Wisconsin Children's Jury Instructions
The Wisconsin Children's Jury Instructions are created as models, checklists, or minimum standards. Instructions focus on children in need of protection or services (CHIPS) cases and involuntary termination of parental rights (TPR) cases. It may be necessary to modify instructions to accommodate the facts of the case. There is not a model instruction for every situation. Comments or directions in brackets, italics, or parenthesis may describe special conditions for use, or other cautionary or explanatory material.
Cite these instructions as: Wis JI-Children
Browse the jury instructions using the table of contents below, or print the entire instruction set (rev. 7/2024).
Introductory materials
Introduction (current edition) PDF
General instructions 10-197
Suggested Order of Instructions: Child in Need of Protection or Services (CHIPS) or Termination of Parental Rights (TPR) Case (2016) Word PDF
Comment: Gender-Neutral Language (7/2024) Word PDF
Preliminary Instruction: Before Trial (7/2024) Word PDF
Juror Questioning of Witness (2018) Word PDF
Notetaking Not Allowed (2018) Word PDF
Notetaking Permitted (2018) Word PDF
Transcripts not available for deliberations; reading back testimony (1/2023) Word PDF
Recording played to the jury (1/2023) Word PDF
Confidentiality: Preliminary Instruction (2018) Word PDF
Remarks and Arguments of Counsel (2018) Word PDF
Objections of Counsel (2018) Word PDF
Ignoring Judge's Demeanor (2018) Word PDF
Impeachment of Witness: Prior Conviction or Juvenile Adjudication (2018) Word PDF
Stricken Testimony (2018) Word PDF
Credibility of Witnesses; Weight of Evidence (2018) Word PDF
Special Verdict Questions: Interrelationship (2018) Word PDF
Witness Exercising Privilege Against Self-Incrimination: Termination of Parental Rights Proceeding (1/2024) Word PDF
Witness: Absence (2018) Word PDF
Closing: Short Form (2018) Word PDF
Closing: Long Form (2018) Word PDF
Expert Testimony: General (2018) Word PDF
Expert Testimony: Hypothetical Questions (2018) Word PDF
Burden of Proof: Ordinary (2018) Word PDF
Burden of Proof: Middle (2018) Word PDF
Appropriate Date for Jury's Finding (2016) Word PDF
Five-Sixths Verdict (2018) Word PDF
Supplemental Instruction Where Jury is Unable to Agree (2018) Word PDF
Child or unborn child in need of protection or services (CHIPS) (UCHIPS) 200-295
Preliminary Instruction (2009) Word PDF
Unborn Child in Need of Protection or Services: Preliminary Instruction (2009) Word PDF
Child Without a Parent or Guardian (2005) Word PDF
CHIPS: Relinquishment of custody of newborn child (Wis. Stat. § 48.13(2m)) (7/2024) Word PDF
CHIPS: Abuse by physical injury (Wis. Stat. § 48.13(3) and § 48.02(1)(a)) (7/2024) Word PDF
Abuse by Methamphetamine Manufacturing (2010) Word PDF
Abuse by Sexual Intercourse or Contact (2010) Word PDF
Abuse by Sexual Exploitation: Violation of Wis. Stat. § 948.05(1)(a) (2010) Word PDF
Abuse by Sexual Exploitation: Violation of Wis. Stat. § 948.05(1)(b) (2010) Word PDF
Abuse by Sexual Exploitation: Violation of Wis. Stat. § 948.05(2) (2010) Word PDF
Abuse by Causing a Child to View or Listen to Sexual Activity: Violation of Wis. Stat. § 948.055 (2010) Word PDF
Abuse: Exposing or Causing a Child to Expose Genitals or Pubic Area: Violation of Wis. Stat. § 948.10 (2010) Word PDF
Abuse: Prostitution: Violation of Wis. Stat. § 944.30 (2010) Word PDF
Abuse: Advisory Verdict as to Perpetrator (2010) Word PDF
Substantial Risk of Physical Abuse (2010) Word PDF
Substantial Risk of Abuse (Methamphetamine Manufacturing) (2010) Word PDF
Substantial Risk of Sexual Abuse (2010) Word PDF
Parent (Guardian) Unable or Needs Assistance to Care for (2015) Word PDF
Parental Inability to Control (Withdrawn in 1997)
Parent (Guardian) Unable or Needs Assistance to Provide Necessary Special Treatment or Care (2015) Word PDF
Parent Fails to Provide Care (2010) Word PDF
Guardian Unable or Needs Assistance to Care for; Unwilling or Unable to Sign Petition (2009) Word PDF
Guardian Unable or Needs Assistance to Provide Special Treatment or Care; Unwilling or Unable to Sign Petition (2009) Word PDF
CHIPS: Placed for care in violation of law (Wis. Stat. § 48.13(5)) (7/2024) Word PDF
Placed for Adoption in Violation of Law (2005) Word PDF
Inadequate Care During Period of Parental Absence (Missing) (2005) Word PDF
Inadequate Care During Period of Parental Absence (Incarcerated) (2005) Word PDF
Inadequate Care During Period of Parental Absence (Hospitalized) (2005) Word PDF
Inadequate Care During Period of Parental Absence (Institutionalized) (2005) Word PDF
Parental Neglect, Refusal, or Inability to Provide (2012) Word PDF
Substantial Risk of Neglect, Refusal, or Inability to Provide (2012) Word PDF
Emotional Damage (2008) Word PDF
Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Impairment (2005) Word PDF
Unborn Child in Need of Protection or Services (2009) Word PDF
Involuntary termination of parental rights (TPR) 300-375
Preliminary Instruction (General) (2009) Word PDF
Consideration of Child's Best Interests in Termination Proceedings (2015) Word PDF
Separate Parents and Separate Verdicts in Termination Proceedings (2016) Word PDF
Relinquishment (2005) Word PDF
Abandonment (60 days) (2006) Word PDF
Abandonment: Left Without Provision for Care (2009) Word PDF
Abandonment: When Child Under One Year (2005) Word PDF
Involuntary termination of parental rights: Abandonment: Placement and failure to visit or communicate for three months (Wis. Stat. § 48.415(1)(a)2) (7/2024) Word PDF
Abandonment: Left With Another Person and Failure to Visit or Communicate for Six Months (2018) Word PDF
Continuing Need of Protection or Services (Withdrawn in 2011)
Continuing Need of Protection or Services [Wis. Stat. § 48.415(2)(a)] (1/2024) Word PDF
Continuing Need of Protection or Services (April 21, 2006, and where 2017 Wis. Act 256 does not apply) [Wis. Stat. § 48.415(2)(a)] (Withdrawn in 1/2023)
Continuing Need of Protection or Services (Before April 21, 2006, and where 2017 Wis. Act 256 does not apply) [Wis. Stat. § 48.415(2)(a)1] (Withdrawn in 1/2023)
Continuing Need of Protection or Services: Three or More CHIPS Orders (2011) Word PDF
Continuing Parental Disability (2011) Word PDF
Continuing Denial of Periods of Physical Placement or Visitation (2016) Word PDF
Abuse: Pattern of Abusive Behavior and Felony Conviction (2016) Word PDF
Abuse: Pattern of Abusive Behavior and Prior Removal by Court Order (Removal of Abused Child from Parent's Home) (2011) Word PDF
Failure to Assume Parental Responsibility (Where Paternity Determined Since Petition Was Filed) (Withdrawn in 2011)
Failure to Assume Parental Responsibility (2018) Word PDF
Failure to Assume Parental Responsibility: Knowledge of Paternity [Wis. Stat. § 48.415(6)(a)] (2018) Word PDF
Failure to Assume Parental Responsibility: Incarcerated Parent [Wis. Stat. § 48.415(6)(a)] (1/2024) Word PDF
Incestuous Parenthood (2011) Word PDF
Homicide or Solicitation to Commit Homicide of Parent (2011) Word PDF
Parenthood as a Result of a Sexual Assault (Where a Judgment of Conviction or Adjudication of Delinquency Exists) (2011) Word PDF
Parenthood as a Result of a Sexual Assault (Where No Judgment of Conviction or Adjudication of Delinquency Exists) (2011) Word PDF
Commission of a Felony Against a Child (1/2024) Word PDF
Prior Involuntary Termination of Parental Rights (2011) Word PDF
Indian child welfare cases: CHIPS and involuntary termination of parental rights 410-424
CHIPS (Out-of-Home Care Placement): Verdict [Wis. Stat. § 48.028(4)(d)] (2015) Word PDF
CHIPS (Out-of-Home Care Placement): Serious Emotional Damage or Serious Physical Damage [Wis. Stat. § 48.028 (4)(d)1.] (2010) Word PDF
CHIPS (Out-of-Home Care Placement): Active Efforts [Wis. Stat. § 48.028 (4)(d)2.] (2013) Word PDF
Involuntary Termination of Parental Rights: Verdict [Wis. Stat. § 48.028(4)(e)] (2018) Word PDF
Involuntary Termination of Parental Rights: Serious Emotional Damage or Serious Physical Damage [Wis. Stat. § 48.028 (4)(e)1.] (2018) Word PDF
Involuntary Termination of Parental Rights: "Active Efforts" [Wis. Stat. § 48.028 (4)(e)2.] (1/2023) Word PDF
Special materials SM-1-SM-2
The Wisconsin Children's Jury Instructions are created and edited by the Wisconsin Juvenile Jury Instructions Committee of the Wisconsin Judicial Conference. Instructions include contributions from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School, and are used with its permission.