Evers Proposes $500M Wisconsin Prison Reform Plan

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers has proposed a $500 million plan to reform the state's correctional system, which includes closing the 127-year-old Green Bay Correctional Institution and repurposing existing facilities without building a new prison. This initiative addresses issues such as overcrowding, safety concerns, and rising maintenance costs at outdated facilities, including GBCI and the Lincoln Hills youth detention center. Evers emphasizes the need for bipartisan cooperation to update the prison system and improve community safety by reducing recidivism. The plan also involves transforming Waupun Correctional Institution into a vocational training center and enhancing programs to prevent reoffending. However, the proposal is expected to face challenges in the Republican-controlled Legislature and depends on closing Lincoln Hills, a move promised by lawmakers since 2018 but not yet fulfilled.