Politics & Government

Waukesha Committee Moves Forward Ordinance Limiting Sex Offender Placement

If approved by Common Council, Wisconsin Department of Corrections could only release registered sex offenders in the city if they were permanent residents of the city at the time of their offense.

The Ordinance & License Committee approved Monday night amending the city’s sex offender residency ordinance to prevent the Wisconsin Department of Corrections from placing registered sex offenders in the city after their release from prison unless they were a permanent resident of the city at the time of their offense.

The rationale behind the DOC’s placement is that Waukesha is close to the central services. Registered sex offenders are generally release to the county where they lived when they committed their crime.

A permanent resident is defined as someone who has lived in the city for 14 days or more.

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“I feel that we don’t need to be a dumping ground for these people just because we have the services,” said Alderman Steve Johnson, who brought the ordinance forward.

The city’s current sex offender ordinance prohibits registered sex offenders from living within 750 feet of places children are normally present, such as schools and parks. They also are prohibited from loitering within 750 feet of those areas.

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The city attorney's office will review the ordinance change before it moves forward to the Common Council.


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