SHAWANO, WI- Recent public concern over sex offenders returning to the community is tied directly to state law, rules that often require offenders to live in the county where they committed their crime, regardless of where they previously lived.
“What we see in law enforcement with the offenders coming out of prison is they end up getting sent to the county where they actually offended,” Musolff said. “Unfortunately, some of these people end up getting out of prison and because they committed a crime in our community, they end up getting sent here.”
Musolff said that placement requirement frequently leads to homelessness when the offender has no existing residence or support system in Shawano County. The situation currently unfolding on social media is a direct example of that challenge.
“The person does not have a residence here, so they end up being listed as homeless,” he said. “And with the housing situation we have in Shawano, it’s hard to put somebody in a location, especially someone with a criminal history.”
Offenders released into the county are monitored by GPS and supervised by Wisconsin Probation and Parole. Musolff emphasized that Shawano has strong local restrictions designed to protect neighborhoods.
“We do have an offender ordinance in Shawano where they cannot live in the city unless they are approved by the sex offender board,” he said. “They are on a bracelet, they’re monitored, and probation and parole can see where they’re at at all times.”
Shawano’s ordinance also prevents offenders from sleeping in vehicles, parks or other public spaces overnight, a rule designed to avoid the encampments seen in larger cities.
“It’s an ordinance for sex offenders,” he said. “It’s not for just anybody who comes to Shawano.”
Musolff said local shelters cannot take individuals with certain felony histories, further limiting housing options. He noted that Shawano’s already tight housing market makes the situation even harder.
“Imagine trying to house somebody that’s been in trouble,” Musolff said. “It’s harder for landlords to accept them… they’re going to take the person without the criminal history.”
He stressed that none of these placement decisions are made by the city or police department.
“The whole process of placement is not city or police department initiated,” he said. “The state has regulated that the offender will have to reside in the county where they offended. If that needs to change, it has to be approached at the state level.”
Musolff encouraged residents to stay informed and to contact state lawmakers if they feel the placement laws should be reevaluated.
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