Rep. Bowen statement on passage of Wisconsin Model of youth justice
"This is one big step closer to even more innovations to save lives and money to increase the wellbeing of our communities..."
Lincoln Hills School and Copper Lake School. Photo from the Wisconsin Department of Corrections.
Madison – Rep. David Bowen (D-Milwaukee) issued the following statement upon the passage of legislation that would close Lincoln Hills/Copper Lake and establish regional Type 1 and local, secure residential treatment spaces.
“After years of stories of alleged abuse at Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake, a brief window of opportunity opened late last year to work across the aisle on a bill I had developed over the past year with local system and advocate stakeholders. As members from both parties endorsed the bill, which I introduced with Rep. Kleefisch, it slowly became clear there was an appetite for transforming this archaic system and replacing it with one that uses best practices to address the trauma plaguing so many young people who end up on this path.
“Several legislators had worked on this important issue in this session and previously, and I’m proud we all came to the table to develop a plan which culminates with the passage of AB 953 today. This plan brings the ideas and priorities of stakeholders, advocates, legislators, and other decision-makers together to create a new Wisconsin model of care, greatly increasing the chances of positive outcomes for kids, families, and taxpayers.
“In addition to new downsized, regional Type 1 spaces, this community-focused model will offer judges and counties the flexibility to place young people in local, secure residential environments focused on meaningful, trauma-informed care, restoring young people and giving them a real chance at leading positive lives as contributors to our communities.
“This is one big step closer to even more innovations to save lives and money to increase the wellbeing of our communities, and keep youth and staff safe while reducing youth crime. Since 1996, this will stand as the largest change to advance in our juvenile justice system and I’m honored I had a lead role in contributing to it.”
More about the Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake
- Evers Proposes $45.8 Million for Milwaukee Juvenile Facility - Gretchen Schuldt - Mar 1st, 2021
- MKE County: County Has Just 22 Inmates in Youth Prisons - Edgar Mendez - Feb 24th, 2021
- Evers Pushes Juvenile Justice System Changes - Corri Hess - Feb 18th, 2021
- 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 - Youth Justice Milwaukee - Feb 8th, 2021
- Pandemic Causes Youth Prison Problems - Graham Kilmer - Jan 27th, 2021
- Can State Rescue Youth Corrections Plan? - Graham Kilmer - Jan 11th, 2021
- State Can’t Meet Deadline to Close Youth Prisons - Graham Kilmer - Dec 30th, 2020
- MKE County: Crowley Defers Youth Corrections Grant Until State Has Sustainable Plan - Graham Kilmer - Sep 16th, 2020
- State Blows Up County Youth Corrections Plan - Graham Kilmer - May 20th, 2020
- Youth Advocates Remain Committed to Closing Wisconsin Youth Prisons Following Monitor’s Report - American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin - Mar 5th, 2020
Read more about Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake here
Mentioned in This Press Release
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