The search for someone to lead the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, or DOC, is in progress.
In a press release, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers announced the retirement of Kevin Carr, who served as secretary of the DOC for roughly five years.
Evers applauded Carr’s accomplishments, including expansion of educational opportunities for people who are incarcerated as well as increased access to medication assisted treatment, a treatment often used for opioid use disorder.
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I'll take the survey!But some people who are currently incarcerated are not so quick to praise Carr.
Prisoners throughout Wisconsin shared, with NNS concerns about the conditions they are living in, including not having adequate access to medical and mental health care and not enough opportunities for rehabilitation.
They also shared what qualities they think a new secretary should have.
A common theme among their concerns is the need for the new secretary to have a basic respect for their dignity and humanity.
Beth Hardtke, director of communications for the DOC, said in an email that the DOC
“welcomes all Wisconsinites weighing in on the department’s policies, including persons in our care and justice-involved individuals.”
She said the DOC is working to update its policies and assess various conditions in prisons.
For example, the DOC is incrementally increasing activities for those incarcerated under a policy of “modified movement,”a practice between a lockdown and normal operations, where some programming and movement of prisoners continue to take place but with some restrictions, Hardtke said.
The DOC also is working to increase programming for prisoners in restrictive housing, where prisoners are kept apart from the general population of prisoners for a period of time, Hardtke said.
Here are thoughts about a new DOC secretary from people who are currently incarcerated in a DOC facility.
Aaron Nicgorski, Jackson Correctional Institution
“The new director should be focusing on making programs available to people to reduce the prison population, giving us incentives to have good behavior while incarcerated, to encourage us that change is worth it. You can be tough on crime, but a prison cell does not give a person treatment … ,” said Nicgorski.
Wilfredo Diaz, Stanley Correctional Institution
“As far as priorities that the new DOC director should look at, there should be a look at the programing and schooling for individuals incarcerated, especially for guys who have been in prison for a long time, and it can be hard to get into programs or higher learning due to their release date,” said Diaz.
Charles Green, Kettle Moraine Correctional Institution
“I will start with what no one wants, and absolutely no one needs, a politician,” Green said. “We need solutions that are not just fodder for partisan arguments. We need bipartisan support for the new director if change is to be the end result. What is needed is an intellectual capable of diplomacy. Not just a diplomacy between political lines, but a leader who is wise enough to utilize all available resources.”
“We want someone proactive, instead of passively reactive. Someone who will work with inmates that desire change as much as anyone.”
Rudolph Lanaghan, Fox Lake Correctional Institution
“I know that many of those imprisoned would want someone who demands transparency and accountability of the staff and operations of the prisons,” Lanaghan said. “A very tangible matter for Wisconsin prisoners is the reality of nearly zero accountability of DOC staff and administration for their actions.”
Victor Thomas, Fox Lake Correctional Institution
“He or she needs to prioritize reconnecting/maintaining connections between incarcerated peoples and their families and loved ones. The DOC has made it extremely difficult for people on the outside to come and visit their incarcerated loved ones,” Thomas said.
“Before, loved ones could come up on a whim to visit their loved ones in prison. (They were already approved through the background checks.)”
“The pandemic gave DOC administrative officials the excuse to put more of a strain on visitors by requiring that they schedule visits (in limited time slots) days or weeks ahead.”
Sunshine Ketchum, Taycheedah Correctional Institution
“I think drug offense crimes should have more programs, so the institutions are not filled to the brim,” Ketchum said. “We have inmates being assaulted, officers being assaulted, people dying at the hands of others throughout the Wisconsin prison system. People with petty crimes are being forced to live like animals, then become them. The new director’s priorities should revolve around those issues.”
Darrick Alexander, Oshkosh Correctional Institution
“Substance use disorder treatment should be provided to the incarcerated citizen not based upon his or her prison sentence, but instead based upon his or her date of admission. … Presently, an inmate’s start date can be pushed back or not assigned merely because a new admission’s sentence structure is shorter than the person who has been waiting for years to be provided treatment while incarcerated,” Alexander said.
Laron Mitchell, Columbia Correctional Institution
“I think the new priorities of the secretary should be aimed at the training of staff,” said Mitchell.
Devin Blake is the criminal justice reporter for the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service. His position is funded by the Public Welfare Foundation, which plays no role in editorial decisions in the NNS newsroom.
Michelle Stephenson says
Where are the females?
Ron Smith says
Hi. One is quoted. But we hear you. And that would be worth a follow up. Thanks so much for pointing this out.
Devin Blake says
Hi Michelle,
Yes, we do hear you. I correspond with as many incarcerated people as I can and simply have not been able to connect with as many females. But your comment is important, and the perspectives of females who are incarcerated need more attention.
Thomas+Spellman says
Since the vast majority of those who are incarcerated have been traumatized and NEVER received any therapy for those traumas IT IS TIME to begin providing THERAPY to all those who are incarcerated so they get the help they need to allow their brain to heal itself. (the brain heals the body – think about it – a broken bone and how to the chemicals that heal that break get there)
Gaynell Clermont says
There are people serving over 25-40 years due to truth in sentencing. James Foote at Stanley Correctional inmate 196420 is a prime example for your statistics and review. Have the new secretary of state start with truth in sentencing.
This needs to be reevaluated for those who were convicted during that time. Good behavior and accountability for a crime shouldn’t be a life sentence. No option for parole? This has been way over due.
Frank says
A few additional thoughts to the excellent statements and comments above. It is clear that the Wisconsin system is in crisis and needs a strategy and action plans for both short and long-term change. Here are some basics:
(1) Define health care in the broadest possible sense and contract with a reputable teaching hospital system to provide high quality medical, behavioral health, and, surprisingly often ignored, dental care, for women, men and adolescents. This approach will assure high quality care and a rotation of people that avoids the cynicism that is almost inevitable in this environment. An environment that is often the “employer of last resort” in the medical/mental health professions.
(2) Provide a full range of high-quality behavioral health services to the staffs of these high-stress institutions and work to build a healthy workplace for these staffs, especially “front-line” uniformed and civilian workers.
(3) Build a solid relationship with one or more high-quality “re-entry” programs and make initial contact as far before release as possible.
People will maintain that these initiatives are “too expensive.” Aside from the human costs of the current reality, the long-term savings from avoided re-incarcerations are just one form of cost-benefit value from this strategy.