State v. Crystal L. Bizzle, 222 Wis. 2d 100, 585 N.W. 899 (Ct. App. 1998)
For Bizzle: Charles B. Vetzner, SPD, Madison Appellate
Issue/Holding:
To define “crime prevention organization” to include law enforcement agencies would lead to absurd results. By ordering a defendant to make a contribution to a “crime prevention organization,” a court could order a defendant to repay internal operating expenses of a police department and routine operating expenses of the State Crime Laboratory or return drug “buy money” and circumvent judicial interpretation of the applicable statutes and subsequent legislative acquiescence to that interpretation. Because we are required to avoid statutory constructions which lead to an absurd or unreasonable result, see State v. Mendoza, 96 Wis.2d 106, 115, 291 N.W.2d 478, 483 (1980), we reverse that portion of the judgment that orders Bizzle to make a contribution to the Racine Police Department Street Crimes Unit pursuant to § 973.06(1)(f), Stats.
