(Madison, WI) Rep. Michael Schraa (R-Oshkosh) is pleased that the Joint Committee on Finance approved transferring funds to construct Secure Residential Care Centers for Children and Youth (SRCCCYs) in Milwaukee and Racine.
Last week, the governor finally announced a site for the new youth facility to replace Lincoln Hills. The new state and county juvenile corrections facilities will make it possible to close Lincoln Hills School.
“While the governor complained about obstruction, he seems to have forgotten that Governor Walker was on schedule to implement these reforms until the current administration took office. Governor Walker worked with us in the legislature to develop a plan to transform the way Wisconsin works to reform youthful offenders, not just by building a new prison, but by developing the Wisconsin Plan for youth justice. The SRCCCYs are an integral part of the overall plan for justice involved youth.
“I’ve been to Lincoln Hills and had private conversations with the youth there. I still see those faces and hear those voices. It has been heartbreaking to see the multitude of delays in implementing 2017 Act 185.
“Juvenile justice reform is near and dear to my heart; it’s been a priority for years. Act 185 was introduced by the Assembly Committee on Corrections, which I chair. I served on the Juvenile Corrections Study Committee and the Juvenile Corrections Grant Committee. When the Evers administration asked for more time and certain adjustments, I accommodated his requests by authoring 2019 Act 8. This session, Senator Wanggaard and I authored Act 252 to provide additional funds for the juvenile correctional facility. In spite of our efforts, the facility that should have been serving youth for over a year still hasn’t broken ground.
“It is a relief to finally see a suitable site selected and to allocate the funds for construction of county SRCCCYs.”
