By: Ken Maples

Ken Maples — Wed, 26 Apr 2023 00:36:27 +0000

I know there are lot of people are concerned about the sex offender registry. 26 years ago I was charged and convicted of two sex offenses stemming from the same incident in Texas. I completed my sentence in 2006 and was only required to register as a sex offender. I was listed as a level 1 low risk. In March of 2018 I moved from Texas to Wisconsin after Hurricane Harvey. I immediately registered and stayed compliant. 7 months later in October 2018 I received a letter from the Wisconsin DOC advising me if I worked or went to school I would be required to wear an ankle monitor. Not working was not an option. Now that I am wearing the ankle monitor I will be required to wear it as long as I live in Wisconsin. 181 registered sex offenders in Wisconsin who had completed their sentences were required to wear ankle monitors because of this statute after the fact. There was no due process or risk assessment. A lawsuit had been filed against statute 301-48 but the far right Conservative Republican Supreme Court rejected the lawsuit. The case was appealed in the 7th District Court which upheld the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling. The statute should be a violation of the 4th amendment protection against illegal search and seizure. It also violates the 5th and 14th Amendment lack of due process. The state of Wisconsin claims the ankle monitor is not considered punishment or punitive despite paying a monthly fee. Wisconsin legislators must believe the ankle monitor is a fashion accessory? There is also confusion in their definition of a repeat habitual offender and a person with two or more convictions. It is common practice for prosecutors to split and file multiple charges regarding one incident. This should not make a person a repeat habitual offender. In a recent Wisconsin Supreme Court election the Conservative Republican was voted out and replaced with a liberal Democrat. This ended a 15-year Conservative Republican controlled Supreme Court in Wisconsin. Judge Janet Protasiewicz will be sworn in this coming August and I’m hoping this will bring back fairness and following the US Constitution when making decisions. I am looking forward to being a part of a class action lawsuit. I made a horrible mistake and poor judgment 26 years ago and I have long since paid for that mistake. In 2018 Wisconsin legislators made a horrible mistake and they should be held accountable.

Comments on: RM263: Cruel and Unusual Punishment Is not Punishment

By: Ken Maples