Youth Justice Milwaukee: Unacceptable Conditions Show We Can’t Wait for 2021 to Close Lincoln Hills
"The conditions at Lincoln Hills remain unacceptable – and life-threatening -- to the young people who are locked up inside despite orders from a federal judge to improve."
Milwaukee, WI – In response to the latest report on the conditions at Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake youth prisons, Youth Justice Milwaukee co-founders Sharlen Moore and Jeff Roman released the following statement:
“The conditions at Lincoln Hills remain unacceptable – and life-threatening — to the young people who are locked up inside despite orders from a federal judge to improve. The reality is no matter what a judge orders, youth prisons will never be safe for children. It is essential for the state to close the doors of this dangerous, abusive youth prison, and it’s a perfect example of why Wisconsin cannot turn around and open more harmful facilities to replace it. While Governor Evers’ recent visit shows his concern for the problems there, it’s clear we cannot wait until 2021 to close the youth prison – the youth who continue to be traumatized at Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake cannot afford for us to wait.”
Youth Justice Milwaukee is a broad-based campaign advocating for community-based, family-centered, restorative programs as an alternative to locking up children in Wisconsin’s youth prisons. Youth Justice Milwaukee represents a coalition of persons who were incarcerated as youth, families of youth who are or were incarcerated, service providers, and local and national youth justice advocates.
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
- Building Commission OKs Planning Funds to Reorganize Wisconsin Prisons - Sarah Lehr - Oct 29th, 2025
- State Building Commission Releases Funding Gov. Evers Requested to Revamp Corrections Facilities - Gov. Tony Evers - Oct 28th, 2025
- Gov. Evers Announces Evers Administration to Move Forward with Comprehensive Plans to Revamp Corrections Facilities - Gov. Tony Evers - Oct 14th, 2025
- For The First Time, Wisconsin’s Youth Prisons Are Fully Compliant With Required Reforms - Rich Kremer - Oct 3rd, 2025
- Inmate Sentenced For Role in Youth Counselor’s Death at Troubled Prison - Isiah Holmes - Aug 11th, 2025
- Evers’ Prison Plan Receives Mixed Reviews - WPR Staff - Feb 21st, 2025
- ‘First of its Kind in Wisconsin’ Collaboration Will Support Disabled Incarcerated Youth - Andrew Kennard - Dec 12th, 2024
- 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
Read more about Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake Facilities here
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