The Wisconsin legislature has provided for the punishment, treatment
and supervision of persons convicted or otherwise responsible for
sex crimes against children, including their release into the community.
Indeed, W.S.A., ch. 980, provides for the civil commitment of sexually
violent persons. The purpose of this article is to protect the public,
to reduce the likelihood that convicted sex offenders will engage
in such conduct in the future.
The United States Supreme Court has recognized that the risk
of recidivism posed by sex offenders is high, and when convicted sex
offenders re-enter society, they are much more likely than any other
type of offender to be rearrested for a new rape or sexual assault.
See Smith v. Doe, 538 US 84, 123 S.Ct. 1140, 155 L.Ed. 2d 164(2003)
and McKune v. Lile, 536 US 24, 34, 122 S.Ct. 2017, 153 L.Ed.2d 47(2002),
citing United States Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics,
Sex Offenses and Offenders, 27 (1997) U.S. Department of Justice Bureau
of Justice Statistics Recidivism of Prisoners Released in 1983(1997).
The Village Board has reviewed research on sex offenders, including
the findings of a number of states across the United States, including,
but not limited to, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Iowa and California
as they pertain to laws adopted and which relate to imposing restrictions
on sex offenders with respect to residency; and in addition, the United
States Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit Decision on Doe v. Miller,
405 F.3d 700, 716 (8th Cir. 2005) providing, in part, "the record
does not support a conclusion that the Iowa General Assembly and the
governor acted based merely on negative attitudes toward or fear of,
or a bare desire to harm a politically unpopular group (citations
omitted). Sex offenders have a high rate of recidivism and the parties
presented expert testimony that reducing opportunity and temptation
is important to minimizing the risk of reoffense. Even experts in
the field could not predict with confidence whether a particular sex
offender will reoffend, whether an offender convicted of an offense
against a teenager will be among those who "cross over" to offend
against a younger child, or the degree to which regular proximity
to a place where children are located enhances the risk of re-offense
against children. One expert in the district court opined that it
is just "common sense" that limiting the frequency of contact between
sex offenders and areas where children are located is likely to reduce
the risk of an offense (citations omitted). The policymakers of Iowa
are entitled to employ such "common sense" and we are not persuaded
that the means selected to pursue the state's legitimate interest
are without rational basis".
The board finds the negative consequences of failing to regulate
the movement of sex offenders is a hazard to children and the community.
Thus, the Village has a duty and need to regulate where sex offenders
reside and loiter within the Village once they are reintegrated into
the community. This chapter [article] is a regulatory measure aimed
at protecting the health and safety of the children in the Village
from the risk that convicted sex offenders may reoffend in locations
close to their residences. It is the intent of this section not to
impose a criminal penalty but rather to serve the Village's compelling
interest to promote, protect, and improve the health, safety, and
welfare of the citizens of the Village by creating areas around locations
where children regularly congregate in concentrated numbers wherein
certain sexual offenders and sexual predators are prohibited from
establishing residence; and by regulating certain activities that
may be used by sexual offenders to prey on children.