Milwaukee, WI — January 12, 2026 — Enough is Enough ~ A Legacy for Erin, a grassroots advocacy organization dedicated to preventing injury and death from reckless driving, has released its THIRD report highlighting troubling sentencing trends in Milwaukee County courts.
Since launching its Court Watch MKE initiative in June 2024, the group has monitored over 1100 criminal cases involving reckless driving-related offenses. This latest analysis focuses on 335 cases that were fully adjudicated and sentenced between May 1, 2025 and October 31, 2025.
Although the needle is moving, serious concerns about judicial practices and efficacy of the criminal justice system persist:
- Judicial Leniency: In 55% of cases, judges issued sentences more lenient than what the District Attorney recommended—a 10% improvement over the previous reporting period, but still far too common.
- Call for Stronger Sentencing: The report urges judges to use statutory maximums that deter future offenses and recommends avoiding probation in all but the most exceptional cases.
- Concerns Over Charge Dismissals: Excessive plea bargaining continues to undermine accountability, often resulting in the dismissal of serious charges including guns and drugs.
- Public Safety Must Come First: Sentencing decisions must prioritize the protection of Milwaukee residents, particularly those in vulnerable communities disproportionately affected by reckless driving.
“The current system is letting down communities, victims and the defendants they are supposed to be helping”, said Jeanne Lupo, President of Enough is Enough. “Leadership CAN fix this problem if they want to.”
The Court Watch MKE program is driven by a team of 20 dedicated volunteers committed to holding the justice system accountable and advocating for safer streets in Milwaukee.
To view the full report—including a judge-by-judge breakdown of sentencing trends—and to learn more about Enough is Enough, visit:
https://ene4erin.org/our-court-watch-reports/
