Nearly 160 Organizations Across Wisconsin Call for Investment in Milwaukee County Courthouse Complex

MILWAUKEE – Nearly 160 organizations across Wisconsin have formed a coalition and signed a letter urging State legislators to support Milwaukee County’s efforts to re-envision and invest in a modern public safety facility as part of its Courthouse Complex. The full letter signed by the comprehensive list of organizations is attached to this email.

In a unified message, business leaders, public safety and law enforcement agencies, civic organizations, and other community stakeholders are calling for State funding to help replace the crumbling Milwaukee County Public Safety Building.

Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley praised the coalition of stakeholders by stating, “The current Public Safety Building is not supporting the safety of our region, the health of our community, nor the rehabilitation of our neighbors. That’s why nearly 160 businesses, organizations, law enforcement agencies, and various stakeholders from across Wisconsin agree that this generational project is critical in creating safe, efficient facilities that improve outcomes for all who interact with the criminal justice system. We look forward to continued collaboration with members of the Wisconsin State Legislature to address the critical public safety needs in Milwaukee County for the benefit of our entire region and state.”

Milwaukee County’s outdated Public Safety Building puts public safety and justice at risk — and the State has a unique opportunity to invest in a shared system that serves every Wisconsinite and improves public safety in our communities.

Current facilities result in a slow and inefficient justice process. Delays and issues in the Public Safety Building have a direct impact on public safety in our communities.

Renovations are not enough and cannot solve the key structural challenge – the building was not designed to be secure for criminal courts. Nearly a century old, the Public Safety Building:

• Lacks secure pathways for in-custody defendants.
• Fails to comply with Wisconsin Supreme Court standards.
• Compromises the safety of victims, witnesses, jurors, staff, and the public.
• Creates delays and additional costs for court operations and police departments.

At a cost estimate of $400 – $500 million – an investment too large for one community to shoulder alone – creative solutions and expanded funding partnerships are needed to replace the Public Safety Building.

An excerpt from the letter reads: “Milwaukee County is unlike any community in Wisconsin as it is required to deliver critical, state-mandated public safety functions that no other county is required to provide – generating significant savings for taxpayers across the state. State partnership is essential to preserve these critical public safety services, address significant safety and constitutional concerns, maintain court operations, and protect taxpayers.”

A partnership to address the costs of public safety state-mandated services, which are unique to Milwaukee County, enables the County to preserve these critical services, construct a new Public Safety Building replacement, and protect taxpayers.

Additional information about the need for a new building to replace the Public Safety Building is available online: county.milwaukee.gov/InvestinginJustice.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.