Crime Victims Rights Board

Back to Boards and Advisory Groups

The Crime Victims Rights Board (CVRB) was created by Wis. Stat 15.255(2) operates by authority of Wis. Stat. Chapter 950.09 to review and investigate complaints filed by victims of crime regarding their crime victim rights. The Board is an independent agency. The Department of Justice provides staff to help administer the duties of the Board but actions of the Board are not subject to review or approval of the attorney general. If the Board determines that a violation has occurred, it has the authority to:

• Issue private or public reprimands of public officials, employees or agencies.
• Refer to the judicial commission a violation or alleged violation by a judge.
• Seek appropriate equitable relief on behalf of a victim in order to protect his/her rights (the Board may not seek to reverse, appeal or modify a judgment of conviction).
• Bring civil actions to assess a forfeiture: Intentional violations are subject to a forfeiture of up to $1000.

The Board consists of five members serving 4-year terms

Statutory and Constitutional Provisions

Constitutional Amendment: Victims' Rights (Art. 1, Sec. 9m, Wis. Const.)

Rights of Victims and Witnesses of Crime: Wis. Stat. Chapter 950

Related Statutes

Administrative Rules: Crime Victims' Rights Board [PDF]

Child victims and witnesses; duty to expedite proceedings: 971.105

Consultation With and Notices to Victim: 971.095
Crime Victim Compensation : Wis. Stat. Chapter 949
Exclusion of Witnesses: 906.15
Inquiry Before a Plea 971.08(1)(d)
Inquiry upon dismissal 971.315
Pre-sentence investigation 972.15
Restitution 973.20

Speedy Trial 971.10

Statements before sentencing 972.14

Waiting area for victims and witnesses 967.10

Staff to Board

The Department of Justice has assigned staff to the Board for administrative purposes. They are not assigned full-time to the Board but rather perform CVRB functions, as needed, in addition to their Department of Justice responsibilities.

Bruce Olsen, Assistant Attorney General, Wisconsin Department of Justice
Duties: Legal counsel to the Board.

Julie Braun, Wisconsin Department of Justice
Duties: case investigation, records maintenance, liaison to complainants, respondents, the media, Board and state agencies.

Kathryn Sullivan, Wisconsin Department of Justice
Duties: Administrative support

For More Information About Rights' Enforcement:

Enforcing Victims Rights

Frequently Asked Questions About the Board

2004 CVRB Report

Victims' Rights, Remedies & System Responsibilities: Selected Statutes

For questions relating to the Crime Victims' Rights Board, click here.

This page created by the Department of Justice. All text, images or associated items are property of the Department of Justice, and may only be reproduced with the consent of the Department of Justice.
DOJ Home | Privacy Policy | Contact DOJ