Wisconsinites Paying For It.

Fact: Governor Walker has not visited a prison since he was elected in 2011. That is a jaw-dropping fact! Not even bothering to visit one of the many juvenile detention centers. As a past prior presidential candidate, this is deeply concerning especially when Wisconsin has a rather high number of incarcerated individuals and a disproportionate number of minority inmates, combined with large budget that surpasses other nearby states. Nationally, only eleven other states spend more per resident than Wisconsin on corrections. And with more mandatory minimum laws being passed, the prison population is guaranteed to grow rather than shrink.

With the DOC asking for more and more funding to be able to provide critical mental health services to inmates, Wisconsinites need to surpass their love of awareness campaigns and push for some real structure and oversight. Who audits the state or the governor’s office? Let’s push Walker to set foot in a prison or juvenile detention centers and possibly create a mindset that speaks to giving a damn about people that need services and reformed supports and not just becoming a number or a chance for private prisons to collect tax dollars.

“The DOC’s 2017-19 Biennial Budget Request mainly incorporates a cost-to-continue approach for current operations in our institutions and supervision of offenders in the community with some modest investments requested. When all funds are combined, this request increases spending 112.3 million or 4.6% over the current biennial base budget.” 

☆I attempted to find a total budget figure rather than a requested amount but was not successful.

Additional reading: Tax dollars are further wasted as the DOC leases”sprawling”pieces of property. http://watchdog.org/292556/treasurer-taxpayers-lease/