• Home
  • News
    • Politics / Govt
    • Legislature
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
    • Archives
  • Sports
    • Badgers
    • Packers
      • Titletown Report
    • Brewers
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support

Wisconsin Radio Network

Wisconsin News and Sports

You are here: Home / Legislature / Bill would expand police search powers

Bill would expand police search powers

March 15, 2013 By Andrew Beckett

Individuals on probation or parole could be subject to more police searches, under a bill being considered at the state Capitol.

Current state law allows Department of Corrections agents to search the property of individuals on probation or parole if they suspect an individual is violating the terms of their supervision. Legislation from state Senator Joe Leibham (R-Sheboygan) would expand that power to all law enforcement. Liebham says it would be restricted to if a law enforcement officer “reasonably suspects that the person is committing, is about to commit, or has committed a crime or a violation of their condition of field supervision.”

Sheboygan Police Captain Bob Wallace says the change will help them improve public safety by allowing those out in the field to quickly investigate possible criminal behavior. Wallace told a legislative committee Thursday that the bill would “be a tool that would assist law enforcement officers in keeping the citizens of this great state safe, and aid in the apprehension of criminal suspects.”

AUDIO: Captain Wallace (:09)

The proposal is raising some concerns though. Anthony Cotton with the Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers says it’s a broad expansion of police powers that could be easily abused by claiming there’s reasonable suspicion to do a search. Under the bill, Cotton says all it would take is a tip from someone to allow police to go to someone’s home and conduct a search.

AUDIO: Anthony Cotton (:10)

The bill is currently being considered by a state Senate committee.

 

 

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Legislature, News



Featured Stories

Senate Republicans shut down debate on conversion therapy in Wisconsin

UW Madison based Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center receives funding renewal

Secretary of State La Follette resigns from office, Godlewski named as replacement

Republican proposal to alter 1849 abortion statute won’t advance in Senate

Protasiewicz and Kelly advance in Wisconsin Supreme Court primary

TwitterFacebook

Sports Headlines

Evers’ AmFam funding plan ‘a nonstarter’ with Assembly Republicans

New pitch clock could speed up MLB games this season, says UW expert

Giannis breaks franchise scoring record, Bucks beat Nets in OT

Wisconsin’s Davis declares for NBA Draft

Badgers to face Arizona State in Las Vegas Bowl

More Sports

Tweets by @WRN

Get our news delivered to your inbox:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Copyright © 2023 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC