Changes on tap for WCCA

Madison, Wisconsin - September 21, 2006

Executive summaries that help viewers to interpret case information are among the changes that will be rolled out this week on Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA), the popular Web site that provides quick and easy access to circuit court records.

The changes result from the recommendations of a committee appointed by Director of State Courts A. John Voelker. Comprised of judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, technology experts, clerks of court, members of the media, law enforcement, legislators, and court staff, the committee reviewed the policy on what information is available on WCCA, how long that information remains on the site, and how it is presented.

Among the most visible changes will be the addition of executive summaries that will appear when accessing a criminal, traffic, forfeiture or a civil case filed with a restraining order.

“When you have charges that are dismissed but read in, deferred prosecutions, ‘filed-only’ cases, pardons, and so on, it becomes difficult to understand what exactly took place,” said Judge Gary Carlson, a committee member who participated in crafting the executive summaries. Carlson, a Taylor County Circuit Court judge, said the summaries – along with a glossary of legal terms – should help to ensure that visitors to the site correctly interpret the information that is presented.

Among frequently misinterpreted cases are criminal matters that are dismissed. Under the old system, the dismissal might not have been immediately clear to the viewer. Now, the executive summary that will display prior to viewing the case details will read as follows: All charges against John Doe in this case have been dismissed. These charges were not proven and have no legal effect. John Doe is presumed innocent.

All of the executive summaries will be accompanied by an admonition that discriminating against job applicants on the basis of conviction records may be a violation of state law.

Another key change involves the length of time that certain records remain accessible on the site. The committee recommended that WCCA follow the minimum records retention rule developed by the Supreme Court, which will mean that certain cases that WCCA would have retained for 10 years in the past will be available for shorter periods. Small claims matters that have been dismissed, for example, will appear for two years and traffic and forfeiture cases will appear for five years. The exceptions are cases that include (1) an outstanding warrant, (2) a pending appeal, or (3) money is owed.

The committee’s full recommendations – which the director of state courts accepted – are available in a 42-page report that was issued in March 2006.

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