APPLETON, Wis. – Outagamie County Circuit Judge Mark McGinnis is sentencing people convicted of nonviolent crimes to an unusual punishment — tearing down houses for salvage.
Circuit Judge Mark McGinnis directs about a dozen people each month to knock down walls with a company called Habitat ReStore as part of their community service requirement.
The recycled items are then sold at the ReStore in Appleton, with the profits turned over to Habitat for Humanity.
"It is truly a wonderful program," said Diane Pfeffer, the resource coordinator for Habitat ReStore. "Judge McGinnis is sending us about nine to 12 people a month to do de-constructs."
A typical offender is assigned to 15 hours of service, enough for a two-day stint.
Pfeffer said many assigned have been convicted of operating while intoxicated or revocation, drugs, thefts and criminal damage to property.
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Community service hours are common for offenders placed on probation, either through the state or county, but supervision of those hours is limited.
Offenders are required to seek out a nonprofit organization and bring back certification of their hours. Beyond that, there is no follow-up.
"So I decided to do this on my own," McGinnis said. "So instead of involving probation, I just schedule it and have them come back to court in 45 or 60 days and have a hearing to see if they have completed it."
Pfeffer said she forwards reports to McGinnis's office on the offenders.
"I recently got a call from (Pfeffer) and she said there is someone doing extra hours beyond what was ordered so they probably enjoy knocking down some walls," McGinnis said. "I think we all would."
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