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 March 20, 2007

Governor Doyle Announces More Than 1,300 Noncompliant Sex Offenders Tracked Down

 Also Announces $37.5 Million to House Sexually Violent Predators,

$12 Million to Monitor and Track Dangerous Sex Offenders

WESTON - As part of Wisconsin's ongoing efforts to tighten the net around sex offenders, Governor Jim Doyle today announced that teams of retired law enforcement and sex offender registry experts have tracked down more than 1,350 noncompliant sex offenders since the Governor launched the Sex Offender Apprehension Felony Enforcement (SAFE) initiative in 2005.  Governor Doyle announced that in the next budget the state will direct $37.5 million to expand the Sand Ridge Secure Treatment Center and nearly $12 million for state-of-the-art monitoring tools, such as Global Positioning System (GPS) technology and polygraph testing of dangerous and repeat offenders.

"Every single day, we are working to tighten the net around sex offenders, so that parents can rest easy knowing their children are safe," Governor Doyle said.  "From creating the list of 'Most Wanted' to using retired law enforcement to track down offenders, our efforts in Wisconsin have made us one of the leading states in the nation.  In this next budget, we are making major new investments in polygraph testing, GPS monitoring, and housing sex offenders to ensure that we are doing everything we can to keep our kids safe."

More than 1,350 Noncompliant Sex Offenders Located

 Governor Doyle announced 1,359 noncompliant sex offenders, including 818 who committed crimes against juveniles, have been tracked down by SAFE Teams comprised of retired law enforcement professionals and sex offender registry specialists from the Department of Corrections. 

By forcing more sex offenders into compliance with the state's stringent registry laws, Wisconsin's registry compliance rate has surpassed 90 percent.  Wisconsin's compliance rate far outpaces the national compliance rate of 76 percent.

Progress on 'Wisconsin's Most Wanted Sex Offenders'

Governor Doyle also announced that law enforcement authorities have now located 36 of "Wisconsin's Most Wanted Sex Offenders," a list first launched in May 2006 comprising 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 15 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 rules, 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

Expansion of Facility to House Dangerous Sex Offenders

The next budget will provide $37.5 million to expand the Sand Ridge Secure Treatment Center in Mauston, including $34 million in the capital budget to create 300 new beds and $3.5 million from the operating budget to add 91 new positions.  These proposals will provide Sand Ridge with more resources to keep more of the most dangerous serial child predators away from our kids. 

Through the expansion of Sand Ridge, Wisconsin has the opportunity to be a national model for treating and evaluating sex offenders.  By researching fundamental causes for sexual violence, Sand Ridge does more than just confine sex offenders and keep them off our streets - it focuses on stopping repeat offenders and reducing the total number of sexual offenses happening in our state.

Convicting and Tracking Dangerous Sex Offenders

To equip law enforcement agencies across the state with the cutting-edge tools needed to find, track and convict sexual predators, Governor Doyle is directing nearly $12 million to support sex offender monitoring through GPS tracking and polygraph testing of dangerous and repeat offenders.

This investment will create 122 new positions to launch a statewide GPS program targeting serious child sex offenders.  The new positions include DOC monitoring center positions, probation and parole agents and sex offender registry specialists.

Polygraph testing is a highly effective tool for rehabilitating sex offenders.  By allowing law enforcement to discover previous offenses of sexual predators, this technique is proven to ultimately reduce the chances of repeat offenses and keep more of our kids safe. 

Dan Vergin, Everest Police Chief, and president of the Wisconsin Police Chiefs Association, joined Governor Doyle today and endorsed the Governor's proposal for enhanced GPS and other sex offender monitoring tools.

SAFE Tip Hotline

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of any of the most wanted sex offenders should contact local law enforcement department 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.



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