Rep. David Steffen is spending part of his time fighting the “ghost of Stanley” as he pitches a bill that would let a private company build a new prison in the Green Bay area that the state would then lease
The ACLU today asked a federal judge to halt the state’s “excessive” use of solitary confinement, pepper spray and physical restraints at the Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake youth prisons in northern Wisconsin. The motion for a preliminary judgment seeks
Three Milwaukee Dems introduced a bill today that would limit the number of days a person with a serious mental illness could be placed solitary confinement. The bill, authored by Sen. LaTonya Johnson and Reps. David Crowley and David Bowen,
A bill that would require that an inmate’s death in the custody of a correctional officer receives an independent investigation would increase transparency in the state’s jails, three Milwaukee Dems said today. The bill, from Sens. Chris Larson, Fred Risser,
JFC Dems today hammered at the Department of Corrections, though they credited Secretary Jon Litscher for making significant progress on several issues. Litscher highlighted some of those improvements, particularly in improving staff training, verbal de-escalation of incidents and boosting psychological
Legislation aimed to tighten penalties for drunken drivers received strong support in an Assembly hearing today. Rep. Jim Ott, co-author of the three bills, said the legislation would help make drunken driving laws “more consistent with the seriousness of the
Gov. Scott Walker’s proposal to expand the use of body cameras in state prisons is drawing support from some of his critics, though they also say it’s not a perfect solution to preventing abuse. The state is already using body
The state Senate voted today to add juvenile correctional officers to the list of professionals who must report suspected child abuse even as Dems said it was an inadequate step to address problems at youth prisons in northern Wisconsin. SB
Department of Corrections Secretary Jon Litscher told lawmakers today his agency has dramatically revamped its treatment of juvenile offenders, implementing a wide range of “changes that have not been written about.” Litscher, who led the agency between 1999 and 2003,
Senate Assistant Majority Leader Leah Vukmir, R-Brookfield, said she would be seeking an audit of the Department of Corrections as part of a package of crime “victim-prevention” bills she is co-authoring with Rep. Joe Sanfelippo, R-New Berlin, and Sen. Van
Rep. David Steffen is spending part of his time fighting the “ghost of Stanley” as he pitches a bill that would let a private company build a new prison in the Green Bay area that the state would then lease and operate. Steffen, R-Green Bay, says he often gets questions
The ACLU today asked a federal judge to halt the state’s “excessive” use of solitary confinement, pepper spray and physical restraints at the Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake youth prisons in northern Wisconsin. The motion for a preliminary judgment seeks to limit the use of all three to “rare and
Three Milwaukee Dems introduced a bill today that would limit the number of days a person with a serious mental illness could be placed solitary confinement. The bill, authored by Sen. LaTonya Johnson and Reps. David Crowley and David Bowen, would keep inmates with serious mental illnesses from solitary confinement
A bill that would require that an inmate’s death in the custody of a correctional officer receives an independent investigation would increase transparency in the state’s jails, three Milwaukee Dems said today. The bill, from Sens. Chris Larson, Fred Risser, Reps. David Crowley and David Bowen, would extend a 2014
JFC Dems today hammered at the Department of Corrections, though they credited Secretary Jon Litscher for making significant progress on several issues. Litscher highlighted some of those improvements, particularly in improving staff training, verbal de-escalation of incidents and boosting psychological offerings at its two main youth facilities: Lincoln Hills and
Legislation aimed to tighten penalties for drunken drivers received strong support in an Assembly hearing today. Rep. Jim Ott, co-author of the three bills, said the legislation would help make drunken driving laws “more consistent with the seriousness of the offense.” Two of the three bills would create tougher consequences
Gov. Scott Walker’s proposal to expand the use of body cameras in state prisons is drawing support from some of his critics, though they also say it’s not a perfect solution to preventing abuse. The state is already using body cameras for security staff at its two main juvenile facilities:
The state Senate voted today to add juvenile correctional officers to the list of professionals who must report suspected child abuse even as Dems said it was an inadequate step to address problems at youth prisons in northern Wisconsin. SB 35, approved via voice vote, was proposed following reports of
Department of Corrections Secretary Jon Litscher told lawmakers today his agency has dramatically revamped its treatment of juvenile offenders, implementing a wide range of “changes that have not been written about.” Litscher, who led the agency between 1999 and 2003, was brought back last year amid media reports detailing examples
Senate Assistant Majority Leader Leah Vukmir, R-Brookfield, said she would be seeking an audit of the Department of Corrections as part of a package of crime “victim-prevention” bills she is co-authoring with Rep. Joe Sanfelippo, R-New Berlin, and Sen. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine. Vukmir appeared Sunday on “UpFront with Mike Gousha,”