Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 301 - Corrections.
301.45 - Sex offender registration.

301.45 Sex offender registration.
(1d) Definitions. In this section:
(a) “Employed or carrying on a vocation" means employment or vocational activity that is full-time or part-time for a continuous period of time exceeding 14 days or for an aggregate period of time exceeding 30 days during any calendar year, whether financially compensated, volunteered or for the purpose of government or educational benefit.
(am) “Found to have committed a sex offense by another jurisdiction" means any of the following:
1. Convicted or found not guilty or not responsible by reason of mental disease or defect for a violation of a law of another state that is comparable to a sex offense.
2. Convicted or found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect for a violation of a federal law that is comparable to a sex offense.
3. Convicted or found not guilty or not responsible by reason of mental disease or defect in the tribal court of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band for a violation that is comparable to a sex offense.
4. Sentenced or found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect by a court martial for a violation that is comparable to a sex offense.
(b) “Sex offense" means a violation, or the solicitation, conspiracy, or attempt to commit a violation, of s. 940.22 (2), 940.225 (1), (2) or (3), 944.06, 944.18, 948.02 (1) or (2), 948.025, 948.05, 948.051, 948.055, 948.06, 948.07 (1) to (4), 948.075, 948.08, 948.085, 948.095, 948.11 (2) (a) or (am), 948.12, 948.13, or 948.30, of s. 940.302 (2) if s. 940.302 (2) (a) 1. b. applies, or of s. 940.30 or 940.31 if the victim was a minor and the person who committed the violation was not the victim's parent.
(c) “Student" means a person who is enrolled on a full-time or part-time basis in any public, private, or tribal educational institution, including a secondary school, a business, trade, technical or vocational school, or an institution of higher education.
(1g) Who is covered. Except as provided in subs. (1m) and (1p), a person shall comply with the reporting requirements under this section if he or she meets one or more of the following criteria:
(a) Is convicted or adjudicated delinquent on or after December 25, 1993, for a sex offense.
(b) Is in prison, a juvenile correctional facility, or a secured residential care center for children and youth or is on probation, extended supervision, parole, supervision, community supervision, or aftercare supervision on or after December 25, 1993, for a sex offense.
(bm) Is in prison, a juvenile correctional facility, or a secured residential care center for children and youth or is on probation, extended supervision, parole, supervision, community supervision, or aftercare supervision on or after December 25, 1993, for a violation, or for the solicitation, conspiracy, or attempt to commit a violation, of a law of this state that is comparable to a sex offense.
(c) Is found not guilty or not responsible by reason of mental disease or defect on or after December 25, 1993, and committed under s. 51.20 or 971.17 for a sex offense.
(d) Is in institutional care or on conditional transfer under s. 51.35 (1) or conditional release under s. 971.17 on or after December 25, 1993, for a sex offense.
(dd) Is in institutional care or on conditional transfer under s. 51.35 (1) or conditional release under s. 971.17 on or after December 25, 1993, for a violation, or for the solicitation, conspiracy or attempt to commit a violation, of a law of this state that is comparable to a sex offense.
(dh) Is on parole, extended supervision, or probation in this state from another state under s. 304.13 (1m), 304.135, or 304.16 on or after December 25, 1993, for a violation, or for the solicitation, conspiracy, or attempt to commit a violation, of the law of another state that is comparable to a sex offense.
(dj) Is a juvenile in this state on or after May 9, 2000, and is on supervision in this state from another state pursuant to the interstate compact on the placement of children under ss. 48.988 and 48.989, the interstate compact for the placement of children under s. 48.99, or the interstate compact for juveniles under s. 938.999 for a violation of a law of another state that is comparable to a sex offense.
(dL) Is placed on lifetime supervision under s. 939.615 on or after June 26, 1998.
(dp) Is in institutional care under, or on parole from, a commitment for specialized treatment under ch. 975 on or after December 25, 1993.
(dt) Is in institutional care or on supervised release under ch. 980 on or after June 2, 1994.
(e) Is ordered by a court under s. 51.20 (13) (ct) 1m., 938.34 (15m) (am), 938.345 (3), 971.17 (1m) (b) 1m. or 973.048 (1m) to comply with the reporting requirements under this section.
(em) Was required to register under s. 301.45 (1) (a), 1997 stats., based on a finding that he or she was in need of protection or services and is ordered to continue complying with the requirements of this section by a court acting under 1999 Wisconsin Act 89, section 107 (1) (e).
(f) On or after December 1, 2000, is registered as a sex offender in another state or is registered as a sex offender with the federal bureau of investigation under 42 USC 14072 and is a resident of this state, a student in this state or employed or carrying on a vocation in this state.
(g) Has been found to have committed a sex offense by another jurisdiction and, on or after December 1, 2000, is a resident of this state, a student in this state or employed or carrying on a vocation in this state. This paragraph does not apply if 10 years have passed since the date on which the person was released from prison or placed on parole, probation, extended supervision or other supervised release for the sex offense.
(1m) Exception to registration requirement; underage sexual activity.
(a) A person is not required to comply with the reporting requirements under this section if any of the following applies:
1m. All of the following apply:
a. The person meets the criteria under sub. (1g) (a) to (dd) based on any violation, or on the solicitation, conspiracy or attempt to commit any violation, of s. 948.02 (1) or (2), 948.025, or 948.085 (2).
b. The violation, or the solicitation, conspiracy or attempt to commit the violation, of s. 948.02 (1) or (2), 948.025, or 948.085 (2) did not involve sexual intercourse, as defined in s. 948.01 (6), either by the use or threat of force or violence or with a victim under the age of 12 years.
c. At the time of the violation, or of the solicitation, conspiracy or attempt to commit the violation, of s. 948.02 (1) or (2), 948.025, or 948.085 (2), the person had not attained the age of 19 years and was not more than 4 years older or not more than 4 years younger than the child.
d. It is not necessary, in the interest of public protection, to require the person to comply with the reporting requirements under this section.
2m. All of the following apply:
a. The person meets the criteria under sub. (1g) (a) based on a violation, or on the solicitation, conspiracy or attempt to commit a violation, of s. 940.225 (3) (a).
b. At the time of the violation, or of the solicitation, conspiracy or attempt to commit the violation, of s. 940.225 (3) (a), the person had not attained the age of 19 years and the victim had attained the age of 15 years.
c. It is not necessary, in the interest of public protection, to require the person to comply with the reporting requirements under this section.
(b) If a person believes that he or she is not required under par. (a) to comply with the reporting requirements under this section and the person is not before the court under s. 51.20 (13) (ct), 938.34 (15m), 971.17 (1m) (b) or 973.048, the person may move a court to make a determination of whether the person satisfies the criteria specified in par. (a). A motion made under this paragraph shall be filed with the circuit court for the county in which the person was convicted, adjudicated delinquent or found not guilty or not responsible by reason of mental disease or defect.
(be) A person who files a motion under par. (b) or s. 51.20 (13) (ct) 2m., 938.34 (15m) (bm), 971.17 (1m) (b) 2m. or 973.048 (2m) requesting a determination of whether the person is required to comply with the reporting requirements under this section shall send a copy of the motion to the district attorney for the county in which the motion is filed. The district attorney shall make a reasonable attempt to contact the victim of the crime that is the subject of the person's motion to inform the victim of his or her right to make or provide a statement under par. (bv).
(bm) A court shall hold a hearing on a motion made by a person under par. (b) or s. 51.20 (13) (ct) 2m., 938.34 (15m) (bm), 971.17 (1m) (b) 2m. or 973.048 (2m) requesting a determination of whether the person is required to comply with the reporting requirements under this section. The district attorney who receives a copy of a motion under par. (be) may appear at the hearing.
(bv) Before deciding a motion filed under par. (b) or s. 51.20 (13) (ct) 2m., 938.34 (15m) (bm), 971.17 (1m) (b) 2m. or 973.048 (2m) requesting a determination of whether the person is required to comply with the reporting requirements under this section, the court shall allow the victim of the crime that is the subject of the motion to make a statement in court at the hearing under par. (bm) or to submit a written statement to the court. A statement under this paragraph must be relevant to whether the person satisfies the criteria specified in par. (a).
(d)
1. Before deciding a motion filed by a person under par. (b) or s. 51.20 (13) (ct) 2m., 938.34 (15m) (bm), 971.17 (1m) (b) 2m. or 973.048 (2m) requesting a determination of whether the person is required to comply with the reporting requirements under this section, a court may request the person to be examined by a physician, psychologist or other expert approved by the court. If the person refuses to undergo an examination requested by the court under this subdivision, the court shall deny the person's motion without prejudice.
2. If a person is examined by a physician, psychologist or other expert under subd. 1., the physician, psychologist or other expert shall file a report of his or her examination with the court, and the court shall provide copies of the report to the person and, if he or she requests a copy, to the district attorney. The contents of the report shall be confidential until the physician, psychologist or other expert has testified at the hearing held under par. (bm). The report shall contain an opinion regarding whether it would be in the interest of public protection to have the person register under this section and the basis for that opinion.
3. A person who is examined by a physician, psychologist or other expert under subd. 1. is responsible for paying the cost of the services provided by the physician, psychologist or other expert, except that if the person is indigent the cost of the services provided by the physician, psychologist or other expert shall be paid by the county. If the person claims or appears to be indigent, the court shall refer the person to the authority for indigency determinations under s. 977.07 (1), except that the person shall be considered indigent without another determination under s. 977.07 (1) if the person is represented by the state public defender or by a private attorney appointed under s. 977.08.
(e) At the hearing held under par. (bm), the person who filed the motion under par. (b) or s. 51.20 (13) (ct) 2m., 938.34 (15m) (bm), 971.17 (1m) (b) 2m. or 973.048 (2m) has the burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that he or she satisfies the criteria specified in par. (a). In deciding whether the person has satisfied the criterion specified in par. (a) 1m. d. or 2m. c., the court may consider any of the following:
1. The ages, at the time of the violation, of the person and of the child with whom the person had sexual contact or sexual intercourse.
2. The relationship between the person and the child with whom the person had sexual contact or sexual intercourse.
3. Whether the violation resulted in bodily harm, as defined in s. 939.22 (4), to the child with whom the person had sexual contact or sexual intercourse.
4. Whether the child with whom the person had sexual contact or sexual intercourse suffered from a mental illness or mental deficiency that rendered the child temporarily or permanently incapable of understanding or evaluating the consequences of his or her actions.
5. The probability that the person will commit other violations in the future.
6. The report of the examination conducted under par. (d).
7. Any other factor that the court determines may be relevant to the particular case.
(1p) Exception to registration requirement; privacy-related offenses.
(a) If a person is covered under sub. (1g) based solely on an order that was entered under s. 938.34 (15m) (am) or 973.048 (1m) in connection with a delinquency adjudication or a conviction for a violation of s. 942.08 (2) (b), (c), or (d) or (3), the person is not required to comply with the reporting requirements under this section if the delinquency adjudication is expunged under s. 938.355 (4m) (b) or if the conviction is expunged under s. 973.015 (1m) (b).
(b) If a person is covered under sub. (1g) based solely on an order that was entered under s. 51.20 (13) (ct) 1m., 938.34 (15m) (am), 938.345 (3) (a), 971.17 (1m) (b) 1m., or 973.048 (1m) in connection with a violation, or the solicitation, conspiracy, or attempt to commit a violation, of s. 942.09, and the court provided in the order that the person be released from the requirement to comply with the reporting requirements under this section upon satisfying the conditions of the court order under s. 51.20 (13) (ct) 1m. or the dispositional order under subch. VI of ch. 938, upon the termination or expiration of a commitment order under s. 971.17, or upon successful completion of the sentence or probation as provided under s. 973.048 (1m) (b), whichever is applicable, and the person satisfies the conditions of the court order under s. 51.20 (13) (ct) 1m. or the dispositional order under subch. VI of ch. 938, the commitment order under s. 971.17 is terminated or expires, or the person successfully completes the sentence or probation, whichever is applicable, the person is no longer required to comply with the reporting requirements under this section.
(2) What information must be provided, by whom and when.
(a) The department shall maintain a registry of all persons subject to sub. (1g). The registry shall contain all of the following with respect to each person:
1. The person's name, including any aliases used by the person.
2. Information sufficient to identify the person, including date of birth, gender, race, height, weight and hair and eye color.
3. The statute the person violated that subjects the person to the requirements of this section, the date of conviction, adjudication or commitment, and the county or, if the state is not this state, the state in which the person was convicted, adjudicated or committed.
3m.
a. Any sex offense that was dismissed as part of a plea agreement if the sentencing court ordered that the offender be subject to the registration requirements of this section.
b. Any sex offense that was dismissed as part of a plea agreement if the adjudicating court ordered that the juvenile be subject to the registration requirements of this section.
4. Whichever of the following is applicable:
a. The date the person was placed on probation, supervision, conditional release, conditional transfer or supervised release.
b. The date the person was or is to be released from confinement, whether on parole, extended supervision or otherwise, or discharged or terminated from a sentence or commitment.
c. The date the person entered the state.
d. The date the person was ordered to comply with this section.
5. All addresses at which the person is or will be residing.
6. The name of the agency supervising the person, if applicable, and the office or unit and telephone number of the office or unit that is responsible for the supervision of the person.
6m. The name or number of every electronic mail account the person uses, the Internet address of every website the person creates or maintains, every Internet user name the person uses, and the name and Internet address of every public or private Internet profile the person creates, uses, or maintains. The department may not place the information provided under this subdivision on any registry that the public may view but shall maintain the information in its records on the person. This subdivision applies only to an account, website, Internet address, or Internet profile the person creates, uses, or maintains for his or her personal, family, or household use.
8. The name and address of the place at which the person is or will be employed.
9. The name and location of any school in which the person is or will be enrolled.
9m. For a person covered under sub. (1g) (dt), a notation concerning the treatment that the person has received for his or her mental disorder, as defined in s. 980.01 (2).
10. The most recent date on which the information in the registry was updated.
(b) If the department has supervision over a person subject to sub. (1g), the department shall enter into the registry under this section the information specified in par. (a) concerning the person.
(c) If the department of health services has supervision over a person subject to sub. (1g), that department, with the assistance of the person, shall provide the information specified in par. (a) to the department of corrections in accordance with the rules under sub. (8).
(d) A person subject to sub. (1g) who is not under the supervision of the department of corrections or the department of health services shall provide the information specified in par. (a) to the department of corrections in accordance with the rules under sub. (8). If the person is unable to provide an item of information specified in par. (a), the department of corrections may request assistance from a circuit court or the department of health services in obtaining that item of information. A circuit court and the department of health services shall assist the department of corrections when requested to do so under this paragraph.
(e) The department of health services shall provide the information required under par. (c) or the person subject to sub. (1g) shall provide the information required under par. (d) in accordance with whichever of the following is applicable:
1. Within 10 days after the person is placed on probation, supervision, community supervision, aftercare supervision, conditional release, or supervised release.
1m. If the person is being released from a prison sentence and placed on parole or extended supervision, before he or she is released.
2. If the person is on parole, extended supervision, probation, or other supervision from another state under ss. 48.988 and 48.989 or under s. 48.99, 304.13 (1m), 304.135, 304.16, or 938.999, before the person enters this state.
2m. If the person is registered as a sex offender in another state or is registered as a sex offender with the federal bureau of investigation under 42 USC 14072, within 10 days after the person enters this state to take up residence or begin school, employment or his or her vocation.
2t. If the person has been found to have committed a sex offense by another jurisdiction and subd. 2m. does not apply, within 10 days after the person enters this state to take up residence or begin school, employment or his or her vocation.
3. No later than 10 days before the person is terminated or discharged from a commitment.
4. If the person is being released from prison because he or she has reached the expiration date of his or her sentence, no later than 10 days before being released from prison.
5. If subd. 1., 1m., 2., 2m., 2t., 3. or 4. does not apply, within 10 days after the person is sentenced or receives a disposition.
(f) The department may require a person covered under sub. (1g) to provide the department with his or her fingerprints, a recent photograph of the person and any other information required under par. (a) that the person has not previously provided. The department may require the person to report to a place designated by the department, including an office or station of a law enforcement agency, for the purpose of obtaining the person's fingerprints, the photograph or other information.
(g) The department may send a person subject to sub. (1g) a notice or other communication requesting the person to verify the accuracy of any information contained in the registry. A person subject to sub. (1g) who receives a notice or communication sent by the department under this paragraph shall, no later than 10 days after receiving the notice or other communication, provide verification of the accuracy of the information to the department in the form and manner specified by the department.
(h) The department shall notify any person who is subject to sub. (1g) of the prohibition under s. 948.14.
(3) Annual registration requirements.
(a) A person covered under sub. (1g) is subject to the annual registration requirements under par. (b) as follows:
1. If the person has been placed on probation or supervision, he or she is subject to this subsection upon being placed on probation or supervision.
1m. If the person is on parole, extended supervision, probation, or other supervision from another state under ss. 48.988 and 48.989 or under s. 48.99, 304.13 (1m), 304.135, 304.16, or 938.999, he or she is subject to this subsection upon entering this state.
1r. If the person is registered as a sex offender in another state or is registered as a sex offender with the federal bureau of investigation under 42 USC 14072, within 10 days after the person enters this state to take up residence or begin school, employment or his or her vocation.
1t. If the person has been found to have committed a sex offense by another jurisdiction and subd. 1r. does not apply, within 10 days after the person enters this state to take up residence or begin school, employment or his or her vocation.
2. If the person has been sentenced to prison or placed in a juvenile correctional facility or a secured residential care center for children and youth, he or she is subject to this subsection upon being released on parole, extended supervision, community supervision, or aftercare supervision.
2m. If the person has been sentenced to prison and is being released from prison because he or she has reached the expiration date of his or her sentence, before being released from prison.
3. If the person has been committed under s. 51.20 or 971.17, he or she is subject to this subsection upon being placed on conditional release under s. 971.17 or on a conditional transfer under s. 51.35 (1) or, if he or she was not placed on conditional release or on a conditional transfer, before he or she is terminated under s. 971.17 (5) or discharged under s. 51.35 (4) or 971.17 (6).
3g. If the person has been committed for specialized treatment under ch. 975, he or she is subject to this subsection upon being released on parole under s. 975.10 or, if he or she was not released on parole, before being discharged from the commitment under s. 975.09 or 975.12.
3r. If the person has been committed under ch. 980, he or she is subject to this subsection upon being placed on supervised release under s. 980.06 (2), 1997 stats., or s. 980.08 or, if he or she was not placed on supervised release, before being discharged under s. 980.10, 2003 stats., or s. 980.09 (4).
4. If subd. 1., 1m., 1r., 1t., 2., 2m., 3., 3g. or 3r. does not apply, the person is subject to this subsection after he or she is sentenced or receives a disposition.
(b)
1. Except as provided in subd. 1m., a person who is subject to par. (a) shall notify the department once each calendar year, as directed by the department, of his or her current information specified in sub. (2) (a). The department shall annually notify registrants of their need to comply with this requirement. If the registrant is a person under the age of 18, the department may also annually notify the registrant's parent, guardian or legal custodian of the registrant's need to comply with this requirement.
1m. A person who is subject to lifetime registration under sub. (5) (b) 2. or (5m) (b) 4. shall notify the department once each 90 days, as directed by the department, of his or her current information specified in sub. (2) (a). Every 90 days, the department shall notify registrants subject to this subdivision of their need to comply with this requirement. If the registrant subject to this subdivision is a person under the age of 18, the department may also notify the registrant's parent, guardian or legal custodian every 90 days of the registrant's need to comply with this requirement.
2. The department shall notify a person who is being released from prison in this state because he or she has reached the expiration date of his or her sentence and who is covered under sub. (1g) of the need to comply with the requirements of this section. Also, probation, extended supervision, and parole agents, community supervision agents, aftercare agents, and agencies providing supervision shall notify any client who is covered under sub. (1g) of the need to comply with the requirements of this section at the time that the client is placed on probation, extended supervision, parole, supervision, community supervision, or aftercare supervision or, if the client is on probation, extended supervision, parole, or other supervision from another state under ss. 48.988 and 48.989 or under s. 48.99, 304.13 (1m), 304.135, 304.16, or 938.999, when the client enters this state.
3. The department of health services shall notify a person who is being placed on conditional release, supervised release, conditional transfer or parole, or is being terminated or discharged from a commitment, under s. 51.20, 51.35 or 971.17 or ch. 975 or 980 and who is covered under sub. (1g) of the need to comply with the requirements of this section.
3m. After notifying a person under subd. 2. or 3. of the need to comply with this section, the person who is providing the notification shall require the person who is covered under sub. (1g) to read and sign a form stating that he or she has been informed of the requirements of this section.
4. It is not a defense to liability under sub. (6) (a) or (ag) that the person subject to sub. (1g) was not required to read and sign a form under subd. 3m., was not provided with a form to read and sign under subd. 3m. or failed or refused to read or sign a form under subd. 3m. It is not a defense to liability under sub. (6) (a) or (ag) that the person subject to sub. (1g) did not receive notice under this paragraph from the department of health services, the department of corrections, a probation, extended supervision, and parole agent, a community supervision agent, an aftercare agent, or an agency providing supervision.
(4) Updated information. In addition to the requirements under sub. (3), a person who is covered under sub. (1g) shall update information under sub. (2) (a) as follows:
(a) Except as provided in par. (b), whenever any of the information under sub. (2) (a) changes, the person shall provide the department with the updated information within 10 days after the change occurs.
(b) If the person is on parole or extended supervision and the person knows that any of the information under sub. (2) (a) 5. will be changing, the person shall provide the department with the updated information before the change in his or her address occurs. If the person is on parole or extended supervision and any of the information under sub. (2) (a) 5. changes but the person did not know before the change occurred that his or her address would be changing, the person shall provide the department with the updated information within 24 hours after the change in his or her address occurs.
(4m) Information concerning a move to or schooling or employment in another state. In addition to the requirements under subs. (3) and (4), a person who is covered under sub. (1g) and who is changing his or her residence from this state to another state, is becoming a student in another state or is to be employed or carrying on a vocation in another state shall, no later than 10 days before he or she moves out of this state, begins school or begins employment or his or her vocation, notify the department that he or she is changing his or her residence from this state, is beginning school in another state or is beginning employment or the carrying on of a vocation in another state. The person shall also inform the department of the state to which he or she is moving his or her residence, the state in which he or she will be in school or the state in which he or she will be employed or carrying on a vocation. Upon receiving notification from a person under this subsection, the department shall do all of the following:
(a) Inform the person whether the state to which the person is moving, the state in which the person will be in school or the state in which the person will be employed or carrying on a vocation has sex offender registration requirements to which the person may be subject and, if so, the name of the agency to contact in that state for information concerning those requirements.
(b) Inform the agency responsible for sex offender registration in the state to which the person is moving, in which the person will be in school or in which the person will be employed or carrying on a vocation that the person is moving to the state, beginning school in the state or beginning employment or carrying on a vocation in the state, and provide the agency of the other state with all of the information specified in sub. (2) (a).
(4r) Restriction on certain registrants establishing or changing residence. No person covered under sub. (1g) who is on parole or extended supervision may establish a residence or change his or her residence unless he or she has complied with all of the applicable requirements of subs. (2) (e), (3) (b) and (4) (b).
(5) Release from requirements for persons who committed a sex offense in this state.
(a) Except as provided in pars. (am) and (b), a person who is covered under sub. (1g) (a), (b), (bm), (c), (d), (dd), (dp), (e) or (em) no longer has to comply with this section when the following applicable criterion is met:
1. If the person has been placed on probation or supervision for a sex offense, 15 years after discharge from the probation or supervision imposed for the sex offense.
2. If the person has been sentenced to prison for a sex offense or placed in a juvenile correctional facility or a secured residential care center for children and youth for a sex offense, 15 years after discharge from parole, extended supervision, community supervision, or aftercare supervision for the sex offense.
2m. If the person has been sentenced to prison for a sex offense and is being released from prison because he or she has reached the expiration date of the sentence for the sex offense, 15 years after being released from prison.
3. If the person has been committed to the department of health services under s. 51.20 or 971.17 and is in institutional care or on conditional transfer under s. 51.35 (1) or conditional release under s. 971.17 for a sex offense, 15 years after termination of the commitment for the sex offense under s. 971.17 (5) or discharge from the commitment for the sex offense under s. 51.35 (4) or 971.17 (6).
3m. If the person has been committed for specialized treatment under ch. 975, 15 years after discharge from the commitment under s. 975.09 or 975.12.
4. If subd. 1., 2., 2m., 3. or 3m. does not apply, 15 years after the date of conviction for the sex offense or 15 years after the date of disposition of the sex offense, whichever is later.
(am)
1. Except as provided in subd. 2., a person who is covered under sub. (1g) (dL) shall continue to comply with the requirements of this section until his or her death.
2. A person who is covered under sub. (1g) (dL) is not required to comply with the requirements of this section if a court orders that the person is no longer required to comply under s. 939.615 (6) (i).
(b) A person who is covered under sub. (1g) (a), (b), (bm), (c), (d), (dd), (dp) or (e) shall continue to comply with the requirements of this section until his or her death if any of the following applies:
1. The person has, on 2 or more separate occasions, been convicted or found not guilty or not responsible by reason of mental disease or defect for a sex offense, or for a violation, or the solicitation, conspiracy or attempt to commit a violation, of a federal law, a military law, a tribal law or a law of any state that is comparable to a sex offense. A conviction or finding of not guilty or not responsible by reason of mental disease or defect that has been reversed, set aside or vacated is not a conviction or finding for purposes of determining under this subdivision whether a person has been convicted on 2 or more separate occasions.
1m. The person has been convicted or found not guilty or not responsible by reason of mental disease or defect for a violation, or for the solicitation, conspiracy or attempt to commit a violation, of s. 940.225 (1) or (2), 948.02 (1) or (2), 948.025, or 948.085 (2). A conviction or finding of not guilty or not responsible by reason of mental disease or defect that has been reversed, set aside or vacated is not a conviction or finding for purposes of this subdivision.
2. The person has been found to be a sexually violent person under ch. 980, regardless of whether the person has been discharged under s. 980.10, 2003 stats., or s. 980.09 (4) from the sexually violent person commitment, except that the person no longer has to comply with this section if the finding that the person is a sexually violent person has been reversed, set aside or vacated.
3. The court that ordered the person to comply with the reporting requirements of this section under s. 51.20 (13) (ct), 938.34 (15m), 938.345 (3), 971.17 (1m) (b) or 973.048 also ordered the person to comply with the requirements until his or her death.
(5m) Release from requirements for persons who committed a sex offense in another jurisdiction.
(a) Except as provided in pars. (b) and (c), a person who is covered under sub. (1g) (dh), (dj), (f) or (g) no longer has to comply with this section when the following applicable criterion is met:
1. If the person is on parole, extended supervision, probation, or other supervision from another state under ss. 48.988 and 48.989 or under s. 48.99, 304.13 (1m), 304.135, 304.16, or 938.999, 15 years after discharge from that parole, extended supervision, probation, or other supervision or the period of time that the person is in this state, whichever is less.
2. If the person is registered as a sex offender in another state or is registered as a sex offender with the federal bureau of investigation under 42 USC 14072, whichever of the following is less:
a. The period of time that the person is a resident of this state, a student in this state or employed or carrying on a vocation in this state.
b. The period of time that the person is registered as a sex offender in another state or with the federal bureau of investigation, or 10 years from the date on which the person was released from prison or placed on parole, probation, extended supervision or other supervised release for the sex offense which subjects the person to the requirements of this section, whichever is greater.
3. If the person has been found to have committed a sex offense by another jurisdiction and subd. 2. does not apply, whichever of the following is less:
a. The period of time that the person is a resident of this state, a student in this state or employed or carrying on a vocation in this state.
b. Ten years from the date on which the person was released from prison or placed on parole, probation, extended supervision or other supervised release for the sex offense that subjects the person to the requirements of this section.
(b) A person who is covered under sub. (1g) (dh), (dj), (f) or (g) shall continue to comply with the requirements of this section for as long as the person is a resident of this state, a student in this state or employed or carrying on a vocation in this state if one or more of the following apply:
1. The person is registered as a sex offender in another state or is registered as a sex offender with the federal bureau of investigation under 42 USC 14072 and the person is required to register with that other state or with the federal bureau of investigation until his or her death.
2. The person has been convicted or found not guilty or not responsible by reason of mental disease or defect for a violation of s. 940.225 (1) or (2), 948.02 (1) or (2), 948.025, or 948.085, or for the solicitation, conspiracy or attempt to commit a violation, of a federal law, a military law, a tribal law or a law of any state that is comparable to a violation of s. 940.225 (1) or (2), 948.02 (1) or (2), 948.025, or 948.085. A conviction or finding of not guilty or not responsible by reason of mental disease or defect that has been reversed, set aside or vacated is not a conviction or finding for purposes of this subdivision.
3. The person has, on 2 or more separate occasions, been convicted or found not guilty or not responsible by reason of mental disease or defect for a sex offense or for a violation, or the solicitation, conspiracy or attempt to commit a violation, of a federal law, military law, tribal law or law of any state that is comparable to a sex offense. A conviction or finding of not guilty or not responsible by reason of mental disease or defect that has been reversed, set aside or vacated is not a conviction or finding for purposes of determining under this subdivision whether a person has been convicted on 2 or more separate occasions.
4. A determination has been made as provided under 42 USC 14071 (a) (2) (A) or (B) that the person is a sexually violent predator, or lifetime registration by the person is required under measures approved by the attorney general of the United States under 42 USC 14071 (a) (2) (C).
(c) This subsection does not apply to a person who is required to register as a sex offender under one or more of the criteria specified in sub. (1g) (a), (b), (bm), (c), (d), (dd), (dp), (e) or (em).
(6) Penalty.
(a) Whoever knowingly fails to comply with any requirement to provide information under subs. (2) to (4) is subject to the following penalties:
1. Except as provided in subd. 2., the person is guilty of a Class H felony.
2. The person may be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than 9 months or both if all of the following apply:
a. The person was ordered under s. 51.20 (13) (ct) 1m., 938.34 (15m) (am), 938.345 (3), 971.17 (1m) (b) 1m., or 973.048 (1m) to comply with the reporting requirements under this section based on a finding that he or she committed or solicited, conspired, or attempted to commit a misdemeanor.
b. The person was not convicted of knowingly failing to comply with any requirement to provide information under subs. (2) to (4) before committing the present violation.
(ag) Whoever intentionally violates sub. (4r) is subject to the following penalties:
1. Except as provided in subd. 2., the person is guilty of a Class H felony.
2. The person may be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than 9 months or both if all of the following apply:
a. The person was ordered under s. 51.20 (13) (ct) 1m., 938.34 (15m) (am), 938.345 (3), 971.17 (1m) (b) 1m., or 973.048 (1m) to comply with the reporting requirements under this section based on a finding that he or she committed or solicited, conspired, or attempted to commit a misdemeanor.
b. The person was not convicted of another offense under sub. (4r) before committing the present violation.
(am) Whoever knowingly fails to keep information confidential as required under sub. (7) may be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned for not more than 30 days or both.
(bm) Subject to s. 971.19 (9), a district attorney or, upon the request of a district attorney, the department of justice may prosecute a knowing failure to comply with any requirement to provide information under subs. (2) to (4). If the department of corrections determines that there is probable cause to believe that a person has knowingly failed to comply with any requirement to provide information under subs. (2) to (4) or has intentionally violated sub. (4r), the department shall forward a certified copy of all pertinent departmental information to the applicable district attorney. The department shall certify the copy in accordance with s. 889.08.
(c) Notwithstanding par. (a), a person who first became subject to subs. (2) to (4) under 1995 Wisconsin Act 440 and who was in prison or a secured correctional facility or a secured child caring institution, in institutional care, or on probation, parole, supervision, aftercare supervision, corrective sanctions supervision, conditional transfer or conditional release during the period beginning on December 25, 1993, and ending on May 31, 1997, shall be allowed until January 1, 1998, to comply with the requirements under subs. (2) to (4).
(d) Notwithstanding par. (a), a person who first became subject to subs. (2) to (4) under 1999 Wisconsin Act 89 and who was in prison or a secured correctional facility or a secured child caring institution, in institutional care, or on probation, parole, supervision, aftercare supervision, corrective sanctions supervision, conditional transfer or conditional release during the period beginning on December 25, 1993, and ending on May 31, 2000, shall be allowed until January 1, 2001, to comply with the requirements under subs. (2) to (4).
(6m) Notice to other jurisdictions concerning noncompliance. If the department has reasonable grounds to believe that a person who is covered under sub. (1g) (f) or (g) is residing in this state, is a student in this state or is employed or carrying on a vocation in this state and that the person is not complying with the requirements of this section, the department shall notify the state agency responsible for the registration of sex offenders in any state in which the person is registered that it believes the person is not complying with the requirements of this section. If the person is registered with the federal bureau of investigation under 42 USC 14072, the department shall notify the federal bureau of investigation that it believes the person is not complying with the requirements of this section.
(7) Information maintenance and expungement.
(a) The department shall maintain information provided under sub. (2). The department shall keep the information confidential except as provided in ss. 301.03 (14) and 301.46, except as needed for law enforcement purposes and except to provide, in response to a request for information under s. 49.22 (2m) made by the department of children and families or a county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5), the name and all residential addresses of an individual registered under this section, the name and address of the individual's employer and financial information related to the individual.
(b) The department shall not charge a fee for providing information under this subsection.
(c) A person about whom information is maintained in the registry under sub. (2) may request expungement of all pertinent information in the registry if any of the following applies:
1m. The person's conviction, delinquency adjudication, finding of need of protection or services or commitment has been reversed, set aside or vacated.
2m. A court has determined under sub. (1m) (b) that the person is not required to comply with the reporting requirements under this section.
(d) The department shall purge all of the information maintained in the registry under sub. (2) concerning a person to whom par. (c) applies if the department receives all of the following:
1. The person's written request for expungement.
2. A certified copy of the court order reversing, setting aside or vacating the conviction, delinquency adjudication, finding of need of protection or services or commitment or a certified copy of the court's determination under sub. (1m) (b).
(e) The department shall purge all of the information maintained in the registry under sub. (2) concerning a person to whom sub. (1p) (a) applies if any of the following occurs:
1. The department receives notice under s. 938.355 (4m) (b) that a court has expunged the record of the person's delinquency adjudication for the violation described in sub. (1p) (a).
2. The department issues a certificate of discharge under s. 973.015 (1m) (b).
3. The department receives a certificate of discharge issued under s. 973.015 (1m) (b) by the detaining authority.
(f) The department shall purge all of the information maintained in the registry under sub. (2) concerning a person to whom sub. (1p) (b) applies when any of the following occurs:
1. If the person was ordered by a court under s. 51.20 (13) (ct) 1m. to comply with the reporting requirements under this section, when the department receives notice under s. 51.20 (13) (ct) 1m. b. that the person has satisfied conditions of the court order.
2. If the person was ordered by a court under s. 938.34 (15m) (am) to comply with the reporting requirements under this section, when the department receives notice under s. 938.34 (15m) (am) 2. that the juvenile has satisfied the conditions of the dispositional order.
3. If the person was ordered by a court under s. 938.345 (3) (a) to comply with the reporting requirements under this section, when the department receives notice under s. 938.345 (3) (d) that the juvenile has satisfied the conditions of the dispositional order.
4. If the person was ordered by a court under s. 971.17 (1m) (b) 1m. to comply with the reporting requirements under this section, when the department receives notice under s. 971.17 (6m) (b) 2. that the commitment order under s. 971.17 is terminated or has expired.
5. If the person was ordered by a court under s. 973.048 (1m) to comply with the reporting requirements under this section, when the person successfully completes the sentence or probation as provided under s. 973.048 (1m) (b).
(8) Rules. The department shall promulgate rules necessary to carry out its duties under this section.
(9) Cooperation. The department of health services, the department of children and families, the department of transportation and all circuit courts shall cooperate with the department of corrections in obtaining information under this section.
(10) Annual fee. The department may require a person who must register as a sex offender to pay an annual fee to partially offset its costs in monitoring persons who must register as sex offenders. The department shall establish any such fee by rule, but the fee may not exceed $100.
History: 1993 a. 98, 227; 1995 a. 440 ss. 26 to 49, 53 to 74; Stats. 1995 s. 301.45; 1997 a. 3, 35, 130, 191, 237, 283; 1999 a. 9, 89, 156, 186; 2001 a. 38, 96, 109; 2003 a. 50, 53; 2005 a. 25, 253, 277, 344, 432, 434; 2007 a. 20 ss. 3130 to 3132, 9121 (6) (a); 2007 a. 80, 96, 116; 2009 a. 131, 137, 180, 302; 2013 a. 283, 362; 2015 a. 55, 80, 159; 2017 a. 174; 2017 a. 365 ss. 66, 112; 2019 a. 162.
Wisconsin's sex offender registration requirements do not constitute punishment. State v. Bollig, 2000 WI 6, 232 Wis. 2d 561, 605 N.W.2d 199, 98-2196.
That sub. (1m) allows minors found delinquent because of sexual contact to be excused from sex offender registration, but not juveniles convicted of false imprisonment, does not render it unconstitutional. Sub. (1m) creates a narrow exception for sex offenders in cases of factually consensual sexual contact between two minors. In contrast, false imprisonment is never consensual and never a crime solely because of age. State v. Joseph E.G., 2001 WI App 29, 240 Wis. 2d 481, 623 N.W.2d 137, 99-3248.
This section and s. 301.46 do not occupy the field in regulating the dissemination of sex offender registration information and do not prohibit a probation agent from requiring a probationer to inform the probationer's immediate neighbors of his or her status as a convicted sex offender, which was not unreasonable. State ex rel. Kaminski v. Schwarz, 2001 WI 94, 245 Wis. 2d 310, 630 N.W.2d 164, 99-3040.
Sex-offender registration as a condition of probation for bail-jumping was not authorized by s. 973.09 (1) (a). Bail jumping is not one of the offenses enumerated in the sex-offender registration statutes, this section or s. 973.048, that permit or require registration, and read-in, but dismissed, sexual assault charges do not bring a case within s. 973.048. State v. Martel, 2003 WI 70, 262 Wis. 2d 483, 664 N.W.2d 69, 02-1599.
Mandatory sex offender registration for juveniles under sub. (1m) is not criminal punishment. If a provision is not criminal punishment, there is no constitutional right to a jury trial. Sub. (1m) does not violate the guarantees of substantive due process or equal protection. State v. Jeremy P., 2005 WI App 13, 278 Wis. 2d 366, 692 N.W.2d 311, 04-0360.
The sex offender registry scheme under this section did not violate constitutional guarantees of equal protection or due process as applied to the defendant when the underlying crime of which he was convicted, false imprisonment of a minor, lacked a sexual element. The purpose of the statute is to protect the public, specifically children, not to identify individuals guilty of a crime with a sexual element. Because not all defendants convicted of crimes lacking sexual elements pose an inherent danger to children, not all criminal defendants will be required to register. It is reasonable to exempt parents convicted of falsely imprisoning their own children from the reporting requirement. State v. Smith, 2009 WI App 16, 316 Wis. 2d 165, 762 N.W.2d 856, 08-1011.
A person convicted of false imprisonment of a minor is required to register as a sex offender. Although the complaint in this case contained no allegation that the false imprisonment entailed anything sexual, the registration requirements of this section, as applied to the defendant, are constitutional because requiring registration is rationally related to a legitimate governmental interest. State v. Smith, 2010 WI 16, 323 Wis. 2d 377, 780 N.W.2d 90, 08-1011.
To calculate the disparity of ages required in sub. (1m) (a) 2. in determining if an actor is exempt from registering as a sex offender, the time between the birth dates of the two parties is to be determined. Sub. (1m) (a) 2. was not unconstitutionally vague as applied to the defendant. State v. Parmley, 2010 WI App 79, 325 Wis. 2d 769; 785 N.W.2d 655, 09-1210.
This section evidences a legislative intent to include out-of-state sex offenses. By its express language, sub. (1g) includes only those out-of-state offenses that are comparable to a Wisconsin sex offense. Sub. (6) (a) 2. includes out-of-state misdemeanors that are comparable to a sex offense. State v. Freland, 2011 WI App 80, 334 Wis. 2d 772, 800 N.W.2d 18, 10-0496.
A registrant cannot be convicted of violating sub. (6) for failing to report the address at which he or she will be residing when he or she is unable to provide this information. A registrant is unable to provide the required information when that information does not exist, despite the registrant's reasonable attempt to provide it. However, homeless registrants are not exempt from registration requirements and homelessness is not a defense to failing to comply with the registration requirements. Under sub. (2) (f), the Department of Corrections may require a registrant to report to a police station to provide any required information that the person has not previously provided. State v. Dinkins, 2012 WI 24, 339 Wis. 2d 78, 810 N.W.2d 787, 09-1643.
Sub. (2) (a) 6m. does not violate the 1st amendment as it is narrowly tailored to serve the government's significant interest in protecting the public from recidivist sex offenders and is not overbroad. State v. Jackson, 2020 WI App 4, 390 Wis. 2d 402, 938 N.W.2d 639, 18-2074.
The sex offender registry is not cruel or unusual punishment. State v. C.G., 2021 WI App 11, 396 Wis. 2d 105, 955 N.W.2d 443, 18-2205.
The federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA), 34 USC 20901 to 20962, does not preempt this state's enforcement of its requirement that offenders subject to registration in this state update their registration information even if they move while residing out of state. SORNA sets a floor for state registration laws, but it leaves states free to regulate in ways that are consistent with the federal purpose. State v. Triebold, 2021 WI App 13, 396 Wis. 2d 176, 955 N.W.2d 415, 19-1209.
In this case, the circuit court possessed territorial jurisdiction under s. 939.03 (1) (c) because the defendant's failure to update his sex offender registration had a criminal consequence in this state pursuant to sub. (6). The general criminal-law rule is that a crime involving a failure to act is committed at the place where the act is required to be performed. In this case, the defendant's failure to update his registration with Wisconsin authorities quite obviously had a consequence that is prohibited by this state's criminal law, thereby making territorial jurisdiction appropriate under s. 939.03 (1) (c). That the defendant's failure arises from his moving within another state—rather than within, to, or from Wisconsin—does nothing to change this obvious consequence. State v. Triebold, 2021 WI App 13, 396 Wis. 2d 176, 955 N.W.2d 415, 19-1209.
The $100 annual registration fee that sub. (10) imposes on convicted sex offenders does not violate the prohibition in article I, section 10, of the U.S. Constitution against states' enacting ex post facto laws. The fee is intended to compensate the state for the expense of maintaining the sex offender registry. The offenders are responsible for the expense, so there is nothing punitive about making them pay for it, any more than it is punitive to charge a fee for a passport. Mueller v. Raemisch, 740 F.3d 1128 (2014).
An offender is not entitled to process to challenge the legal determinations made by the authority charged under state law with administering a sex offender statute that is based on the fact of previous conviction. In this case, the offender was not deprived of a constitutional right to due process when the Department of Corrections (DOC) determined that the offender's registration status in California required him to register as a sex offender in Wisconsin under sub. (1g) (f). Because the offender's registration status in California was established after a procedurally safeguarded criminal proceeding, the offender was not entitled to pre-registration process, and the post-registration informal exchange between the offender and DOC was sufficient to comport with the requirements of due process. Murphy v. Rychlowski, 868 F.3d 561 (2017).
Wisconsin's Sex Offender Registration and Notification Laws: Has the Wisconsin Legislature Left the Criminals & Constitution Behind? Blair. 87 MLR 939 (2004).

Structure Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations