Last week the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that a judge was not required to tell a man he would face lifetime GPS monitoring in exchange for his guilty plea to sex crimes. The man, who plead guilty to second degree sexual assault of a child and third degree sexual assault, sought a plea withdrawal arguing he was denied due process because he was not informed that GPS monitoring was a possible punishment.
However, the state court concluded that lifetime GPS monitoring is a public safety measure, not a punishment. “With the rate of recidivism, [lifetime monitoring] provides a middle ground between releasing dangerous sex offenders into the public unsupervised and civil commitment”, wrote one justice. “The relatively minimal intrusion of lifetime GPS tracking is not excessive in relation to protecting the public”.
Lifetime GPS Monitoring Law
The lifetime GPS monitoring law dates back to 2006 and requires serious sex offenders to submit to lifetime GPS tracking via an ankle transmitter. Offenders have the option to move out of state to escape the requirement or they can petition to have it removed after 20 years of presumably good behavior. According to lawmakers, tracking statutes are included in a chapter that deals with Department of Corrections regulations rather than in the criminal punishments section and are designed to facilitate rehabilitation.
Sex crimes in Wisconsin can result in a number of serious consequences including incarceration, fines, a criminal record, inclusion on the sex offender registry, and sometimes, even lifetime GPS monitoring. If you are charged with a Wisconsin sex crime, it is important to seek the help of an experienced sex crime defense lawyer to vigorously defend you against the charges you face. Contact Waukesha sex crime defense lawyer, Andrew C Ladd for immediate assistance at 262-542-3900.
