Ten percent of offenders scramble to find places to plug in bracelets, some cut them off, and local laws make it hard for released sex offenders to find housing
Ten percent of monitored offenders homeless
DOC data show that of the 1,258 offenders on GPS monitoring in January, 131 had no permanent place to live. This means about one in 10 offenders may not have regular or easy access to an outlet to charge a monitoring device. A DOC spokesman said agents typically allow homeless offenders to charge their bracelets in parole offices.
DOC records show some homeless offenders avoid this logistical challenge by absconding — removing their bracelets or letting them run out of power — which completely defeats the purpose of GPS monitoring.
Michael’s struggle to find housing illustrates a problem that is widespread in Wisconsin communities, where dozens of sex offenders are homeless due in part to ordinances restricting where they can live.
DOC officials have acknowledged that highly restrictive municipal residency ordinances in more than 150 Wisconsin communities such as Green Bay and until recently, Milwaukee, are contributing to the problem, according to emails obtained by the Center under the public records la . These local laws prevent sex offenders from residing too closely to places including parks, schools and day-care centers, leaving virtually nowhere for them to live.
GPS, laws add hurdles to reintegration
“As far as the GPS goes, I think it’s ridiculous. I think it’s overkill. I did 10 years, I’ve got 15 on paper (probation),” he said. “What more do they need? Why is the bracelet necessary?”………….IT IS NECESSARY MICHAEL BECAUSE OF THE ALMIGHTY DOLLAR MICHAEL AND THE ORWELLIAN SURVEILLANCE POLICE STATE THAT WE AS AMERICAN CITIZENS HAVE ALLOWED TO TAKE OVER OUR COUNTRY AND STRIP US OF OUR FREEDOMS AND LIBERTIES…..KUDOS TO THOSE WHO SAID THE HELL WITH IT AND CUT OFF THEIR BRACELETS!!! THAT’S TRUE RESISTANCE. COSTLY, YEAH, BUT IT’S BALLSY AND MAKES A STATEMENT. SO WHAT IF YOU’RE BACK IN JAIL. I WOULD RATHER GO BACK KNOWING I RESISTED THAN BEING A COWARD AND JUST BENDING OVER AND TAKING THESE RIDICULOUS LAWS AFTER WE’VE ALREADY PAID OUR PRICE AND DID OUR TIME.
At my most recent re-reg here in Orange County, FL there were several homeless registrants. They were given maps and told to circle the area where they most often slept at night. One person had a ID Card with his employees address. The truth is its so bad because of insane city ordinances that have driven offenders to become vagabonds, its now impossible for the cops to find us. The laws are supposed to protect children from violent offenders. But now you have a situation where cops and localities have no clue where to find a violent predator if they may be homeless. May I say the regulators at least here in Florida have no clue. JEV