Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 301 - Corrections.
301.46 - Access to information concerning sex offenders.

301.46 Access to information concerning sex offenders.
(1) Definitions. In this section:
(a) “Agency with jurisdiction" means the state agency with the authority or duty to confine or supervise a person or release or discharge a person from confinement.
(b) “Sex offense" has the meaning given in s. 301.45 (1d) (b).
(2) Access for law enforcement agencies.
(a) When a person is registered with the department under s. 301.45 (2), the department shall immediately make the information specified in par. (b) available to the police chief of any community and the sheriff of any county in which the person is residing, is employed or is attending school. The department shall make information available under this paragraph through a direct electronic data transfer system.
(b) The department shall make all of the following information available under par. (a):
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, 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 s. 301.45.
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 s. 301.45.
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 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 s. 301.45.
5. All addresses at which the person is 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.
8. The name and address of the place at which the person is employed.
9. The name and location of any school in which the person is enrolled.
10. The most recent date on which the information under s. 301.45 was updated.
(c) When a person who is registered under s. 301.45 (2) updates information under s. 301.45 (4), the department shall immediately make the updated information available to the police chief of any community and the sheriff of any county in which the person is residing, is employed or is attending school. The department shall make the updated information available under this paragraph through a direct electronic data transfer system.
(d) In addition to having access to information under pars. (a) and (c), a police chief or sheriff may request that the department provide the police chief or sheriff with information concerning any person registered under s. 301.45.
(e) A police chief or sheriff may provide any of the information to which he or she has access under this subsection to an entity in the police chief's community or the sheriff's county that is entitled to request information under sub. (4), to any person requesting information under sub. (5) or to members of the general public if, in the opinion of the police chief or sheriff, providing that information is necessary to protect the public.
(2m) Bulletins to law enforcement agencies.
(a)
1. If an agency with jurisdiction confines a person under s. 301.046, provides a person entering the intensive sanctions program under s. 301.048 with a sanction other than a placement in a Type 1 prison or a jail, or releases a person from confinement in a state correctional institution or institutional care, and the person has, on one occasion only, been convicted or found not guilty or not responsible by reason of mental disease or defect for a sex offense or for a violation of a law of this state that is comparable to a sex offense, the agency with jurisdiction may notify the police chief of any community and the sheriff of any county in which the person will be residing, employed, or attending school if the agency with jurisdiction determines that such notification is necessary to protect the public. Notification under this subdivision may be in addition to providing access to information under sub. (2) or to any other notification that an agency with jurisdiction is authorized to provide.
2. If a person described under s. 301.45 (1g) (dh), (dj), (f), or (g) becomes a resident of this state from another state under s. 304.16, becomes a student in this state, becomes employed or begins carrying on a vocation in this state, or becomes subject to a sanction in this state other than a placement in a Type 1 prison or a jail, and the person has, on one occasion only, been convicted or found not guilty or not responsible by reason of mental disease or defect for a violation of the law of another jurisdiction that is comparable to a sex offense, the department may notify the police chief of any community and the sheriff of any county in which the person will be residing, employed or carrying on a vocation, or attending school if the department determines that such notification is necessary to protect the public. Notification under this subdivision may be in addition to providing access to information under sub. (2) or to any other notification that the department is authorized to provide.
(am)
1. If an agency with jurisdiction confines a person under s. 301.046, provides a person entering the intensive sanctions program under s. 301.048 with a sanction other than a placement in a Type 1 prison or a jail, or releases a person from confinement in a state correctional institution or institutional care, and the person has been found to be a sexually violent person under ch. 980 or 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 of a law of this state that is comparable to a sex offense, the agency with jurisdiction shall notify the police chief of any community and the sheriff of any county in which the person will be residing, employed, or attending school and through or to which the person will be regularly traveling. Notification under this subdivision is in addition to providing access to information under sub. (2) and to any other notification that an agency with jurisdiction is authorized to provide.
2. If a person described under s. 301.45 (1g) (dh), (dj), (f), or (g) becomes a resident of this state from another state under s. 304.16, becomes a student in this state, becomes employed or begins carrying on a vocation in this state, or becomes subject to a sanction in this state other than a placement in a Type 1 prison or a jail, and 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 violation of the law of another jurisdiction that is comparable to a sex offense, the department shall notify the police chief of any community and the sheriff of any county in which the person will be residing, employed or carrying on a vocation, or attending school. Notification under this subdivision is in addition to providing access to information under sub. (2) or to any other notification that the department is authorized to provide.
(ap) If the subject of the notification under par. (a) or (am) changes his or her residential address, the agency with jurisdiction shall notify the police chief of any community, and the sheriff of any county, in which the person will be residing, employed, or attending school. Notification under this paragraph may be in an electronic form or in the form of a written bulletin and shall be in addition to providing access to information under sub. (2) and to any other notification that an agency with jurisdiction is authorized to provide.
(at)
1. Paragraphs (a) and (am) do not apply to a person if a court has determined under s. 301.45 (1m) that the person is not required to comply with the reporting requirements under s. 301.45.
2. Paragraph (ap) does not apply if the agency with jurisdiction determines that notification is not necessary in the interest of public protection and that the person did not commit a sex offense with the use or threat of force or violence.
(b) The notification under par. (a) or (am) shall be in the form of a written bulletin to the police chief or sheriff that contains all of the following:
1. The information specified in sub. (2) (b).
1m. Notice that, beginning on June 1, 2001, information concerning persons registered under s. 301.45 will be available on the Internet site established by the department under sub. (5n).
2. Any other information that the agency with jurisdiction, if the notice is provided under par. (a) 1. or (am) 1., or that the department, if the notice is provided under par. (a) 2. or (am) 2., determines is necessary to assist law enforcement officers or to protect the public. Information under this subdivision may include a photograph of the person, other identifying information and a description of the person's patterns of violation.
(c) A police chief or sheriff who receives a bulletin under this subsection may provide any of the information in the bulletin to an entity in the police chief's community or the sheriff's county that is entitled to request information under sub. (4), to any person requesting information under sub. (5) or to members of the general public if, in the opinion of the police chief or sheriff, providing that information is necessary to protect the public.
(3) Notification of victims.
(a) In this subsection:
1. “Member of the family" means spouse, domestic partner under ch. 770, child, parent, sibling or legal guardian.
2. “Victim" means a person against whom a crime has been committed.
(b) When a person is registered under s. 301.45 (2) or when the person informs the department of a change in information under s. 301.45 (4), the department shall make a reasonable attempt to notify the victim or a member of the victim's family who has, according to the records of the department or the information provided under par. (d), requested to be notified about a person required to register under s. 301.45.
(c) The notice under par. (b) shall be a written notice to the victim or member of the victim's family that the person required to register under s. 301.45 and specified in the information provided under par. (d) has been registered or, if applicable, has provided the department with updated information under s. 301.45 (4). The notice shall contain the information specified in sub. (2) (b) 1., 5., 6. and 10. or, if applicable, the updated information.
(d) The department of health services shall provide the department with access to the names of victims or the family members of victims who have completed cards requesting notification under s. 971.17 (6m) or 980.11.
(e) In addition to receiving the notice provided under par. (c), a person who receives notice under par. (b) may request that the department provide him or her with any of the information specified in sub. (2) (b) concerning the person required to register under s. 301.45.
(4) Access to information for agencies and organizations other than law enforcement agencies.
(a) Any of the following entities may request, in a form and manner specified by the department, information from the department concerning persons registered under s. 301.45:
1. A public or private elementary or secondary school or a tribal school, as defined in s. 115.001 (15m).
2. A child care provider that holds a license under s. 48.65, that is certified under s. 48.651, that holds a probationary license under s. 48.69, or that is established or contracted for under s. 120.13 (14).
3. A child welfare agency licensed under s. 48.60.
4. A group home licensed under s. 48.625.
5. A shelter care facility licensed under s. 938.22.
6. A foster home licensed under s. 48.62.
7. A county department under s. 46.21, 46.215, 46.22, 46.23, 51.42 or 51.437.
8. An agency providing child welfare services under s. 48.48 (17) (b) or 48.57 (2).
8m. The department of justice.
9. The department of public instruction.
10. The department of health services.
10m. The department of children and families.
11. A neighborhood watch program authorized under s. 60.23 (17m) or by the law enforcement agency of a city or village.
12. An organized unit of the Boy Scouts of America, the Boys' Clubs of America, the Girl Scouts of America or Camp Fire Girls.
13. The personnel office of a sheltered workshop, as defined in s. 104.01 (6).
14. Any other community-based public or private, nonprofit organization that the department determines should have access to information under this subsection in the interest of protecting the public.
(ag) The department may not provide any of the following in response to a request under par. (a):
1. Any information concerning a child who is required to register under s. 301.45.
2. If the person required to register under s. 301.45 is an adult, any information concerning a juvenile proceeding in which the person was involved.
(am) Subject to par. (ag), an entity may make a request under par. (a) for information concerning a specific person registered under s. 301.45.
(ar) Subject to par. (ag), an entity specified in par. (a) 11. may request the names of and information concerning all persons registered under s. 301.45 who reside, are employed or attend school in the entity's community, district, jurisdiction or other applicable geographical area of activity.
(b) In response to a request under par. (a), the department shall, subject to par. (ag), provide all of the following information:
1. The name of the person who has registered under s. 301.45, including any aliases the person has used.
2. The date of the person's conviction or commitment, and the county or, if the state is not this state, the state in which the person was convicted or committed.
4. The most recent date on which the information under s. 301.45 was updated.
(c) On the request of a police chief or a sheriff, the department shall provide the police chief or sheriff with a list of entities in the police chief's community or the sheriff's county that have requested information under par. (a) for use by the police chief or sheriff under sub. (2) (e) or (2m) (c).
(d) The department shall coordinate with the department of health services the sharing of address information of persons regarding whom notification bulletins are issued under sub. (2m) (a) or (am).
(5) Access to information for general public.
(a) The department or a police chief or sheriff may provide the information specified in par. (b) concerning a specific person required to register under s. 301.45 to a person who is not provided notice or access under subs. (2) to (4) if, in the opinion of the department or the police chief or sheriff, providing the information is necessary to protect the public and if the person requesting the information does all of the following:
1. Submits a request for information in a form and manner prescribed by the department or the police chief or sheriff. The department or a police chief or sheriff may require that a person state, in his or her request under this subdivision, his or her purpose for requesting the information.
2. Specifies by name the person about whom he or she is requesting the information.
4. Provides any other information the police chief or sheriff considers necessary to determine accurately whether the person specified in subd. 2. is registered under s. 301.45.
(b) If the department or a police chief or sheriff provides information under par. (a), the department, subject to par. (c), or the police chief or sheriff shall provide all of the following concerning the person specified in the request under par. (a) 2.:
1. The date of the person's conviction or commitment, and the county or, if the state is not this state, the state in which the person was convicted or committed.
3. The most recent date on which the information under s. 301.45 was updated.
4. Any other information concerning the person that the department or the police chief or sheriff determines is appropriate.
(bm) The department shall provide on the Internet site required under sub. (5n) the following information concerning persons registered under s. 301.45:
1. If the person is a sexually violent person, as defined in s. 980.01 (7), a notice, written in red letters, of that status.
2. A current color photograph of the person, if available, and a physical description including sex, race, height, weight, eye color, and hair color.
3. The person's name and any aliases the person uses, indicating for each name and each alias all addresses at which the person is residing.
4. Whether the person has responded to the last contact letter from the department.
5. The crime committed for which the person must register.
5m.
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 s. 301.45.
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 s. 301.45.
6. Any conditions of the person's supervised release, except for any condition that may reveal the identity of the victim of the crime that the person committed for which he or she must register.
7. The date, time, and place of any scheduled hearings for supervised release or discharge under ch. 980.
8. The name and court of the judge who authorized supervised release or discharge for the person.
9. The most recent date on which the information was updated.
(c) The department may not provide any of the following under par. (a) or (bm):
1. Any information concerning a child who is required to register under s. 301.45.
2. If the person required to register under s. 301.45 is an adult, any information concerning a juvenile proceeding in which the person was involved.
(5n) Internet access.
(a) No later than June 1, 2001, the department shall provide access to information concerning persons registered under s. 301.45 by creating and maintaining an Internet site and by any other means that the department determines is appropriate. The information provided through the Internet site shall be organized in a manner that allows a person using the Internet site to obtain the information that the department is required to provide the person under sub. (2), (2m), (3), (4) or (5) and other information that the department determines is necessary to protect the public. The department shall keep the information provided on the Internet site and in other means used to allow access to the information secure against unauthorized alteration.
(b) For Internet access provided to law enforcement agencies under this subsection, the department shall provide the means for a law enforcement agency to easily identify changes that have occurred in the residence, employment, or place of school attendance of a person registered under s. 301.45.
(6) Period of notification of and access to information.
(a) Except as provided in par. (b), the department or an agency with jurisdiction may provide notice of or access to information under subs. (2) to (5) concerning a person registered under s. 301.45 only during the period under s. 301.45 (5) or (5m) for which the person is required to comply with s. 301.45.
(b) The department or an agency with jurisdiction may provide access to any information collected under s. 301.45, regardless of whether the person is still required to be registered, to a law enforcement agency for law enforcement purposes.
(7) Immunity. A person acting under this section is immune from civil liability for any good faith act or omission regarding the release of information authorized under this section. The immunity under this subsection does not extend to a person whose act or omission constitutes gross negligence or involves reckless, wanton or intentional misconduct.
(8) Rules. The department shall promulgate rules necessary to carry out its duties under this section.
(9) Effect on open records requests. This section does not prohibit the department from providing to a person, in response to that person's request under s. 19.35 to inspect or copy records of the department, information that is contained in the sex offender registry under s. 301.45 concerning a person who is in the custody or under the supervision of the department if that information is also contained in records of the department, other than the sex offender registry, that are subject to inspection or copying under s. 19.35.
History: 1995 a. 440; 1997 a. 6, 27, 130, 181, 237, 283; 1999 a. 89; 2001 a. 16; 2003 a. 188; 2005 a. 5, 431; 2007 a. 20 ss. 3132r, 3133, 9121 (6) (a); 2009 a. 28, 180, 185, 302; 2013 a. 283, 343.
This section and s. 301.45 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.
The language in sub. (2m) (am) referring to convictions “on 2 or more separate occasions” refers to the number of convictions, including multiple convictions imposed at the same time and based on the same complaint. OAG 2-17.

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