Citizens for a Safe Franklin have changed their name. Since they have taken their fight to protect our children state wide, they will now be known as Citizens for a Safe Wisconsin.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CITIZENS GROUP ANNOUNCES NAME CHANGE
Franklin,WI. Citizens for a Safe Franklin will now be “Citizens for a Safe Wisconsin - Advocating for Tougher Sex Offender Laws”. The name change takes effect immediately.
“The new name more accurately reflects the scope and activities of this grassroots, volunteer effort” said Shari Hanneman, President of the group. “Protecting our children from sex offenders and sex predators is a state-wide issue.”
The group was formed more than a year ago in an effort to fight the placement of 12 sexually violent persons (SVP) on civil commitment in Franklin, Wisconsin. Since that time, the group’s membership has grown and the focus has expanded to protecting all citizens of Wisconsin. Citizens for a Safe Wisconsin (CFSW) are working with a number of State legislators to change the laws so a comprehensive statewide sex offender management program can be implemented. Some of these changes are:
(1) Repeal the 2003 Wisconsin Act 187, Sec. 7m that allows for the creation of a site-placement committee to find a site for a group SVP housing facility.
(2) Amend Chapter 980 to include:
§ A 2-phased supervised transition plan for all sexually violent persons which includes GPS monitoring for life.
§ Allow the courts to authorize the placement of sexually violent persons in another state/county/city that requires GPS monitoring and provide specified funding to the entity that accepts these persons.
§ Require that, for a county of the first class, a sexually violent person approved for release be returned to the city, town, or village in which they were convicted, or to a county/state that has agreed to accept that person.
§ Sexually violent persons who file a petition for release must include in their petition acceptable suggestions for their placement. These persons, deemed sexually violent, should show a diligent attempt to provide for their own housing and personal sustenance within the statutory guidelines.
§ Sexually violent persons may not be placed in a location that is within 3,000 feet of a school, playground, daycare, children’s shelter, school bus stop, or place where children congregate.
(3) Improve the Wisconsin Sex Offender Registry and the information provided to citizens.
Senator Mary Lazich and Representative Jeff Stone will introduce a bill spearheaded by CFSW within two weeks. The bill which includes the above objectives will improve the safety for Wisconsin’s communities.
Members of Citizens for a Safe Wisconsin will testify at a hearing in Madison before the Criminal Justice and Homeland Security Committee on September 7th 2005 in support of AB 591. This bill sponsored by Representatives Scott Suder and Joel Kleefisch would require GPS monitoring for sexual predators and level 1 and 2 sex offenders.
“We’re pleased with the reception we received in Madison. Senators and Representatives from both parties have made sex predator and sex offender legislation a priority. We hope a coalition of legislators and citizens can effectively change the way Wisconsin manages sex predators and offenders” said group spokesperson Sandy Maher-Johnson. “Wisconsin must protect our most valuable and vulnerable citizens from these criminals”