Youth Justice Milwaukee: Wisconsin Must Include Community Input for Any Youth Transfers
"YJM agrees with President Hamilton that there are already enough correctional settings on the north side of Milwaukee."
Milwaukee, WI – In response to Tommy Kirk, a youth formerly incarcerated in Lincoln Hills, advocating for youth to be relocated to Milwaukee’s northside, Youth Justice Milwaukee co-founder Sharlen Moore released the following statement:
“Youth Justice Milwaukee (YJM) values the personal experiences of those who were incarcerated as children. We agree that it is critical that the State of Wisconsin works with Milwaukee County to bring the children at Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake closer to their homes as soon as possible. Act 185 creates the possibility of more correctional settings of up to 40 children each, which is a significant reason why residents do not want the facility in their neighborhood. The community was not asked what they wanted. They have also not been given alternatives to consider, such as homelike settings for youth that blend well into neighborhoods and provide a normative environment for positive change to occur. We have heard the community ask for the opportunity to learn more.”
“YJM agrees with President Hamilton that there are already enough correctional settings on the north side of Milwaukee. We urge decision-makers at the state, county, and city levels to actively include the community in planning to avoid repeating the same failed practices. There are ways to transfer youth out of Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake, and create residential settings that offer the appropriate level of security and support necessary for youth to sustain positive behavior changes and access services that meet their needs.”
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
- 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
- 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
Read more about Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake Facilities here
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