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AB 1171

Relating to: sexual contact by a law enforcement officer with certain persons and providing a penalty.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Ryan Clancy and 5 co-sponsors

Wisconsin bill criminalizes sexual contact between law enforcement officers and certain persons, establishing penalties to prevent exploitation of authority and power imbalances.

Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1
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Bill Summary · AB 1171

Legislative bill overview

AB 1171 proposes to criminalize sexual contact between law enforcement officers and certain persons, establishing it as a criminal offense with specific penalties. The bill targets situations where officers may exploit their position of authority to engage in sexual conduct with vulnerable individuals they encounter in their professional capacity.

Why is this important

Law enforcement officers hold significant power and authority over citizens they interact with, creating inherent power imbalances that can facilitate coercion or exploitation. This legislation addresses a gap in existing law by explicitly prohibiting such conduct, protecting vulnerable populations from abuse and enhancing accountability within law enforcement agencies.

Potential points of contention

  • Definition scope: Disagreement over which categories of persons are protected (e.g., does this include all civilians, only detainees, only during active investigations, or specific vulnerable groups)
  • Burden of proof: Questions about whether consent can ever be valid given the inherent power differential, and how difficult consent cases would be to prosecute
  • Enforcement and agency concerns: Law enforcement unions or agencies may resist legislation they view as creating liability or complicating officer discipline procedures already handled internally

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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