After conviction and release from incarceration for a sex offense, an offender will have various obligations and restrictions on their life, including where they may live or what kind of work they can do.
Registration Requirements
In Wisconsin, any person convicted or adjudicated of a registerable sex offense on or after December 25, 1993, must register with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections’ Sex Offender Registry. In addition, individuals must register as a sex offender if they live, work, or attend school in Wisconsin if they:
- Have registration requirements in another state or jurisdiction
- Have a prior conviction for a sex offense in a military, tribal, or federal court
- Have a prior conviction in another state for an offense comparable to a registrable offense under Wisconsin law.
Currently, sex offenders have either 15-year or lifetime registration requirements, depending on their offense of conviction. When registering with the sex offender registry, registrants must report:
- All addresses, employment, school enrollment, volunteering, and internet identifiers
- Any incarceration or release from incarceration
- Any websites the registrant creates or maintains
Registrants must update their registration within ten days of any changes, such as address changes, residence status, employment, enrollment in educational programs, volunteer work, or internet identifiers/websites.
Failing to maintain current registration information or falsifying information constitutes a crime punishable by up to six years in prison and a potential fine of up to $10,000.
Community Notification Requirements
When sex offenders get released from prison or mental health institutions, the Department of Corrections may issue a Special Bulletin Notification to local law enforcement, who will determine what level of community notification to give, based on the risk to the community, victims’ needs, and the offender’s rehabilitative needs. Wisconsin has three levels of community notification:
- Level 1: Notification limited to law enforcement
- Level 2: Notification given to specific facilities or groups, such as schools, neighbors, community groups, daycare centers, parks, or libraries
- Level 3: Community-wide notification through media releases, community meetings, or door-to-door notification
Restrictions and Limitations on Activities
In Wisconsin, sex offenders have various requirements to follow and restrictions on their activities. Regulations that sex offenders should know about include:
- Registered sex offenders must notify school district administrators of their registration status before entering school property for a school-sponsored event. Registrants under supervision must also obtain approval from their parole/probation agent before entering the school property.
- State law prohibits registered sex offenders convicted of a serious sex offense against a child from working or volunteering in a position that requires them to work or interact primarily and directly with children under 16.
- Wisconsin law also prohibits registered sex offenders from legally changing their first or last name or identifying themselves by any name other than the one they have registered with.
- Registered sex offenders must report the name/number of every email account they use, the internet address of every website they create or maintain, every internet username they use, and the name and internet address of every public or private internet profile they create, use, or maintain for themselves, their family, or their household.
Contact a Criminal Defense Attorney Today
When facing charges for sex crimes, you need experienced legal representation to protect your rights, reputation, and future. Contact Christopher T. Van Wagner S.C. today for a free, confidential consultation to speak with Attorney Christopher T. Van Wagner about your legal options for facing and resolving your charges.
