{"id":3421,"date":"2023-06-13T00:18:00","date_gmt":"2023-06-13T00:18:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wifamily.news\/?p=3421"},"modified":"2023-06-13T01:04:21","modified_gmt":"2023-06-13T01:04:21","slug":"parole-transparency-act-advances-from-senate-reduces-secrecy-in-wisconsin-paroles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wifamily.news\/?p=3421","title":{"rendered":"Parole Transparency Act Advances From Senate, Reduces Secrecy in Wisconsin Paroles"},"content":{"rendered":"

This post originally appeared at https:\/\/www.wisconsinrightnow.com\/parole-transparency-act\/<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Parole<\/p>\n

The Parole Transparency Act which provides more notice to victims of parole hearings and releases, and mandates more disclosure to the public, has passed the Wisconsin State Senate.<\/p>\n

The act comes on the heels of Wisconsin Right Now\u2019s award-winning<\/a> investigative work<\/a> exposing systemic failure by the state to notify victims\u2019 family members and law enforcement in parole cases. WRN detailed<\/a> the brutal murderers and rapists paroled by Gov. Tony Evers\u2019 then appointee to the Parole Commission, some of whom were released without the victims\u2019 families knowing.<\/p>\n

Several amendments added additional safeguards for victims. They came after Wisconsin Right Now and Tim Erickson, the son of a murder victim whose killer was paroled, advocated for<\/a> additional victims\u2019 rights measures in Wisconsin law relating to paroles. The family members of Johanna Balsewicz, whose killer\u2019s parole was approved but then rescinded last year, were instrumental in the act\u2019s formation.<\/p>\n

\u201cProposed reforms to the Wisconsin parole system giving more information and notice to the public about paroles passed the State Senate today. The Parole Transparency Act, Assembly Bill 47, requires victims be notified 90 days prior to hearing or release and requires internet posting of paroles granted, denied or revoked,\u201d said a news release from state Senator Van Wanggaard (R-Racine), the bill\u2019s author.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor far too long, the Parole Commission has operated in secrecy,\u201d Van Wanggaard<\/a> said. \u201cThe Parole Transparency Act shines a light on what is happening at the Commission. The public, especially crime victims, have a right to know who is being paroled, and when.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Van Wanggaard, \u201cAssembly Bill 47 was introduced earlier this year<\/a> in response to investigations of the Parole Commission (Commission) in the fall of 2022.\u201d<\/p>\n

Parole Transparency Act<\/h2>\n

Vanggaard wrote that the bill was amended in the Senate following conversations with Parole Commission Chair-Designee Jon Erpenbach. Under the amended bill:<\/p>\n