AR27: Resolution Text

LRB-4778/1

RAC:jld

2015 - 2016 LEGISLATURE

2015 Assembly RESOLUTION 27

February 16, 2016 - Introduced by Representatives Considine, Barnes, Bowen, Kessler, Shankland and Barca. Referred to Committee on Assembly Organization.

AR27,1,1 Relating to: investigation of juvenile and adult corrections programs and facilities.

AR27,1,4 Whereas, over the past several months media accounts have documented a pattern of mismanagement, resulting in cases of abuse and violence occurring at state Department of Corrections facilities; and

AR27,1,7 Whereas, the state Department of Justice opened a criminal investigation into alleged abuse at Lincoln Hills School for Boys in January 2015, including allegations of sexual assault and misconduct in public office; and

AR27,1,10 Whereas, the Lincoln County district attorney initiated a John Doe probe into alleged abuse in October 2015, and more recently the Federal Bureau of Investigation has joined the investigation; and

AR27,1,13 Whereas, documentation confirms that Judge Richard Kreul made the Walker Administration aware of allegations of sexual and physical assault at Lincoln Hills dating back as far as at least February 2012; and

AR27,1,15 Whereas, reports from several adult correctional facilities show high rates of staff vacancies, high staff turnover due to harsh working conditions; and

AR27,2,3 Whereas, reports, including testimony to the Joint Committee on Employee Relations, note that the number of assaults on staff as well as inmates at adult correctional facilities have been on the rise in recent years; and

AR27,2,6 Whereas, the safety and security of both the students in juvenile corrections facilities and corrections officers employed at these facilities are a serious matter of great state interest; now, therefore, be it

AR27,2,9 Resolved by the assembly, That the Wisconsin state assembly expresses deep concerns over the management and administration of state juvenile corrections programs and facilities; and, be it further

AR27,2,13 Resolved, That the Wisconsin state assembly hereby directs the Assembly Committee on Audit to develop and submit a request to the Joint Legislative Audit Committee for a program evaluation audit of state corrections programs before February 23, 2016, and, be it further

AR27,2,17 Resolved, That the Wisconsin state assembly hereby directs the Assembly Committee on Corrections to hold no fewer than three oversight hearings on both juvenile and adult corrections programs and facilities before July 1, 2016, and report to the assembly on its findings before September 1, 2016.

AR27,2,18 (End)