MADISON, Wis. — The second-oldest prison in Wisconsin, established in the 1800s and frequently targeted for closure, is set to be shut down under a new proposal from Governor Tony Evers. This plan aims to implement significant reforms to the state’s struggling correctional system without constructing a new facility, which some lawmakers have previously suggested.
Governor Evers unveiled his initiative as the most viable solution to tackle the ongoing issues with aging prisons. These facilities have experienced a troubling series of incidents, including inmate deaths, assaults on staff—one of which tragically took the life of a juvenile guard—frequent lockdowns, litigation, federal inquiries, criminal accusations against prison employees, resignations, and increasing maintenance expenses.
The proposal, estimated to cost around $500 million, includes the closure of the Green Bay prison and was made public on Sunday. However, the plan still requires approval from the Republican-led Legislature, which has previously shown support for some elements but has often stalled initiatives put forward by the Democratic governor.
Evers framed his proposal as a preferable alternative to constructing a new adult prison, which he projected would take at least ten years to complete and exceed $1.3 billion in costs. “This plan is as good as plans get,” Evers stated during a briefing on Friday, urging bipartisan collaboration to see it through. “We have to get this done, period.”
Senator Van Wanggaard, a Republican and chair of the Senate judiciary committee, commended Evers for his proposal to close the 127-year-old Green Bay prison but raised concerns about the thoroughness of the entire plan. He remarked, “The devil is in the details,” expressing doubts about whether the proposed figures were accurate, particularly related to costs and inmate populations.
Allouez Village President Jim Rafter, a long-time advocate for closing the Green Bay facility, described the governor’s proposal as “finally a light at the end of the tunnel.” Rafter expressed optimism about achieving a consensus, stating, “While this is just the first step in the process, I am hopeful we can all come together and find a consensus to do what has needed to be done for years.”
Highlighting the unsustainability of the current situation concerning overcrowded and outdated prisons, Evers laid out a multi-faceted plan beginning with the closure of the problematic Lincoln Hills and Cooper Lake juvenile correctional facilities in northern Wisconsin, followed by the construction of a new facility near Madison on the site of an existing minimum-security prison. This would lead to the transformation of the Lincoln Hills site into a medium-security adult prison, while also closing the Green Bay prison, built in 1898.
Additionally, the state’s oldest prison, located in Waupun and built in 1851, is proposed to shift from maximum to medium security to emphasize vocational training. Meanwhile, the Stanley Correctional Center would transition from a medium to a maximum-security level, and the Hobart prison would undergo expansion to accommodate 200 new minimum-security beds.
Another significant component of the reform is enhancing opportunities for nonviolent offenders to take part in an earned release program, allowing for earlier release.
These significant changes are planned to be enacted over the next six years. Both Republicans and Democrats have voiced calls to close the Waupun and Green Bay prisons for years; however, Republican concerns about potential job losses in these communities and the costs associated with building a new prison have posed challenges.
The Evers administration has assured that no staff layoffs will occur under the new plan. The governor expressed hope that legislators would rally behind this initiative, drawing parallels to their collaboration in 2017 when they agreed to shut down the Lincoln Hills juvenile facility, which has, unfortunately, remained open due to setbacks in the closure process over the past eight years.
