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Plea Questionnaire

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Plea Questionnaire / Waiver of Rights

STATE OF WISCONSIN, CIRCUIT COURT, COUNTY

State of Wisconsin, Plaintiff,

-vs-

, Defendant

Plea Questionnaire/
Waiver of Rights

For Official Use

Name   Case No.

I am the defendant and intend to plea as follows:

Charge/Statute Plea Charge/Statute Plea




I am years old. I have completed years of schooling.

have a high school diploma, GED, or HSED.

understand the English language.

understand the charge(s) to which I am pleading.

receiving treatment for a mental illness or disorder.

had any alcohol, medications, or drugs within the last 24 hours.

Constitutional Rights

I understand that by entering this plea, I give up the following constitutional rights:

I understand the rights that have been checked and give them up of my own free will.

Understandings

I understand that the crime(s) to which I am pleading has/have elements that the State would have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt if I had a trial. These elements have been explained to me by my attorney or are as follows:

I understand that the judge is not bound by any plea agreement or recommendations and may impose the maximum penalty. The maximum penalty I face upon conviction is:

I understand that the judge must impose the mandatory minimum penalty, if any. The mandatory minimum penalty I face upon conviction is:

I understand that the presumptive minimum penalty, if any, I face upon conviction is:

The judge can impose a lesser sentence if the judge states appropriate reasons.

I understand that if I am placed on probation and my probation is revoked:

• if sentence is withheld, the judge could sentence me to the maximum penalty, or

• if sentence is imposed and stayed, I will be required to serve that sentence.

I understand that if I am not a citizen of the United States, my plea could result in deportation, the exclusion of admission to this country, or the denial of naturalization under federal law.

I understand that if I am convicted of any felony, I may not vote in any election until my civil rights are restored.

I understand that if I am convicted of any felony, it is unlawful for me to possess a firearm.

I understand that if I am convicted of any violent felony, it is unlawful for me to possess body armor.

I understand that if I am convicted of a serious child sex offense, I cannot engage in an occupation or participate in a volunteer position that requires me to work or interact primarily and directly with children under the age of 16.

I understand that if any charges are read-in as part of a plea agreement they have the following effects:

• Sentencing – although the judge may consider read-in charges when imposing sentence, the maximum penalty will not be increased.

• Restitution – I may be required to pay restitution on any read-in charges.

• Future prosecution – the State may not prosecute me for any read-in charges.

I understand that if the judge accepts my plea, the judge will find me guilty of the crime(s) to which I am pleading based upon the facts in the criminal complaint and/or the preliminary examination and/or as stated in court.

Voluntary Plea

I have decided to enter this plea of my own free will. I have not been threatened or forced to enter this plea. No promises have been made to me other than those contained in the plea agreement. The plea agreement will be stated in court or is as follows:

Defendant’s Statement

I have reviewed and understand this entire document and any attachments. I have reviewed it with my attorney (if represented). I have answered all questions truthfully and either I or my attorney have checked the boxes. I am asking the court to accept my plea and find me guilty.

Signature of Defendant

Date

Attorney’s Statement

I am the attorney for the defendant. I have discussed this document and any attachments with the defendant. I believe the defendant understands it and the plea agreement. The defendant is making this plea freely, voluntarily, and intelligently. I saw the defendant sign and date this document.

Signature of Attorney

Date

CR-227, 05/04 Plea Questionnaire/Waiver of Rights Wis. Stats. §971.08

This form shall not be modified. It may be supplemented with additional material.

Page 2 of 2

Plea Questionnaire/ Waiver of Rights Page 2 of 2 Case No.

Understandings

• I understand that if I am placed on probation and my probation is revoked:

• if sentence is withheld, the judge could sentence me to the maximum penalty, or

• if sentence is imposed and stayed, I will be required to serve that sentence.

• I understand that if I am not a citizen of the United States, my plea could result in deportation, the exclusion of admission to this country, or the denial of naturalization under federal law.

• I understand that if I am convicted of any felony, I may not vote in any election until my civil rights are restored.

• I understand that if I am convicted of any felony, it is unlawful for me to possess a firearm.

• I understand that if I am convicted of any violent felony, it is unlawful for me to possess body armor.

• I understand that if I am convicted of a serious child sex offense, I cannot engage in an occupation or participate in a volunteer position that requires me to work or interact primarily and directly with children under the age of 16.

• I understand that if any charges are read-in as part of a plea agreement they have the following effects:

• Sentencing – although the judge may consider read-in charges when imposing sentence, the maximum penalty will not be increased.

• Restitution – I may be required to pay restitution on any read-in charges.

• Future prosecution – the State may not prosecute me for any read-in charges.

• I understand that if the judge accepts my plea, the judge will find me guilty of the crime(s) to which I am pleading based upon the facts in the criminal complaint and/or the preliminary examination and/or as stated in court.

Voluntary Plea

I have decided to enter this plea of my own free will. I have not been threatened or forced to enter this plea. No promises have been made to me other than those contained in the plea agreement. The plea agreement will be stated in court or is as follows:

Defendant’s Statement

I have reviewed and understand this entire document and any attachments. I have reviewed it with my attorney (if represented). I have answered all questions truthfully and either I or my attorney have checked the boxes. I am asking the court to accept my plea and find me guilty.

Signature of Defendant

Date

Attorney’s Statement

I am the attorney for the defendant. I have discussed this document and any attachments with the defendant. I believe the defendant understands it and the plea agreement. The defendant is making this plea freely, voluntarily, and intelligently. I saw the defendant sign and date this document.

Signature of Attorney

Date

CR-227, 05/04 Plea Questionnaire/Waiver of Rights Wis. Stats. §971.08

This form shall not be modified. It may be supplemented with additional material.

Page 2 of 2

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What the Plea Questionnaire Is and When it’s Used

A Plea Questionnaire is a court-facing written form used to record a defendant’s understanding of charges, rights, and the consequences of entering a plea. It typically documents the defendant’s personal data, the factual basis for the plea, constitutional rights waived, prior convictions, immigration consequences, and any written agreements with the prosecutor. Courts use the completed questionnaire to confirm that a plea is knowing, voluntary, and intelligent and to create a record for sentencing and potential appeals. Accurate completion supports due process and reduces later disputes about the plea’s validity.

Why a Thorough Plea Questionnaire Matters

A clear, complete questionnaire protects the defendant’s constitutional rights and supplies the court with a reliable record of consent to a plea. Proper documentation lowers post-conviction risk and streamlines sentencing.

Why a Thorough Plea Questionnaire Matters

Who Completes and Reviews the Plea Questionnaire

Multiple participants interact with the questionnaire at different stages of the case.

  • Defense Attorney — Prepares the defendant, explains rights, and reviews answers for accuracy before submission.
  • Defendant — Provides personal details, confirms understanding of rights, and signs to indicate consent.
  • Prosecutor / Court Staff — Reviews factual admissions and records plea agreements for the docket.

Each role must verify the factual basis and signatures to preserve the plea’s legal validity.

Core Components Found in a Professional Plea Questionnaire

A standard Plea Questionnaire combines identity, charge details, rights advisement, factual admissions, plea agreement terms, and signature blocks to produce a clear record for the court.

Defendant Info

Full legal name, date of birth, address, and identification details to match court and criminal history records and avoid identity confusion.

Charge Summary

List of counts, statute citations, and plea type (guilty/no contest) that ensures the defendant knows the exact offenses involved.

Rights Waiver

Explicit advisement of rights waived by a plea, including the right to trial, jury, confrontation, and to remain silent, with space for defendant acknowledgment.

Factual Basis

Concise factual statement showing the elements the court can rely on to accept the plea, supported by defendant admission or prosecutor proffer.

Collateral Consequences

Disclosures on immigration, registration, or licensing effects, restitution, and supervised release to demonstrate informed decision-making.

Signature Block

Spaces for defendant, defense counsel, prosecutor, and judge with dates and witness or notarization lines if required by local practice.

Required Fields Commonly Included

Defendant Name: Exact legal name
Case Number: Court case ID
Charge List: Counts and statutes
Plea Type: Guilty or no contest
Signature Date: MM/DD/YYYY
Counsel Attestation: Attorney confirmation

Step-by-Step: Completing a Plea Questionnaire

Follow this ordered checklist to ensure the questionnaire is complete, consistent with counsel advice, and ready for court filing.

  • 01
    Confirm Identity: Enter defendant name and identifiers from ID
  • 02
    List Charges: Match counts and statute citations to the indictment
  • 03
    Acknowledge Rights: Read and initial each rights waiver statement
  • 04
    Sign and Date: Sign in presence of required signatories

How to Configure an Online Plea Questionnaire Workflow

Configure fields, authentication, and routing so each party receives the questionnaire in the correct order and audit trail is preserved.

Field Configuration
Defendant Signature Required; date and signature field
Attorney Attestation Required; checkbox plus signature
Prosecutor Review Optional; comment and sign
Judge Acceptance Optional; upload signed order

Typical Submission Flow for an Electronic Plea Questionnaire

This sequence shows how an electronically completed questionnaire moves from preparation to court record.

  • Prepare Document: Attorney or court clerk uploads questionnaire
  • Add Fields: Place signature, initials, and date fields
  • Authenticate Signers: Email link or SMS code verifies identity
  • Archive Record: Signed copy and audit trail stored

Technical Requirements for Electronic Completion and Submission

Ensure the chosen platform supports secure signing, audit trails, and the file formats accepted by the court.

  • File Formats: PDF or DOCX preferred
  • Authentication: Email and SMS codes supported
  • Audit Trail: IP, timestamp, and history

Confirm local court e-filing requirements before submission; retain the native signed file and a reproducible PDF for the court record and defense file.

Common Timing Considerations and Court Deadlines

Timing varies by court; use these common deadlines as a checklist when planning plea submission and hearings.

Pretrial Conference Deadline:

Plea offers often exchanged before scheduled pretrial conference

Plea Submission:

Submit questionnaire prior to or at the plea hearing

Sentencing Hearing:

Sentencing scheduled following plea acceptance, timeline varies

Rule 11 Hearing:

Court may hold colloquy to confirm voluntariness

Appeal Window:

Post-conviction time limits depend on jurisdiction

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Preparing the Questionnaire

  • Incomplete defendant identification or mismatched names leading to misfiled records and verification delays.
  • Vague factual admissions that fail to establish elements of the charged offense and risk plea rejection.
  • Missing or unsigned counsel attestation causing the court to question voluntariness and require re-examination.
  • Failing to disclose collateral consequences such as immigration or registration requirements, which can result in ineffective-assistance claims.

Consequences of an Incorrect or Incomplete Questionnaire

Plea Withdrawal: May be allowed
Sentencing Delay: Hearing rescheduled
Vacated Plea: Possible on collateral attack
Sanctions: Court-imposed sanctions
Ineffective Assistance: Potential claim
Administrative Rejection: Form returned

eSignature Pricing Snapshot for Plea Questionnaire Workflows

Comparing entry-level pricing and basic feature availability can help courts and counsel select a platform that supports secure e-signing and audit trails.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial 7-day trial No No Yes, limited Yes, limited
Bulk Send Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Frequently Asked Questions About Plea Questionnaires

Answers to common procedural and technical questions about completing, signing, and filing Plea Questionnaires in U.S. practice.


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