Wisconsin statewide crime stats, pilot program on inter-agency sharing to begin

(The Center Square) – A pair of bills to fund law enforcement databases in Wisconsin, one requiring a statewide database of certain offenses through the Department of Justice will begin on Jan. 1, and another to fund grants for internal police database sharing, recently became law.

The new statewide public database of crimes will not include personally identifiable information but instead will include information on the county where a crime took place, the name of the prosecuting attorney and court official assigned, the criminal charge filed and arrest charge, whether any charges were dismissed, and if the case resulted in a conviction.

Rep. Bob Donovan, R-Greenfield, sponsored the bill and said that the state’s Consolidated Court Automation Programs works but has limitations.

“The public demands transparency from our legislative and executive branches—and for good reason,” Donovan wrote in testimony supporting the bill. “However, our judiciary is often exempt from simi...