October 20, 2008
Governor Doyle
Announces
More Than 2,500 Noncompliant
Sex Offenders Tracked Down
Also
Unveils New List of ‘Wisconsin’s Most Wanted’ Sex Offenders
MADISON –
Governor Jim Doyle today announced that as part of his Sex Offender
Apprehension and Felony Enforcement (SAFE) Initiative, retired law
enforcement members and sex offender registry specialists have tracked
down more than 2,500 sex offenders who have failed to comply with
registry reporting requirements since the initiative began in 2005.
“We have made
a great deal of progress in tracking down sex offenders so that parents,
grandparents and neighbors know where these offenders are and can help
keep children safe,” Governor Doyle said. “Our efforts in Wisconsin make
us a national leader in strategies to hold sex offenders accountable,
but we must continue to do everything we can to keep our communities
safe and secure from dangerous offenders.”
Governor
Doyle announced 2,523 noncompliant sex offenders, including 1,541 who
committed crimes against minors, have been tracked down by SAFE Teams
comprised of retired law enforcement professionals and sex offender
registry specialists from the Department of Corrections.
Through the
collaboration and proactive enforcement of the state's stringent
registry laws, Wisconsin's registry compliance rate remains at 90
percent. Wisconsin's compliance rate far outpaces the national
compliance rate of 76 percent.
Governor
Doyle also announced that law enforcement authorities have now located
61 of "Wisconsin's Most Wanted Sex Offenders," a list created in May
2006 to highlight the most dangerous and elusive sex offenders who have
intentionally evaded the sex offender registry. In addition, Governor
Doyle unveiled the names and images of 14 additional dangerous and
elusive sex offenders that meet the criteria for "Wisconsin's Most
Wanted."
Offenders on
"Wisconsin's Most Wanted" are selected based on a comprehensive set of
criteria, including seriousness of offense, overall criminal history,
history of complying with registration requirements, and other factors.
The list was developed by Governor Doyle's SAFE Task Force, a group of
top law enforcement leaders from across the state.
Governor
Doyle urges local law enforcement and residents across the state to view
the information on the Web site and contact authorities with any
information about these individuals or their whereabouts.
Information
about each offender is available on the Most Wanted Web site:
www.mostwantedsexoffenders.wi.gov
Governor
Doyle also announced today that the state’s Sex Offender Registry Web
site will make it easier than ever this year for parents to pinpoint
residences of sex offenders as they plan trick-or-treating or other
Halloween-themed activities for their children.
A special
Halloween bulletin on the Web site’s home page contains a temporary link
to
www.familywatchdog.us, a free online sex offender mapping resource
offered by the Indiana-based Family Watchdog. At this site, users can
enter their street address and derive a map showing the locations of
registered sex offenders who report a residence in the area. As always,
users of this resource should double check addresses on the map against
Wisconsin’s Sex Offender Registry Web site, which updates offender
address information daily.
In addition
to the web feature, the Department of Corrections is once again
prohibiting registered sex offenders who are under the Active Community
Supervision from taking part in Halloween activities, such as leaving
their porch lights on during trick-or-treating, answering doors to
trick-or-treaters, and from attending Halloween events where children
may be present.
The special
Halloween bulletin on the public Web site,
http://WIDOCOffenders.org, informs the public about what the agency
is doing during Halloween and urges the public to call in tips of
possible violations to the “SAFE Tip” line. The “SAFE Tip” line will be
covered until 9 p.m. on October 31, 2008.
Anyone with
information on the whereabouts of any noncompliant sex offenders should
contact local law enforcement or the "SAFE Tip" hotline toll free at
1-877-234-0085 or via email at docsafetips@doc.state.wi.us. Calls will
be answered by DOC staff Monday through Friday between 7:45 a.m. and
4:30 p.m. Anyone with any immediate concern for their safety or the
safety of a child should call 911.
You
can read more about Governor Doyle’s SAFE Initiative at:
http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/journal_media_detail.asp?prid=1358&locid=19
You
also can find out more by visiting:
http://oja.wi.gov/section_detail.asp?linkcatid=1393&linkid=708&locid=97
-30-
10/21/2008
