FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 30, 2018
Contact: Tony Palese, Tony.Palese@legis.wi.gov, 608-266-5490
Shilling statement on Lincoln Hills
MILWAUKEE, WI – With today’s signing of legislation to close the state’s juvenile detention facility by 2021, Senate Democratic Leader Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse) released the following statement:
“For everyone who has worked to reform our juvenile justice facilities and address the disparities that exist in our entire corrections system, this day has been a long time coming. I’m glad that we’re finally closing Lincoln Hills, but 2021 is still a long way off.
“In addition to improving workplace conditions for frontline officers and staff at our correctional facilities, we must continue working to improve youth safety, address health and education needs and support these children in need over the next three years and beyond. These issues didn’t pop up overnight and they won’t be solved with the signing of one bill.
“At the end of the day, I can’t help but wonder whether we could have prevented years of juvenile abuse, assaults on staff, and costly taxpayer settlements had Gov. Walker not ignored this problem when he was first alerted in 2012.”
