. Additionally, the proposal to classify the concealment of a crime via corpse manipulation more severely highlights the state's stance on addressing and penalizing actions deemed unacceptable within society.