Two Thousand Additional Inmates Per Year
Experts predict that Wisconsin’s inmate population will grow by at least 2K this year due to tougher drunk driving laws. The DOC and state congressional teams have voiced their support for the possibility of leasing space in county jails as well as the possibility of contracting with private prison corporations to fill the immediate need for more space to house offenders.
As a social worker and a numbers guy who has knowledge of services and service limits in the community, it seems like we are hedging our bets on the side of institutionalization rather than providing services to help people who are more likely to be at risk of succumbing to the effects of economic downturns and limited availability of resources.
Recently the governor released a statement about testing recipients of state assistance programs who are going to be drug tested prior to receiving services. The governor implied that those who failed the tests would be given treatment services. Let’s be honest about what drug testing is intended to accomplish for those needing assistance programs.
It’s all smoke in mirrors to appease higher SES taxpayers. Being fiscally conservative is not a bad thing but its time to stop this “us vs. them” mentality in the availability of services and providing people with a hand to help them up rather than giving them boots without straps.
In a previous post, I mentioned a solitary confinement cell being placed at a church in De Pere. Next week from April 30th to May 6th at the Presbyterian Church in De Pere, JOSHUA for Justice will have events coinciding with their replica. A similar replica was displayed at UW Fox Valley a few years ago although the events were primarily attended by people already aware of the issues. Please help other people become aware of the issues surrounding incarceration in Wisconsin and solitary confinement as a ethical and human rights issue.
