Dodge County Sheriff Supports Sex Offender Placement Bill

Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt is pleased to see a bill moving through the legislature that would place more restrictions on where violent sex offenders can be placed after their release. Last year two violent sex offenders were placed in a Brownsville residence near a home where two younger children were living. Schmidt had some input on a bill created by State Representative Mark Born that would make it more difficult for that type of placement to occur. He says a key component that was missing was having a good investigation prior to placing those types of individuals. Schmidt says there will always be objections to where sex offenders are placed, but at least law enforcement can give input on who lives in the area and whether children live in adjacent homes. He says through the changes in the bill the Department of Health Services and judges will have more information to make the right decisions about placement.