Lawmakers committing $430 million for new adult prison and youth lockups in Wisconsin
MADISON - Wisconsin would set aside $350 million for a new adult prison, shift offenders from a troubled juvenile prison to new $80 million lockups, toughen penalties on violent crimes and hire dozens more prosecutors, under sweeping law-and-order bills the Assembly is passing this week.
On Wednesday the Assembly unanimously advanced the youth prison proposal, leaving it to an unknown fate in the Senate, and sent the tougher penalties bills to Gov. Scott Walker.
The adult prison and prosecutors proposals won't come before the Assembly until Thursday, but the total cost of the entire package is already turning heads, hitting nearly $430 million in one-time expenses and more than $60 million in annual costs.
The focus on criminal justice also comes a day after the Assembly approved Assembly Bill 606 to give Milwaukee police officers and firefighters seats on the city's Fire and Police Commission.
Read more: https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2018/02/20/lincoln-hills-youth-prison-would-replaced-carjacking-penalties-increased-under-bills-passing-assembl/351523002/
