Wisconsin prison sees seventh inmate death

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    In a series of concerning events at Wisconsinโ€™s oldest prison, another inmate has passed away, marking the seventh death since last year. The Waupun Correctional Institution reports the demise of 23-year-old Damien Evans on Tuesday without divulging details. Efforts to obtain further information from the Department of Corrections have remained unanswered. Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt mentioned that the death is currently under investigation, although additional details are scarce at this stage.

    Evans, convicted in 2019 for armed robbery with a concurrent two-year sentence for bail jumping, was serving his time at Waupun, as confirmed by Racine County court records. This recent tragedy adds to a troubling pattern at the prison, where inmate deaths have been unusually high in recent months following misconduct charges against previous administration members.

    Last year, former warden Randall Hepp and eight of his staff were implicated in cases of inmate abuse, resulting in felony charges. These charges were linked to the earlier deaths of inmates Cameron Williams, who suffered a fatal stroke, and Donald Maier, who succumbed to dehydration and malnutrition linked to mental health treatment gaps. The warden retired amidst these allegations.

    The pattern of deaths includes Dean Hoffman, who took his own life in June 2023, and Tyshun Lemons, who died from a fentanyl overdose in October 2023. Jay Adkinsโ€™ death in May 2024 is still under investigation, while Christopher McDonaldโ€™s August 2024 death appeared self-inflicted, though the investigation is not conclusive. Notably, McDonald had been sentenced to an extensive 999 years concerning a homicide.

    While queries about the ongoing probes drew no new public statements from Sheriff Schmidt, the pressures heighten with federal investigations into smuggling allegations involving prison staff. Almost a dozen employees have been suspended following these inquiries. A former staff member admitted guilt to smuggling illicit goods into the prison.

    Simultaneously, thereโ€™s a class-action lawsuit being filed by inmates citing mistreatment and insufficient healthcare within the prison. Originally built in the 1850s, Waupun Correctional Institution has long been criticized by lawmakers from both political parties, advocating for its closure over many years due to its outdated infrastructure and operational challenges. However, the economic implications of shutting down the prison and constructing a new one have hindered these efforts. Housing up to 882 inmates, the population stood at 760 as of February 21, the last update from the Department of Corrections.

    In light of these issues, Governor Tony Evers recently proposed a comprehensive $500 million initiative for the stateโ€™s prison system. This plan includes transforming the notorious Waupun facility into a medium-security center with a focus on vocational training for inmates, presenting a potential pathway toward rehabilitation and reform.