Green Bay, WI (WTAQ) – Change is coming in the way the state Department Of Corrections notifies the public when an inmate escapes.
State Representative David Steffen started the ball rolling after an inmate checked out of the Winnebago Correction Center last year and the public wasn’t notified for 4 days.
“the Department Of Corrections will now be in charge of issuing crime alerts, fugitive alerts, through the crime alert network”
Now, any escape from any facility, will be sent out to the public right away.
“and in that way the media, and thereby the public, can be immediately made aware of escapees from all levels of facilities, include minimum security, to ensure their safety”
Currently, only maximum and medium security facilities notify the public immediately of an escape. Now, notification for any escape, from any facility, will go directly to the media from the DOC.
“they should have responsibility for protecting the public, alerting the public, for all levels of escapees”
Prior to this, local law enforcement handled the public notification of prison escapes.
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