Chantia Lewis
MILWAUKEE- Alderwoman- elect Chantia Lewis praised the Milwaukee Common Council’s unanimous decision today to close a loophole in the City of Milwaukee’s sex offender ordinance. Chantia Lewis has expressed outrage over the secret placement of sex offenders in our neighborhoods and made a campaign promise to close the loophole.
“I am proud that the Common Council has acknowledged the clear demand from voters in the 9th District for more transparent and accountable government. Closing this loophole is a huge step towards a safer Milwaukee.”
Milwaukee’s sex offender ordinance included a loophole that defined residency for registered sex offenders as where they sleep for four days in a given month. That allowed sex offenders to live, in violation of the ordinance, at residences within 2,000 feet of schools, licensed day care centers, parks, recreational trails, playgrounds, or other places where children congregate.
WISN reported on the “Sex Offender Shuffle,” a secret Department of Corrections program that systematically rotated homeless sex offenders throughout Milwaukee group homes, mostly on Milwaukee’s Northside.
The Milwaukee Common Council took action to close the loophole by changing the Sex Offender Ordinance’s definition of residency to “the place where one sleeps.” That change will stop the DOC program and force the State to comply with Milwaukee’s ordinance.
“I encourage Mayor Barrett to approve this ordinance change and I look forward to working with him and the Common Council to identify problems and find creative solutions to create a safer Milwaukee for our families.”