Shuttering of Lincoln Hills a first step in bringing true rehabilitation for youth offenders
Statement of Common Council President Ashanti Hamilton - January 5, 2018
Lincoln Hills School and Copper Lake School. Photo from the Wisconsin Department of Corrections.
In recent years there have been concerted efforts shared by city, county and state officials, mental health providers, community organizers, families, and other community stakeholders to reimagine the pathways we use to rehabilitate youth who are sentenced for serious offenses. The efforts to rethink the current approaches in place to support our youth came as a result of growing concerns that pointed to the reality that youth incarcerated at Lincoln Hills School for Boys were more likely to endure severe trauma instead of rehabilitation.
The concept of relocating treatment and rehabilitation opportunities for youth to smaller settings that are closer to the communities where many of the offending youth come from is a concept that Council members and many community stakeholders continue to support. Research is clear that rehabilitation and treatment for youth in smaller secure settings are more likely to result in disrupting cycles of recidivism as opposed to incarcerating youth in prison settings that are isolated from the community for a period of time.
As President of the Common Council, I urge constituents and stakeholders to share input and participate in the efforts to relocate Milwaukee youth to settings where they can get the treatments and supports that can bring about rehabilitation. We all want a city that is safe and we want to see our youth rehabilitated in conditions that prepare them for successful reentry into our communities.
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.
More about the Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake Facilities
- MKE County: Tight Budget Forces Difficult Vote on Housing, Juvenile Justice - Graham Kilmer - Nov 1st, 2024
- Letters from Evers, Republicans Show Clash on Juvenile Corrections - Andrew Kennard - Aug 17th, 2024
- Following Counselor Death, Staff, Family Plead for Help At Lincoln Hills - Andrew Kennard - Aug 16th, 2024
- Lawmakers Grill Wisconsin Prison Officials Over Safety, Employee Death at Youth Facility - Sarah Lehr - Aug 7th, 2024
- Future of Lincoln Hills Remains In Limbo - Isiah Holmes - Apr 12th, 2024
- MKE County: County Youth In State Prisons Declining Again - Graham Kilmer - Jan 15th, 2024
- Legislative Committee Okays $6 Million for 2nd Juvenile Facility - Devin Blake - Oct 1st, 2023
- Some Progress, Still Problems at Lincoln Hills - Isiah Holmes - Jul 9th, 2023
- Plats and Parcels: Republicans Approve Gov. Evers’ Allocation of $32.6 Million More To Build Milwaukee Youth Prison - Jeramey Jannene - Jun 4th, 2023
- Milwaukee Youth Prison Costs Grow 71% - Jeramey Jannene - Mar 1st, 2023
Read more about Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake Facilities here
Mentioned in This Press Release
Recent Press Releases by Ald. Ashanti Hamilton
-I am skeptical of Scott Walker following through on advancing a plan outlined by Gary Goyke(D) in an election year and not being voted on until 2019 at the earliest.
( Legislature votes no in 2019 and : Sorry ;not going to happen , not my fault.)