Report: Record number of adults in Wisconsin prisons

By: Associated Press//October 31, 2018//

Listen to this article

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A new report shows the number of adults in Wisconsin prisons reached a record high last year.

The Wisconsin Policy Forum released a report on Wednesday that found a record 23,687 people were incarcerated in state prisons in 2017. That was up by 2.3 percent from 2016.

The report notes that the state Department of Corrections’ 2019-21 budget request projects the population will grow by another 5.7 percent by 2021. The agency wants an additional $149.4 million to deal with the influx. That would bring the DOC’s total annual spending to $1.4 billion by 2021.

The report places the blame for the increase on truth-in-sentencing laws and more inmates serving time for violent crimes.

The Democratic gubernatorial challenger Tony Evers has been trying to make prisons a topic of debate in the current election, proposing to cut the population in half.

Select Region or Brand

Upcoming Event