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| Wisconsin Governor OKs Two Prisons |
| By Capital Times |
| Published: 07/30/2003 |
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Wisc. Gov. Jim Doyle recently gave the go-ahead to opening two mothballed and unused prisons next year - one at New Lisbon, the other at Chippewa Falls. The openings, tentatively set for next spring, will provide space for an additional 1,400 felons. Wisconsin now has 2,100 inmates housed in rented prison space out of state. 'It is time for that to change,' Doyle said. The Highview prison at Chippewa Falls will be a drug and alcohol abuse center, and Doyle said he hoped it would reduce the number of repeat crimes. It will hold 450 prisoners, while the prison at New Lisbon will house 950 inmates, according to state officials. Earlier this year, Doyle proposed delaying the openings, but he said recently that the potential costs have been reduced from $29 million to $17 million, making it feasible to open the prisons. 'The costs were brought down to a level that it simply makes sense to open these facilities now,' Doyle said in prepared remarks. The 2003-2005 budget bill enacted by the Republican-controlled Legislature calls for opening the new prisons. Doyle said he will approve those provisions. The openings will create 510 jobs in the prison system. Recruitment will begin as soon as the 2003-2005 budget bill is signed, prison officials said. 'As a result, we can bring prisoners home where they will be closer to their families and their communities, rehabilitation will be improved, and most importantly, our communities will be safer,' Doyle said. 'This decision is a very important step toward the day when we have no prisoners out of state.' Doyle said other changes in prison policy that he will approve in the budget bill include: Opening a probation and parole holding facility at Sturtevant. Opening two inmate workhouses, one at Sturtevant and the other at Oshkosh. Establishment of an earned release program for eligible inmates at the drug abuse center at the Winnebago prison. Expanded use of boot camps for more nonviolent offenders, allowing them to earn an earlier release from prison. The correctional facility at Black River Falls will be converted to a boot camp. 'Since the day I took office, I have been working on ways to slow the growth in our prison population, reduce our corrections budget and increase community safety at the same time,' Doyle said. 'Today, after only six months in office, we are moving corrections policy in a new direction.' |
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