GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Republican candidate for Governor Tim Michels stopped in Green Bay on Friday to tout his plans for a new correctional facility in the Green Bay area.
“We have a crime problem in Wisconsin right now,” Michels said. “Hope is on the way. A new era is upon us, and what we see behind us — the Green Bay Correctional Institute — is part of the solution.”
Michels was joined by State Rep. David Steffen, R-4th District, who has long been fighting for a new facility. Michels said the prison does not work for the current number of inmates, and is also deficient of technology. It’s why he wants to build a new prison with a capacity of 1,500. The current prison houses just over 1,000 inmates.
“How could anyone think this state is better off with all these convicted felons, convicted murderers, cop killers and child rapists on the streets of Wisconsin today?” Michels said.
In 2019, Governor Tony Evers spoke on the future of GBCI, saying despite its issues, he wanted to keep prison population low.
“Clearly, we have a facility there that is going to be difficult to continue to use because of its age and inadequacy, but at the same time, we’re looking at criminal justice reform where there may actually be fewer people in prison,” Evers said.
The Evers campaign team also responded to Michels’ announcement. Senior advisor Sam Roecker said:
“While Republicans are playing political games, Gov. Evers is taking action to fund our police and keep our communities safe. He has directed funding to every single local and tribal law enforcement agency in Wisconsin and increased pay for state troopers and correctional officers, including at the Green Bay Correctional Facility.”
Michels said his plan will cost $350 million, a third of which would be paid for by selling the land the current prison is on. He says he doesn’t know where the new prison would be located because he wants local officials to decide.
Comments