DOC audit needed to improve safety
“Taxpayers, correctional officers, children and families deserve better.”
MADISON – In light of ongoing child safety concerns at the state’s juvenile corrections facility, Senate Democratic Leader Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse) has joined Sen. Kathleen Vinehout (D-Alma) and over forty state legislators in calling for an audit of the Department of Corrections.
“The safety of children and staff at state facilities needs to be a top priority,” said Sen. Shilling. “Years of budget cuts, staff shortages and serious safety concerns have contributed to the appalling situations we continue to learn about. As elected officials, we need to be more pro-active in preventing child abuse rather than learning about problems secondhand from newspaper reports and criminal investigations.”
“Taxpayers, correctional officers, children and families deserve better,” added Shilling. “Rather than delaying action for months or years, we should act now to ask the tough questions and work to resolve ongoing safety issues in our correctional facilities. A complete and impartial audit of the Department of Corrections would provide the Legislature and newly-appointed Sec. Litscher with critical information and evidence-based solutions to prevent additional tragedies.”
A copy of the audit request letter can be viewed online here. In a previous letter to the Joint Audit Committee co-chairs, thirty-six state representatives issued a similar call for an audit.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.
