MILWAUKEE, WI (WSAU) Milwaukee will change its rules on where sex offenders can live to avoid having to pay out large legal settlements.
The city and 19 suburbs have local ordinances that outlaw sex offenders from living near parks and schools, but a similar ban in Pleasant Prairie has been ruled illegal by a judge. Current rules require sex offenders to live at least 2,000-feet away from parks, playgrounds, daycares and schools. In Milwaukee that means only 150 homes meet the guidelines. The restrictions would stay in place for offenders with a history of violence.
The city attorney has warned the Milwaukee Common Council that keeping the ordinance on the books opens the city to having to pay out big settlements if the city loses a lawsuit from homeless sex offenders.
Council members expect Mayor Tom Barrett will approve the change.
Sex offenders would still have to keep their addresses on file with the state’s sex offender registry and would still be subject to electronic monitoring.
The MetoSource news wire contributed to this report.