If a person commits certain sex crimes in Wisconsin they may be required to register as a sex offender in the state sex offender registry. This is a listing of all registered sex offenders in the state, and is available to the general public. The Wisconsin Department of Corrections manages the sex offender registry for the state. Sex offender registration is governed by statute 301.45.
Who Needs to Register?
There are numerous crimes that can result in a person being added to the Wisconsin sex offender registry. The following crimes can all lead to mandatory sex offender registration:
- Felony Sex Assault
- Child Pornography Offenses
- Sexual Assault or Exploitation of a child
- Indecent Exposure
Information Included in the Registry
The Wisconsin Sex Offender Registry contains the following information for all registered sex offenders in the state:
- The offender’s home address
- Physical characteristics such as age, weight, height, hair & eye color
- A photo of the offender
- The offender’s criminal charges
This information is easily accessible by the public. Many people use it to research offenders in their neighborhood. Sex offender registration has a lot of social stigma that can stay with you for your entire life. If you’ve been charged with a serious sex crime, it’s a good idea to speak with an attorney to survey your legal options. You can view the Wisconsin Sex Offender Registry here: http://offender.doc.state.wi.us/public/