THE SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY: YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW

On June 1, 1997, Wisconsin Act 440, entitled "Sex Offender Registration and Community Notification Law," became effective. This is Wisconsin's version of "Megan's Law," a law intended to help protect society by identifying convicted sex offenders and their placements within communities. This law applies to all persons who, on or after 12/25/93 were sentenced, in an institutional setting, discharged, or on field supervision for sex crimes. The Department of Corrections has allowed local law enforcement the discretion to determine, on an individual basis, the need for community notification.

How does the Hales Corners Police Department Deal With Registered Sex Offenders in Our Community?

In Wisconsin, convicted sex offenders are registered with the Department of Corrections upon their release from prison. Once released into the community, they must report to the local police department to participate in a face to face registration process. In Greenfield, the face to face registration consists of an interview as well as a booking, which includes fingerprinting and photographs. The interview is designed to gather intelligence about the offender, including their place of residence, employment and school, hobbies and interests, rules of supervision, details of the crime for which they were convicted, and other pertinent information. Based on this interview, and with information provided about the offender from the Department of Corrections, an assessment is made regarding the potential of this offender to re-offend, and the degree of danger this person presents to the community.

The assessment of an offender's potential to re-offend is not an exact science. Many factors are considered. If there are sufficient factors present to suggest a potential for danger to the community, a decision group is convened within the Police Department to determine what type of community notification might be necessary. In all cases, the safety of the community is our first and foremost concern.

The Hales Corners Police Department has no legal authority to direct where a sex offender may or may not reside.

Unless Court-ordered restrictions exist, these offenders are constitutionally free to live wherever they choose. Sex offenders have always lived in our communities; but it wasn't until passage of Act 440 that law enforcement was able to share this information with the community.