Wisconsin § 948.03 - Physical abuse of a child.
Full text of Wisconsin Wisconsin Statutes § 948.03 — Physical abuse of a child., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 948.03. Physical abuse of a child.
948.03(1) (1) Definitions. In this section, “recklessly” means conduct which creates a situation of unreasonable risk of harm to and demonstrates a conscious disregard for the safety of the child. 948.03(2) (2) Intentional causation of bodily harm. 948.03(2)(a) (a) Whoever intentionally causes great bodily harm to a child is guilty of a Class C felony. 948.03(2)(b) (b) Whoever intentionally causes bodily harm to a child is guilty of a Class H felony. 948.03(2)(c) (c) Whoever intentionally causes bodily harm to a child by conduct which creates a high probability of great bodily harm is guilty of a Class F felony. 948.03(3) (3) Reckless causation of bodily harm. 948.03(3)(a) (a) Whoever recklessly causes great bodily harm to a child is guilty of a Class E felony. 948.03(3)(b) (b) Whoever recklessly causes bodily harm to a child is guilty of a Class I felony. 948.03(3)(c) (c) Whoever recklessly causes bodily harm to a child by conduct which creates a high probability of great bodily harm is guilty of a Class H felony. 948.03(4) (4) Failing to act to prevent bodily harm. 948.03(4)(a) (a) A person responsible for the child’s welfare is guilty of a Class F felony if that person has knowledge that another person intends to cause, is causing or has intentionally or recklessly caused great bodily harm to the child and is physically and emotionally capable of taking action which will prevent the bodily harm from occurring or being repeated, fails to take that action and the failure to act exposes the child to an unreasonable risk of great bodily harm by the other person or facilitates the great bodily harm to the child that is caused by the other person. 948.03(4)(b) (b) A person responsible for the child’s welfare is guilty of a Class H felony if that person has knowledge that another person intends to cause, is causing or has intentionally or recklessly caused bodily harm to the child and is physically and emotionally capable of taking action which will prevent the bodily harm from occurring or being repeated, fails to take that action and the failure to act exposes the child to an unreasonable risk of bodily harm by the other person or facilitates the bodily harm to the child that is caused by the other person. 948.03(5) (5) Engaging in repeated acts of physical abuse of the same child. 948.03(5)(a) (a) Whoever commits 3 or more violations under sub. (2) , (3) , or (4) within a specified period involving the same child is guilty of the following: 948.03(5)(a)1. 1. A Class A felony if at least one violation caused the death of the child. 948.03(5)(a)2. 2. A Class B felony if at least 2 violations were violations of sub. (2) (a) . 948.03(5)(a)3. 3. A Class C felony if at least one violation resulted in great bodily harm to the child. 948.03(5)(a)4. 4. A Class D felony if at least one violation created a high probability of great bodily harm to the child. 948.03(5)(a)5. 5. A Class E felony. 948.03(5)(b) (b) If an action under par. (a) is tried to a jury, in order to find the defendant guilty the members of the jury must unanimously agree that at least 3 violations of sub. (2) , (3) , or (4) occurred within the specified period but need not agree on which acts constitute the requisite number. 948.03(5)(c) (c) The state may not charge in the same action a defendant with a violation of this subsection and with a violation involving the same child under sub. (2) , (3) , or (4) , unless the other violation occurred outside of the period applicable under par. (a) . This paragraph does not prohibit a conviction for an included crime under s.
Source: official Wisconsin text · Last verified 2026-08-27
Frequently Asked Questions About Wisconsin § 948.03
What does Wisconsin Statutes § 948.03 cover?
Section 948.03 ("Physical abuse of a child.") is part of the Wisconsin Statutes, the codified statutory law of Wisconsin. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite Wisconsin § 948.03?
A common citation format is "Wisconsin Statutes § 948.03" (Wisconsin). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of Wisconsin law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Wisconsin official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Wisconsin attorney.
How does Wisconsin § 948.03 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Wisconsin can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Wisconsin.