Sex offenders in Oneida County
How the rules are enforced
By Sheriff Grady Hartman
At times our office receives questions about sex offenders in our county. As the rules for sex offenders vary throughout the country, it can be confusing. Sex offenders in Wisconsin are required to register with the Department of Corrections Registration Specialist in their area. They must provide updated information about their home address and where they work or go to school. On a regular basis, their photograph is updated by the Registration Specialist. All of this information is available to the public at the Wisconsin Sex Offenders Registry online located at http://offender.doc.state.wi.us/public/.
Oneida County currently does not have any areas that sex offenders are prohibited from living. This means they can live anywhere within the county including near schools and in apartment complexes where there are children. Sex offenders who are currently on probation or parole may have rules that limit where they live, but once their probation or parole is complete, they can live wherever they wish.
Wisconsin Statute 301.46(2)(e) allows for Sheriffs and Chiefs of Police to provide information to the community about sex offenders if they believe the information protects the public. When a sex offender is initially being released from prison or jail, there may be a meeting of law enforcement representatives from the different agencies in Oneida County to include Probation and Parole and the District Attorney’s Office. The sex offender’s history and the offender’s plans for where the offender is going to reside are discussed. The group will decided if and how the community should be notified about the offender’s presence in the neighborhood. A notification may be made to the community using a press release to local media or flyers with information about the offender may be distributed throughout the neighborhood the offender plans to live in.
As the Sheriff, I want to ensure the safety of all of the citizens of Oneida County. Citizens are entitled to information about where sex offenders live and work to protect their families. Sex offenders who are abiding by the requirements of the law to register are also entitled to live within our county without being harassed. If you have questions or concerns in regards to sex offenders, you can contact Captain Terri Hook at the Sheriff’s Office (715-361-5100) or Sue Klemmans, the registration Specialist for this area (715-748-1113).
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