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Status:
Abolition State
In 1853, the Death Penalty Repeal Act of Wisconsin was signed into law, making the Badger State the first one to permanently abolish the death penalty for all crimes.
Wisconsin only executed one person in its history. John McCaffary was arrested and hanged for the murder of his wife, Brigid McCaffary. Approximately 3,000 spectators came to watch the hanging, which malfunctioned, resulting in McCaffary struggling for over fifteen minutes before dying. This gruesome execution contributed to Wisconsin’s abolition of the death penalty two years later.
There have been some efforts to reinstate the death penalty in Wisconsin over the years. Although 22 bills for reinstatement were introduced in the state legislature between 1991 and 1996, none were able to make it through legislative committees.
For more information and ways to get involved, contact your state's organizations:
Wisconsin Catholic Conference
The Wisconsin Catholic Conference (WCC) was founded in 1969 by the bishops of Wisconsin. The Conference seeks to fulfill the vision of Vatican Council II, which called upon the Church to be more involved in the world.
Abolition State 
Executions Paused, Abolition Legislation Introduced 
Executions Paused by Executive Action 
Active State