Should Sussex Limit Where Sex Offenders Can Live?

Members of the Sussex Public Safety and Welfare Committee are asking for a public meeting on the potential implementation of an ordinance restricting where sex offenders can live in the village.

Board members said they want to have a public meeting where residents can give input on a potential sex offender ordinance because of the potential ramifications it could have and warnings from the Wisconsin Department of Corrections that such laws are only “feel-good” ordinances that really have no impact on safety.

“I don’t know if I have a position on this, but I hear the echoes of what they said and it was pretty powerful to me,” Trustee Tim Dietrich said. “Politically, do you need feel-good ordinances for things? Sometimes you do, but you have to look at the fallout from these things.”

Restrictions on sex offenders have been popular in communities across southeastern Wisconsin in the past several years as the local laws put  restrictions where sex offenders can live or visit.

For example, most such laws ban offenders from living near day care centers, schools and parks.

Sussex, the Town of Lisbon, Hartland, City of Pewaukee, Wales and Town of Genesee are among the area communities that don’t have restrictions on sex offenders.

“This is one topic that is unanimous that every single person I talk to wants a sex predator ordinance,” Trustee Jim Batzko said.

Even though it would legally restrict the movements of sex offenders, Waukesha Sheriff’s Department Lt. James Gumm said state officials warn of pitfalls of such an ordinances because it causes sex offenders to lie about where they live. Also, he said, such restrictions are often fought in court, which can cause massive legal bills for communities.

“Essentially what they do is they create this 1,000=foot restriction area (for sex offenders), but that doesn’t mean sex offenders don’t live in your community,” he said. “They’re still going to live in your community.”

Melissa Weiss, assistant to the village administrator, said she staff will determine when and what type of public meeting to hold on the ordinance. The meeting will likely be held before the committee's October meeting, so members can decide if they want to move forward with creating such an ordinance.

Whatever the committee comes up with would ultimately have to be approved by the full Village Board.