WI- Less Restrictions for Offenders?

2-19-2009 Wisconsin:

Governor Doyle's recent budget proposal changes a sex offender monitoring program that he signed into law in 2005. The proposal no longer makes GPS tracking for certain more dangerous and high risk sex offenders mandatory after they've been out of prison and on parole for one year. It gives the Department of Correction discretion to move offenders from active "GPS" tracking to passive tracking after they've completed 12 months of parole. Previously, the bill only gave the DOC discretion only after the offender completed his or her entire sentence. Passive tracking means the DOC still tracks the offenders but they get the information a little bit later at less than half the cost of GPS tracking. "I would much rather have a system where we know where the heck these people are 24 hours a day, we are tracking them, they have every chance to lie under a passive system," said Wisconsin State Representative Scott Suder.

The Department of Corrections says this will allow the Department to maximize GPS tracking for those where the greatest need exists.

Rep. Scott Suder is one of three Republican opponents taking aim at the Governor's treatment of the sex offender management programs .

"Let's be clear, with these changes Governor Doyle is gutting the toughest sex offender tracking program in the nation," Suder said. "Not only is he cutting the funding by nearly $2 million, he's taking away the real-time 24 hour tracking requirements that mean we won't know if a sex predator visits a playground or goes near a school until after it happens."

The Governor's press office referred questions to the Department of Corrections. John Dipko from the DOC says the Governor's proposal fully funds the GPS tracking program, and that the Department of Corrections initial estimates for their budget, overestimated the costs. "I want to make this clear," said Dipko about the proposal, "A dangerous sex offender will not be taking off of it (GPS) if they pose a risk that makes active tracking appropriate." ..News Source.. by WGBA.com