41 votes

One thousand inmates at a Wisconsin prison have been confined mostly to their cells for months, with little explanation

9 comments

  1. unkz
    Link
    Who wants to work in a prison as a correctional officer for $20.29/hr? That’s pretty crazy. I’m not surprised at all that they have/had staff shortages.

    Legislature agreed to raise starting pay for correctional officers to $33 an hour from $20.29 an hour and made additional money available for those working at maximum-security prisons and facilities with vacancy rates above 40 percent.

    Who wants to work in a prison as a correctional officer for $20.29/hr? That’s pretty crazy. I’m not surprised at all that they have/had staff shortages.

    23 votes
  2. [5]
    updawg
    Link
    According to the article, it is thought that the explanation is staffing shortages, but they haven't given any explanation. The article says that prisoners are having to resort to ripping up their...

    According to the article, it is thought that the explanation is staffing shortages, but they haven't given any explanation.

    The article says that prisoners are having to resort to ripping up their clothes to wipe their butts and birds have taken up residence in the prison and food trays have bird poop on them.

    17 votes
    1. [4]
      BusAlderaan
      Link Parent
      What do you mean the author didn't provide any explanation? links to other sources highlighting similar issues that repeatedly cite staffing issues: Timely Medical Care Mississipi North Carolina...

      What do you mean the author didn't provide any explanation?

      More than half of the prison’s 284 full-time positions for correctional officers and sergeants remain unfilled, state data shows. The shortages have severely hobbled the facility’s ability to operate safely, according to former wardens, correctional officers and members of Waupun prison’s community board.
      ...
      Eighty miles northeast, those at the maximum-security prison in Green Bay have been effectively locked down since June...Green Bay’s prison has a vacancy rate for correctional officers and sergeants of 40 percent.

      links to other sources highlighting similar issues that repeatedly cite staffing issues:

      9 votes
      1. [3]
        Fal
        Link Parent
        I believe the OP is saying that the prison has not given an official explanation.

        I believe the OP is saying that the prison has not given an official explanation.

        13 votes
        1. updawg
          Link Parent
          Yes, as the author repeatedly stated.

          Yes, as the author repeatedly stated.

          4 votes
        2. BusAlderaan
          Link Parent
          Hmm I guess that's possible, I hadn't read the comment that way.

          Hmm I guess that's possible, I hadn't read the comment that way.

          2 votes
  3. [4]
    Comment deleted by author
    Link
    1. [2]
      devilized
      Link Parent
      Is this prison privately run? I'm totally against privately run prisons as well, but I don't see anything to indicate that this is the case here. In which case the staffing issue is due to the...

      Is this prison privately run? I'm totally against privately run prisons as well, but I don't see anything to indicate that this is the case here. In which case the staffing issue is due to the same reason that police are short staffed nationwide - it's a shitty job that has a bad reputation, bad work conditions and no public respect, and the pay (set by the government) doesn't make up for it.

      8 votes
      1. updawg
        Link Parent
        State prison. Oldest in the state.

        State prison. Oldest in the state.

        9 votes
    2. stu2b50
      Link Parent
      Waupun Correctional Institution, the subject of the article, is a state prison, owned and operated by the Wisconsin Department of Corrections Division of Adult Institutions....

      Waupun Correctional Institution, the subject of the article, is a state prison, owned and operated by the Wisconsin Department of Corrections Division of Adult Institutions.

      https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waupun_Correctional_Institution
      https://doc.wi.gov/Pages/OffenderInformation/AdultInstitutions/WaupunCorrectionalInstitution.aspx

      6 votes
  4. Comment removed by site admin
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