Press Release
Shilling statement on Lincoln Hills
"I’m glad that we’re finally closing Lincoln Hills, but 2021 is still a long way off."
MILWAUKEE, WI – With today’s signing of legislation to close the state’s juvenile detention facility by 2021, Senate Democratic Leader Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse) released the following statement:
“For everyone who has worked to reform our juvenile justice facilities and address the disparities that exist in our entire corrections system, this day has been a long time coming. I’m glad that we’re finally closing Lincoln Hills, but 2021 is still a long way off.
“In addition to improving workplace conditions for frontline officers and staff at our correctional facilities, we must continue working to improve youth safety, address health and education needs and support these children in need over the next three years and beyond. These issues didn’t pop up overnight and they won’t be solved with the signing of one bill.
“At the end of the day, I can’t help but wonder whether we could have prevented years of juvenile abuse, assaults on staff, and costly taxpayer settlements had Gov. Walker not ignored this problem when he was first alerted in 2012.”
More about the Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake
- Special Report: New York’s After Care Program Helps Youth - Allison Dikanovic - Sep 17th, 2019
- MKE County: Youth Corrections Proposal Sent To State - Graham Kilmer - Sep 11th, 2019
- Special Report: Building Trust Can Help Juvenile Offenders - Allison Dikanovic - Sep 11th, 2019
- Special Report: How New York Handles Juvenile Justice - Allison Dikanovic - Sep 10th, 2019
- County Proposal Replaces Youth Prison - Corri Hess - Jul 18th, 2019
- What’s Happening With State’s Youth Prisons? - Allison Dikanovic - Jul 4th, 2019
- Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele and The Department of Health and Human Services Announce New Approach for Youth Justice Reform - County Executive Chris Abele - Jul 1st, 2019
- Gov. Evers Signs Act 185 Trailer Bill - Gov. Tony Evers - Jul 1st, 2019
- Senator Taylor Pushes Juvenile Corrections Reform - State Sen. Lena Taylor - Jun 12th, 2019
- Youth Justice Milwaukee: Wisconsin Must Include Community Input for Any Youth Transfers - Youth Justice Milwaukee - May 10th, 2019
- County Opposes Plan to Replace Lincoln Hills - Allison Dikanovic - May 7th, 2019
- Youth Justice Milwaukee: Lincoln Hills Continued Use of Pepper Spray, Suicide Risk Shows Youth Prison Model is Broken - Youth Justice Milwaukee - Apr 19th, 2019
- County Submits Youth Prison Proposal - Corri Hess - Mar 30th, 2019
- 6 Things to Know About Lincoln Hills - Allison Dikanovic - Mar 22nd, 2019
- Evers Announces Youth Prison for City - Laurel White - Mar 13th, 2019
- Gov. Evers Moves Forward on Plans to Close Lincoln Hills - Gov. Tony Evers - Mar 12th, 2019
- Evers Proposes Delay Of Youth Prison Closure - Laurel White - Feb 28th, 2019
- Youth Justice Milwaukee: We Must Move With a Sense of Urgency - Youth Justice Milwaukee - Feb 27th, 2019
- MKE County: County Officials Offer Antidote to Youth Prisons - Dave Fidlin - Feb 14th, 2019
- Delay in Closing Youth Prisons Criticized - Allison Dikanovic - Feb 4th, 2019
- Youth Justice Milwaukee: “We need action, not excuses.” - Youth Justice Milwaukee - Jan 30th, 2019
- County Picks Location for Youth Offender Facility - Allison Dikanovic - Jan 29th, 2019
- MKE County: County Prepares for Lincoln Hills Closing - Corri Hess - Jan 26th, 2019
- Problems Continue At State Youth Prisons - Laurel White - Jan 15th, 2019
- Youth Justice Milwaukee: Unacceptable Conditions Show We Can’t Wait for 2021 to Close Lincoln Hills - Youth Justice Milwaukee - Jan 14th, 2019
- State Rep. David Bowen Applauds New Governor Evers Visit to Lincoln Hills, Copper Lake - State Rep. David Bowen - Jan 14th, 2019
- Evers Will Visit Lincoln Hills - Shawn Johnson - Jan 3rd, 2019
- New Residential Treatment Facility Opens - Allison Dikanovic - Dec 19th, 2018
- Youth Justice Milwaukee Hosts Successful Roundtable with Elected Leaders on Youth Justice Reform - Youth Justice Milwaukee - Dec 12th, 2018
- Youth Justice Milwaukee Calls for More Community Input at Department of Corrections Community Meeting on Plans for Lincoln Hills Closure - Youth Justice Milwaukee - Sep 18th, 2018
- Youth Justice Milwaukee Statement on Judge’s OK to Lincoln Hills Settlement - Youth Justice Milwaukee - Sep 14th, 2018
- Youth Justice Milwaukee Statement on Lincoln Hills Incident with Young Person with Appendicitis - Youth Justice Milwaukee - Aug 31st, 2018
- Op Ed: Lincoln Hills Closed. Now What’s Needed? - Sharlen Moore - Aug 27th, 2018
- Wall Blasts Walker, Schimel on Youth Prison - Laurel White - Aug 13th, 2018
- Youth Justice Milwaukee: Department of Corrections Should Meet with Stakeholders in Milwaukee on Lincoln Hills - Youth Justice Milwaukee - Aug 8th, 2018
- Juvenile Corrections Reform Signed Into Law - State Rep. Evan Goyke - Apr 2nd, 2018
- Governor Walker Signs Bipartisan Juvenile Justice Reform Bill into Law - Gov. Scott Walker - Mar 30th, 2018
- Speaker Vos Statement: Signing of the ‘Wisconsin Model’ for Juvenile Corrections Reform - Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos - Mar 30th, 2018
- Shilling statement on Lincoln Hills - State Sen. Jennifer Shilling - Mar 30th, 2018
- Rep. Bowen statement on passage of Wisconsin Model of youth justice - State Rep. David Bowen - Feb 21st, 2018
- Kleefisch-Bowen bill lays foundation for youth corrections overhaul - State Rep. David Bowen - Feb 13th, 2018
- Taylor and Bipartisan Legislators Introduce Juvenile Corrections Bill - State Sen. Lena Taylor - Feb 13th, 2018
- Walker Renews Call to Gut Services - State Sen. Lena Taylor - Jan 18th, 2018
- Supervisor Sequanna Taylor Offers to Help Governor Walker with Plan to Close Lincoln Hill and Copper Lake - Sup. Sequanna Taylor - Jan 18th, 2018
- Statement on Delayed Action at Lincoln Hills - State Sen. Jennifer Shilling - Jan 16th, 2018
- Governor Walker Calls on Legislature to Pass Bipartisan Reform for Wisconsin’s Juvenile Corrections System in 2018 - Gov. Scott Walker - Jan 16th, 2018
- Response to Walker’s revisions last night on Lincoln Hills - Democratic Party of Wisconsin - Jan 16th, 2018
- Another Walker Non-Answer on Lincoln Hills Raises a Significant Question - Democratic Party of Wisconsin - Jan 12th, 2018
- When Will Lincoln Hills Close? - Democratic Party of Wisconsin - Jan 9th, 2018
- Shuttering of Lincoln Hills a first step in bringing true rehabilitation for youth offenders - Common Council President Ashanti Hamilton - Jan 5th, 2018
- Career Politician Gov. Scott Walker Governs For Re-Election With Campaign Gimmick - Andy Gronik - Jan 4th, 2018
- Changes Needed at Lincoln Hills Now, Not After the Next Election - State Sen. Chris Larson - Jan 4th, 2018
- Walker agrees to do his job after years of willful neglect and political cover up at Lincoln Hills — now when it threatens his own re-election - Democratic Party of Wisconsin - Jan 4th, 2018
- Walker a Day Late and Dollar Short on Juvenile Corrections - State Sen. Lena Taylor - Jan 4th, 2018
- Governor Walker Announces Plan to Provide a Long-Term Solution for Wisconsin’s Juvenile Corrections and Treatment Systems - Gov. Scott Walker - Jan 4th, 2018
- Dana Wachs calls on Walker administration to close Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake - State Rep. Dana Wachs - Nov 16th, 2017
- Op Ed: Lincoln Hills Even Worse Than Reported - Jake Edwards - Nov 16th, 2017
- Close Lincoln Hills: Advocates and Officials Reiterate Call for Closing Abusive Youth Prisons - Youth Justice Milwaukee - Nov 16th, 2017
- 2018 Budget Includes $90,000 for Youth Training Program - Sup. Sequanna Taylor - Nov 6th, 2017
- Rep. Bowen statement on DOC Internal Affairs Unit - State Rep. David Bowen - Oct 10th, 2017
- Sen. LaTonya Johnson’s Juvenile Justice Reform Signed Into Law - State Sen. LaTonya Johnson - Aug 2nd, 2017
- Court Watch: Judge Rules on Lincoln Hills - Gretchen Schuldt - Jul 13th, 2017
- Federal Court finds current conditions of confinement for youth at Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake Schools unconstitutional - American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin - Jun 23rd, 2017
- Court Watch: Pictures of Youths in Prison - Gretchen Schuldt - Jun 20th, 2017
- Abele Blasts State on Juvenile Prisons - Gretchen Schuldt - Apr 27th, 2017
- Court Watch: ACLU Seeks Lincoln Hills Injunction - Gretchen Schuldt - Apr 20th, 2017
- More Horrors at Juvenile Prisons? - Gretchen Schuldt - Apr 19th, 2017
- Court Watch: Chemical Spraying Used At Lincoln Hills - Gretchen Schuldt - Jan 27th, 2017
- Court Watch: Shocking Charges in Lincoln Hills Suit - Gretchen Schuldt - Jan 25th, 2017
- Corrections Officials Face Community on Lincoln Hills - Jabril Faraj - Jun 22nd, 2016
- Precious Lives: A Debate Over Lincoln Hills Problems - Dee J. Hall - May 24th, 2016
- Op-Ed: End Solitary Confinement, Especially of Youth - Laurence J. Dupuis - Feb 18th, 2016
- Murphy’s Law: Why Walker Allowed Lincoln Hills Abuses - Bruce Murphy - Feb 16th, 2016
Just look at that face and tell me you see a guy who cares about anything but himself. He didn’t win 3 elections for Governor by himself, though. It took a state full of stupid, selfish, assholes to do that.
I am not nor have I ever been a politician. A governor is a busy man and has a lot of staff working for him or her. I don’t doubt that Walker has a lot on his plate on any given day. But is there any way that a judge sends a letter addressed directly to him (not his office or his staff) about sexual assault of minors at a state run facility and he doesn’t know anything at all about it for more than 3 years? That is just really impossible to believe, unless you buy that he is that hands-off about matters in the state he runs.
If Walker has so much on his plate that he is so overwhelmed and cannot respond to warning signs, how could he just pick up leave the state and run for President? A person that is overwhelmed with state issues cannot just turn around and all of a sudden dedicate every minute of his day to a presidential run. He did nothing because problem youth in housed in northern Wisconsin mean nothing to his political future. Walker is simply a criminal. Our despicable governor thinks nothing of denying healthcare to our poor and most vulnerable citizens. Walker cares about Walker’s future and nothing else. He will stab anyone to get ahead.
There are two elephants in this room (if you’ll pardon the pun) – one most of the young people involved are from Milwaukee and we all know how Walker feels about Milwaukee; two most are African Americans! It’s a perfect storm for the Walker Administration! Why is no one talking about Civil Rights Violations? So sad!
Let’s hope now that the problem youth housed in northern Wisconsin mean Walker has no political future.
That is if this “state full of stupid, selfish, assholes” took the time to notice and then took the additional time to do anything about it. They’re probably too busy enjoying the extra $110 in spending money they got from “lower property taxes”…
The Tea Party = racism + retaliation.
Note to Tomw: the FBI investigation will be looking at potential civil rights violations.
As easy as it is to point to racism and politics, the reason that Walker didn’t care is very simple and has been the hallmark of his stints as County Exec and Governor- ideology. When you commit to an ideology that has as it’s single goal the shrinking of government it doesn’t matter if the institution works or not. What’s most important is what it costs. To those who think like Walker, Lincoln Hills is a success because they were able to cut the budget by $25 million. In many ways they hope for failure so that the service can be privatized and government can shrink even more. As County Exec Walker allowed any number of services to fail and get taken over by the state because he had no interest in making them work, his only interest was to cut taxes by whatever means necessary. When you don’t believe in government your priority is not in making institutions work. Its in making it small.
That’s why I never understood why people who rely on government in order to prosper, like the road builders, supported Walker. If your business relies solely on government spending and efficiently run institutions why would you ever support someone who only wants to cut spending and gut services? Illogical
Grover Norquist, the darling of the small government set, said “I don’t want to abolish government. I simply want to reduce it to the size where I can drag it into the bathroom and drown it in the bathtub “. The Walker administration (and the failing government of Gov. Brownback in Kansas) is the embodiment of that philosophy. Lincoln Hills is what drowning government in the bathtub looks like.
To paraphrase Kanye West “Scott Walker doesn’t care about kids who end up at Lincoln Hills.” And neither does the trash that still Stand with Walker.
That’s what a lot of this comes down to. These kids and their community are thought of as “less than”, and so in Walker World these atrocities are able to be swept under the rug for political purposes. And it’ll take people to start showing their humanity and making sickos like Walker and WisGOP to pay a price for being so callous.
Doesn’t this have parallels with the situation with the county mental health center when Walker was County Exec?
Um…because he’s an incompetent boob?
This is Walker’s “Flint, Michigan” moment.
Walker is once again stalemating this situation and getting it out of the public eye. What staff person supposedly did not show him the letter and why haven’t we been told who did this and why hasn’t that person been disciplined like Walker wants done to civil service employees. Secondly: Where did the letter go? It must have been passed on to DOC administrators. Which administrator was given the letter and why didn’t that individual take appropriate action and why didn’t that administrator alert Walker to the seriousness of the issue. Why wasn’t that administrator disciplined. Walker does this all the time with the media. He refuses to dialogue with reporters or answer questions just like he does with open records. This like so many other issues needs a federal Dept. of Justice investigation in which people are put under oath to get at the truth. We all are of the belief that Walker knew of the problems and saw the letter but told his staff and DOC officials to bury it.
Somebody call the state police. Arrest Scott Walker! Maybe the world could get a two-fer by also arresting his twin in Michigan, Rick Snyder. Two governors who slash the costs of caring for poor people in order to give a big tax break to the rich people who fund their campaigns. Book ’em, Danno!
“Starve The Beast.” It’s Walker’s mantra, starve the beast so that it dies. Starve the County Parks, starve the transit system, starve public union workers, starve the DOC, at least the part that is required by law to protect the safety and health of its young charges. Then they’ll all go away.
Starve The Beast is Walker’s local version of Grover Norquist flushing a reduced federal government down the toilet.
Judge Kruel thought sending the letter just to Walker would get some action. At that time we didn’t know as much about how Walker governs as we do now. Now we know that sending a letter just to the Governor may or may not get any action.
In hindsight, Racine County Circuit Judge Richard Kreul should have sent the letter to Walker with copies to all of the leaders in the state senate and legislature, the head of the DOC, the FBI, and the state AG. It would not have gotten buried like it did if all of those people had been brought into it at the beginning.
Thanks, Bruce, for opening this reader’s eyes. I thought I already knew how bad Walker is but this is a new low.
There were a couple of comments that stood out for me out of many good ones: it’s probably even less than $110/ yr for taxpayers (assuming that’s what Rich meant.) I’m thinking it’s a good idea to put a number–a price, as it were–on the amount taxpayers would likely pay to spare those lives affected by Walker’s neglect. And the comment from Leah (great!) about people voting against their own best interests ties together, imho, with a need for a greater effort to educate taxpayers on how this government isn’t helping you (us.) yes, you’re doing your part right here.
This is not Wisconsin’s only issue of abuse within the walls of taxpayer funded facilities for children. The Eau Claire Academy was one of a handful of facilities selected by the Chicago Tribune and Medill Watchdog for a series about abuses in residential treatment centers. This facility has the same issues with abuse as Lincoln Hills and many of the same clientele, many who would rather be in Lincoln Hills. From broken femurs, arms, teeth and concussions by staff to attempted and successful suicides, the facility is not physically or emotionally safe. Children from both facilities are mistreated and when they commit acts against Lincoln Hills’ staff have gone to adult prisons, where they remain as adults. Should we keep these citizens imprisoned for charges brought by a facility that was abusing them? Should taxpayers pay over $120K/year per child for those children to become permanent residents of the system?
Check out the original story here:
http://www.medillwatchdog.org/blog/2014/12/02/rtc/index.html
I think this issue is big. Because the FBI is involved, people are going to talk. How about a John Doe III?
Wouldn’t it be great to get the ego-centric Mr. Walker on the stand. We can’t count on our own DOJ. A Federal investigation is the only way. I think Walker feels he’s done his job by replacing the the top DOC official.
If Milwaukee took care of their kids to begin with, they wouldn’t be at Lincoln Hills/Copper Lake School with all sorts of serious criminal issues. Who is really at fault here?
So the City of Milwaukee is to blame for kids being physically and sexually abused at the facility, not the abusers? I guess some people will find a way to blame Milwaukee for anything. Sad.
It is the job of the staff to keep inmates safe, and they neglected their legal obligation to report the crimes.
Now they have just paid out 300K. That warrants looking at the staff. The FBI? Oh goody.