Under the 2017 Wisconsin Act 143, mandatory reporters, such as: teachers, counselors, administrators, clergy, health professionals and others are now required to report threats of school violence.
These threats must be reported if an individual, in good faith, believes that the threat poses a serious and imminent threat to the health and safety of a student, school employee, or the public. They must report these threats to law enforcement immediately.
The Act provides protection from civil or criminal liability for anyone who makes a report in good faith. Health care providers, who do not report threats based on good faith and their professional judgment, are also immune.
Act 143 also creates an exemption from mandatory reporting for members of the clergy who receive information obtained under the seal of the confessional.
Failing to report a threat can result in an unclassified misdemeanor, up to a $1,000 fine, or six months of imprisonment, or both.
WCRIS and the Wisconsin Catholic Conference are monitoring the law and how it will be implemented. This new law is outlined in the upcoming 2018-2019 WCRIS Legal Handbook.
