While the media may be inclined to bury the hateful act of a career criminal and racist individual, Rep. Dittrich is hearing her constituents loud and clear. What happened in Waukesha on Sunday, November 21st must never be repeated in our state again. As the representative for the 38th Assembly District, Rep. Dittrich will continue to address the valid concerns regarding our state's criminal justice system.
DIRECTOR OF STATE COURTS
Rep. Dittrich has spoken with the Director of State Courts to get a better sense of where the fracture is in our complex Wisconsin legal system. After their discussion, it is her opinion that district attorneys in certain counties are not always using the tools available to them. Rep. Dittrich is particularly concerned about people who reoffend while out on bail and the frequency with which bail jumping occurs. While there are many issues to be addressed in order to improve community safety, Rep. Dittrich believes revoking bail and setting higher bail are two areas that need immediate attention.
LEINIENCY ON CAREER CRIMINALS
Clearly, Milwaukee is not the only county in our state that is putting Wisconsinites at risk with their leniency on career criminals, issuing ridiculously low bail. Dane County had a violent murder on Sunday that could have been avoided had the career criminal suspect been given appropriate bail.
We need to get to the bottom of why district attorneys are not bringing these dangerous individuals back into custody when they violate the terms of their bail repeatedly, in addition to why the bail amounts are being set so incredibly low. As a woman, Rep. Dittrich especially finds the prevalence of domestic abuse in some of these cases abhorrent.
Ultimately, the voting public MUST step up to elect district attorneys that are willing to actually protect the public from these individuals and hire prosecutors that will do the same.
COMING TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY
Rep. Dittrich was encouraged to see information around the community regarding prayer services, candle lighting, memorials, and public expressions of grief as people come together to process their feelings regarding these incidents. While these events are critical to beginning the healing process in our communities, we must not stop there. Donations can be made to help the victims and their families and they begin the long road to healing and recovery.
As mentioned previously, Rep. Dittrich was quick to sign on as a co-author of Rep. Cindi Duchow’s bill to amend our state constitution so that bail is not simply based upon an assurance that the suspect will return to court but can also be based on their criminal history, likelihood to reoffend, and the danger they present to the community.
MEETING WITH WAUKESHA COUNTY SHERIFF
Friday morning, the majority of legislators representing areas of Waukesha County met with Sheriff Eric Severson to discuss policies to protect Wisconsin communities from career criminals, including bail reform, the backlog of criminal cases, and mental health issues. Strategies for future legislation were discussed. It is Rep. Dittrich's hope that given the recent massacre in Waukesha, these legislative ideas will advance quickly and be enacted by our Governor.
JUSTICE FOR CHILDREN
PERMANENCY
Wednesday, Rep. Dittrich’s package of adoption reform bills were heard in the Assembly Committee on Family Law. The goal of the legislation is to remove roadblocks to children receiving permanency more expeditiously in Wisconsin’s courts.
Specifically, one of the bills also seeks to extend the timeframe for parents to relinquish a newborn under the state’s safe haven law.
Bill language and supporting materials can be found in the links to the respective bills.
This week Wednesday, both the Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections as well as the Wisconsin Elections Commission convened regarding the 2020 election irregularities.
Former Justice Gableman gave an update on his investigation, announcing that he is suing both the Madison and Green Bay Mayors who refuse to cooperate with being deposed on their work with Mark Zuckerberg’s organization on election procedures. WEC had a contentious discussion over which recommendations from the Legislative Audit Bureau audit they would follow.
Rep. Dittrich continues to be of the opinion that Dean Knudson should be replaced at WEC and that improvements to securing our elections must go around WEC. As most states have their elections under the Secretary of State, Rep. Dittrich believes Wisconsin should consider adopting this oversight of our electoral process. This way, accountability would be directly to the voters rather than having unelected individuals who refuse to follow the law.
In what sort of disturbing world do we live when a mother killing her child in utero is so viciously celebrated as we have seen it portrayed outside the US Supreme Court? To be certain, it is always heartbreaking when a woman feels she has no choice but to end a pregnancy and it should always be treated as such.
Abortion is a violent act that is dangerous to the woman having one as well as the child. It is Rep. Dittrich's hope that those in positions of authority do a much better job of protecting and respecting life at every age and stage. What some so willingly throw away, others pray for their entire lives.
REDISTRICTING
WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT DECISION
This week the Wisconsin Supreme Court decided it will make as few changes as possible to the current maps drawn by Republicans and enacted a decade ago when deciding new maps.
Hunters registered 175,667 deer over the nine-day gun-deer season, according to figures provided Tuesday by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Last year, hunters harvested 190,646 deer. The overall harvest was down nearly 9 percent from the 5-year average.
It's beginning to look MORE like Christmas in the Capitol! This week DOA staff hung all of the ornaments students from around the state sent in.
Thank you to all of the schools who participated.
The official tree lighting ceremony takes place today, December 3rd at noon.
CONSTITUENT CORNER
OCONOMOWOC CHRISTMAS PARADE
Saturday the Oconomowoc Christmas Parade will step off at 5 PM followed by the new event, Christmas on the Isthmus. Hope to see you there!
If you have any comments regarding the subject of this E-Update, please feel free to contact me.
Representative Barbara Dittrich State Capitol, 17 West PO Box 9582 Madison, WI 53708 Toll-Free (888) 534-0038 or (608) 266-8551 Rep.Dittrich@legis.wi.gov| Read Online |
