MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Gov. Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Corrections (DOC) announced an extensive plan Tuesday to improve conditions and ensure safety of staff and inmates at prisons throughout the state.
In addition to addressing persistent staffing challenges, measures in the new plan focus on reinstating regular movement; decreasing the use of restrictive housing; strengthening staff emergency response and rounds policies; and converting Waupun Correctional Institution to single-cell housing.
The transition to single-cell housing would require approximately 220 inmates to be transferred to other institutions in order to relieve staffing pressure.
“Ensuring the safety of our correctional staff and the individuals in our care continues to be the Department of Corrections’ top priority,” said DOC Secretary Kevin Carr in a news release. “I’m optimistic that with the steps we’re taking today and the pay raises the governor secured through the biennial budget that we will be able to continue our work of incrementally increasing safe movement and programming at our institutions with the necessary staffing resources.”
A news release noted that Waupun and Green Bay Correctional Institutions — built in the 1850s and 1890s, respectively — are among the oldest in the state’s correctional institution system, which makes upgrades difficult to complete and may force existing facilities to be razed and replaced.
According to the release, Gov. Evers has directed the DOC to consider potential courses of action to pursue if the sweeping new plan does not significantly reduce vacancy rates and staffing issues.
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