Issue Position: Corrections Reforms

Issue Position

The Wisconsin Department of Corrections recognizes 40 correctional institutions in the state. According to the same department, "37.1% of inmates released in 2010 were reincarcerated within 3 years." While that number has decreased since the years prior, whether we want to believe it or not, reincarceration is a still a major problem that we must continue to address. That starts with corrections reforms.

Last session, I worked on a couple of bills focused on reforming the way inmates were allowed to interact with society while incarcerated and they way they were reintroduced into society. Assembly Bill 597, for instance, made it possible for the Department of Corrections to perform necessary assessments in order to allow current inmates the opportunity to work through an earned work release program.

Closely related to that, Assembly Bill 599 would have given workforce development boards the ability to assist more inmates who were returning to society to acquire job skills, training, and placement at a job. We must continue to work toward a reformed corrections system where the percent of overall incarcerations as well as reincarcerations continues to decrease.

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