Wisconsin's SAFE initiative is working to keep an eye on sex offenders.
State law requires sex offenders to stay registered with the Department of Corrections. Wisconsin had a 70% compliance rate, but that's even better now — thanks to the collaboration and proactive enforcement of the state's registry laws.
DOC Secretary Rick Raemisch says registry compliance is currently at 90%, much better than the national compliance rate of 76%.
"You know in this arena, there is only one good statistic. And although we're proud of the 90%, we strive for 100%."
In 2005, Governor Doyle created the Sex Offender Apprehension and Felony Enforcement (SAFE) Initiative. Retired law enforcement members and sex offender registry specialists work to track down thousands of noncompliant sex offenders.
"As a result of the taskforce, we have located over 2500 of these noncompliant sex offenders and got them not only re-registered, but in some cases got them also behind bars because it's a felony not to be properly registered in the state of Wisconsin."
Raemisch says there's also a list within the list – a Most Wanted List highlighting some of the most dangerous offenders. Wisconsin has over 20,000 individuals on the sex offender registry.
