Kevin Carr

Future of Lincoln Hills Remains In Limbo

Troubled youth prison needs to meet consent decree terms, or compliance monitoring will follow system to new facility.

Max Security Prison Under Federal Investigation After Drugs, Phones Discovered

Gov. Tony Evers requested Waupun investigation. Prison employees may have committed crimes.

State Department of Corrections Secretary Retiring

Kevin Carr will step down March 8 after five years overseeing prisons.

More Job Applications Coming In For Wisconsin’s Prisons

New class of correctional officers is largest in decades, but vacancies remain an issue.

MATC Program Teaches Welding To Those Incarcerated

Certificate program provides job opportunities after release, pathway to full degree.

Push Underway For Better Care For Pregnant Inmates

Proposals, led by Sen. Lena Taylor, include banning shackling during labor.

Republicans Approve Gov. Evers’ Allocation of $32.6 Million More To Build Milwaukee Youth Prison

Plus: A recap of the week's real estate news.

Audit Report Finds State Lags in Monitoring Parolees

But Wisconsin Department of Corrections disputes the findings.

One Third of State Prison Jobs Are Vacant

Legislative hearing discusses state corrections budget, pay hikes proposed by Gov. Evers.

Milwaukee Youth Prison Costs Grow 71%

Gov. Evers proposes additional $33 million for Lincoln Hills replacement.

Council Approves New Youth Prison in Milwaukee

Replacement for troubled Lincoln HIlls facility doesn't come without objections.

New Youth Prison Wins Key Endorsement

Despite objections from neighbors, zoning committee supports new facility on northwest side.

New Youth Prison Gains Plan Commission Approval

But some nearby residents oppose project, cite lack of area council member.

Problems, Staffing Shortages Still Plague Lincoln Hills

Despite efforts to improve conditions at state youth prison, not all is well.

National Commission on Correctional Health Care Names Wisconsin Resource Center 2022 Facility of the Year

Award recognizes quality and innovation in resident care

Lincoln Hills Faces Rising Population, Staff Shortage

State Department of Corrections looking to hire more staff at juvenile facility.

State Finance Committee Approves Funding For County Youth Justice Center

State Legislature follows through on juvenile justice plan passed back in 2018.

Council Gives First Approval to New Youth Prison Site

But promises substantial time remains for formal public comment.

Evers Announces Milwaukee Site For Lincoln Hills Replacement

Replacement for troubled youth justice facility would be on city's northwest side.

Lincoln Hills ‘Staffing Crisis’ Causing Confinement, Deteriorating Behaviors

New report finds worsening attitudes at troubled facility.

Gov. Evers Announces Additional Security Pay Program for State Employees

State Prisons Will Resume In-Person Visits

Beginning March 1, due to declining COVID-19 rate, state DOC announces.

Will Lincoln Hills Youth Prison Finally Close?

And at what cost? Legislature debates the issue anew.

Building careers while incarcerated

Wisconsin’s Workforce Innovation Grant will bring new educational opportunities, workforce support to incarcerated individuals

COVID-19 Cases In State Prisons Tripled in One Week

Department of Corrections suspends in-person visits, suspected of causing surge.

Warning Lights Flashing on Youth Justice?

Former county official warns that state's youth justice system is unsustainable, could lead to abuses.

Wisconsin Imprisons 1 in 36 Black Adults

State has the highest incarceration rate of Black residents in the country.

High Vaccination, Low COVID-19 in State Prisons

70% of people incarcerated in Wisconsin are vaccinated.

The Pandemic Changed Ideas About Incarceration

COVID-19 forced jails to deal with overcrowding.

COVID-19 Numbers at Zero in State Prisons

More than 96% of inmates agreed to vaccines, DOC statistics show.

Court Orders State to Allow Milwaukee Archdiocese Ability to Conduct Services in Correctional Facilities

WILL sued in May after state agency refused to permit religious volunteers from visiting inmates

State Prison Population Expected To Surge

Report projects a rise to pre-pandemic levels, rising from 19,377 inmates to 23,471 by 2023.

GOP Bill Jails More, Costs $1 Billion

Measure would re-imprison anyone who commits a crime while on extended supervision, parole, or probation.

WILL, Milwaukee Archdiocese Sue WI Department of Corrections Over Unconstitutional Visitor Policy

DOC ignored WILL demand letter to revise policy that bars volunteer clergy from visiting inmates

Report Finds Improvements in Youth Prisons

Lincoln Hills/Copper Lake School report finds 36% reduction in use of force.

New Therapy Used at Lincoln Hills

Officials cite progress at youth prison, but reformers say it should be closed.

State’s Incarcerated Population Drops During Pandemic

Prisons and jails have more than one-third fewer inmates.

Acting Police Chief Offers Frank Views

"I’m a Black man first,” Norman tells panel. "I will not tolerate any explicit biases."

After Prison, What Next?

How to handle the formerly incarcerated. Milwaukee town hall tackles the issue.

Should Waupun Prison Be Closed?

Two legislators say it may be time. Committee chair calls prison the "essence" of the city

State Prisons Badly Short of Staff

15% of staff positions in state unfilled, up to 40% at Waupun prison.

Youth Justice Milwaukee Calls for Transformation of the Wisconsin Youth Justice System as the State Acknowledges it Will Not Meet the July 2021 Deadline to Close Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake Prisons

Evers Names 30 Equity Council Members

Governor’s Advisory Council on Equity and Inclusion appointees include leaders from nonprofits, tribes, churches, community groups.

Representative Stubbs Issues Statement Kicking Off Black History Month

State Can’t Meet Deadline to Close Youth Prisons

Plan to close Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake and relocate youth now up in the air.

COVID-19 Surging in State Prisons

More than 1,700 staff and one-third of all inmates have tested positive. Loved ones struggle to get information.

State Prisons Too Secretive About COVID-19

Department of Corrections took months to release numbers, still trying to hide information.

Corrections Officials Reveal COVID-19 Deaths

5 deaths in first such report; 20% of state’s prison inmates have disease.

Wisconsin Adopts Policy that Suspends Rather than Terminates Medicaid Coverage for Incarcerated Individuals

New policy will enable Medicaid-eligible individuals leaving jail or prison to have health care coverage immediately upon release

Crowley Defers Youth Corrections Grant Until State Has Sustainable Plan

County wants the state to assure enough funding to build and maintain a new facility.

COVID-19 Outbreak at Green Bay Prison

More than 250 inmates tested positive at the maximum-security prison.

After Prison Population Increase, the ACLU of Wisconsin Calls on Leadership to Reduce Incarcerated Population During Pandemic

213 Waupun Inmates Have COVID-19

18% of 1,181 inmates tested positive, along with 15 staff members at prison.

Fear of COVID-19 in State’s Crowded Prisons

Despite reductions in overall population, overcrowded prisons remain a threat to inmate safety during the pandemic.

ACLU Suit Calls for Elderly Inmates Release

State ACLU leader calls state prisons a “ticking time bomb” on COVID-19 for elderly and vulnerable.

State Prisons Seek More Protective Gear

Corrections department also releases holds on 1,148 nonviolent misdemeanor offenders to reduce spread of disease.

AG Kaul Issues Second AG Opinion

“Tougher On Crime” Bills Make No Sense

Sen. Jon Erpenbach blasts recent "Tougher on Crime" legislation. Argues for increased education funding.

GOP Underfunds Youth Corrections Plan

Republican legislators only approved funding for four out of six new youth corrections facilities.

Senate Democrats Offer 2020 Agenda

Shilling pushes homeless funding and closing dark store tax loophole.

Senate Fires State Agriculture Secretary

Every Republican votes not to approve Evers appointee Brad Pfaff.

Gov. Evers Signs Executive Order #43 Recreating the Governor’s Juvenile Justice Commission

"I am excited to recreate the Juvenile Justice Commission as a space for discussing innovations and best practices that Wisconsin should adopt across the entire spectrum of the juvenile justice system."

Gov. Evers Signs Executive Order #41 Recreating the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council

Evers Respects His Agency Leaders

Walker at times ignored cabinet, made decisions for his political career.

The Myth of Easy Prison Reform

It’s caused by misinformation about “non-violent offenders” and “crimeless revocations.”

Drunk Driving On Rise for Corrections Staff?

State Corrections Secretary concerned about stress causing workers to abuse alcohol.

Rules Violations Cause 40% of Prison Admissions

State figures show supervision violations, not new crimes, drive prison admissions.

Evers Faces Hurdles to Cutting Prisons

Governor promised to cut prison population by 50%, but has so far made no progress.

Carr Promises Criminal Justice Reform

“Just wait and see,” Corrections secretary says. But advocates are impatient for reform.

Evers Too Slow on Prison Reform?

His budget expands prisons, doesn’t offer much reform, critics charge.

Legislators Resist Many Evers Proposals

GOP push back on minimum wage, water quality, corrections worker wages, unemployment compensation and more.

6 Things to Know About Lincoln Hills

A primer on how state’s youth prisons will be changed. Or not.

Youth Correctional Center Planned for North Side

State facility at 6600 N. Teutonia would replace troubled Lincoln Hills center.

Evers Announces Youth Prison for City

To be located on Teutonia Ave. and Mill Rd. Research shows facility near home enhances outcomes.

Gov. Evers Moves Forward on Plans to Close Lincoln Hills

"We are committed to getting kids out of Lincoln Hills and closer to home as soon as we safely and responsibly can."

Report Shows How to Handle Youth Offenders

As county looks for local approach to replace Lincoln Hills, could learn from New York’s success.

Evers Wants Pay Hike for Corrections Officers

Aims to reduce staff shortage with more competitive pay.

Sensenbrenner Announces 2019 Service Academy Nominations

"I am honored to nominate these outstanding young men and women to our nation’s service academies."

State Rep. David Bowen Applauds New Governor Evers Visit to Lincoln Hills, Copper Lake

Highlights the contrast with leadership of the past

Evers Embraces Expertise

Hiring talented people, appointing expert advisors, who knew you could govern that way?

Governor-elect Evers Announces Key Cabinet Appointments

"I’ve said all along that my goal is to build a Wisconsin where people come together to invest in a brighter future for everyone..."

Contribution to Chantia Lewis of $100

Contribution to Tom Barrett of $100