MADISON, WI – On February 16, 2025, Governor Tony Evers announced a major corrections reform plan preceding his upcoming budget address, to include significant facility investments, an expansion of the Earned Release program, and more.

Ranking Democratic Member of the Assembly Committee on Corrections Representative Shelia Stubbs (D-Madison) released the following statement: 

“As the Ranking Democratic Member on the Assembly Committee on Corrections, I support Governor Evers’ plan to make historic investments in our corrections system that will make facilities safer for Persons in Our Care and staff, as well as reduce recidivism and costs to taxpayers.

Governor Evers has proposed a complete rehabilitation of Waupun Correctional Institution and the shutdown of Green Bay Correction Institution, both aging facilities that no longer meet the needs of the populations they house. Waupun Correctional Institution will be repurposed into a cutting-edge facility focusing on vocational skills and workforce readiness, similar to models in other states that have seen great success.

He has also proposed completion of a Type 1 youth facility in Dane County so that we will be able to close the Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake Schools in Irma, Wisconsin. Additional funds have also been allocated to repurpose and expand capacity in other facilities, so that we are better able to alleviate current overcrowding issues in our Wisconsin correctional facilities.

Additional critical elements of Governor Evers’ plan that I fully support are the expansion of the Earned Release Program for nonviolent offenders who are within 48 months of completing their sentences, expansion of substance use treatment programs for justice-impacted individuals, and expansion of community corrections supportive services and alternatives to revocation. It’s vital that we give people looking to turn their lives around the help they need, so they can develop the tools necessary to stay out of prison and become productive members of the community.  

By making these significant investments into corrections, we will be able to address some of the longstanding issues within the system and ultimately help more eligible people safely transition back to the community, while cutting costs for taxpayers in the long run. I strongly support the Governor’s plan and look forward to seeing these positive changes take place.”