MOSES Official Position Statement on Proposed New Jail

Recently, the Dane County Sheriff’s office released a study conducted by Mead & Hunt recommending plans for a new Dane County Jail.  The cost to taxpayers would be close to $135M. MOSES has had conversations with Sheriff Mahoney, several stakeholders, and has done thorough review and discussion of the Mead & Hunt report.  MOSES is working hard to find the best solution to these complicated issues and is committed to working collaboratively with other stakeholders toward that goal. The following is MOSES’ official position on the new jail proposal (Click here to download a pdf).


A New $130M Dane County Jail?
The Wrong Solution to the Wrong Problem

MOSES rejects the proposal for a new Dane County jail.  Data show that a large percentage of the people in Dane County jail are there unnecessarily.  Correcting outdated and misaligned policies and practices would dramatically reduce the number of jailed people, beginning in the next few months.  This is the shortest path toward closing all or part of the unsafe City-County Building jail, reducing racial disparities, and avoiding waste of lives and money.  It is also a necessary prerequisite to making credible projections about long-term jail needs. needs.

Dane county contracted with a prison design firm, Mead and Hunt, to produce a report and recommendations for a new jail.  After studying their document, the concerned citizens of MOSES reject the proposal.  We are clear that no new jail building is needed, for the following reasons:

  1. We agree that the City-County Building jail is sub-standard, and that this must be addressed immediately.
  2. The fastest and most cost-effective solution lies not in brick and mortar, but in rapidly implementing proven new systems and policy changes to immediately stop unnecessary incarceration.  With fewer people in all three jail sites, the City-County building site can be fully or partially emptied, remodeled, and put to other non-jail use.
  3. A new jail building (estimated to cost $130-$141M) would not only be wasteful and unnecessary, but may also sustain or worsen Dane County’s excessive incarceration rate and appalling racial disparities.

In MOSES’ view, the Mead and Hunt report:

  • Assumes that Dane County’s already outdated incarceration policies and practices will continue.
  • Ignores more cost-effective alternatives already implemented and proven throughout the U.S.
  • Inflates the number of beds needed, based on questionable projections of the number of people in jail.[1]
  • Creates perverse incentives to jail more people in order to maximize staffing and facility efficiency.[2]
  • Proposes to generate revenue by incarcerating people from other counties’ jails–particularly youth.[3]
  • Assumes incarcerating the same or greater number of people with mental illness.
  • Ignores new funding opportunities in BadgerCare expansion to single individuals starting April 1, 2014.

Dane County’s incarceration rates can, should, and must be lowered by implementing new standards of practice, including treatment, alternatives, and diversions in the arrest, pre-trial detention, prosecution, and incarceration stages of the criminal justice process.  These practices are well established elsewhere and proven to be more cost- effective and better for communities.  Medicaid funds are also now more available to fund treatment alternatives.

As one example: Black people are typically 48% of the Dane County jail population but only 14% of those on home electronic monitoring.  This likely relates to inability to pay the required $20/day fee to participate in electronic monitoring.  The effect is that African Americans are disproportionately incarcerated unnecessarily.

The table on reverse side shows many examples of unnecessary incarceration, and the changes that could reduce it.  MOSES is working hard for the changes needed to correct this terrible situation in our county.


[1]Despite a decline in Madison arrests since 2004, a decline in the number of new District Attorney cases since 2007, and a large decline in the average daily number of people in jail since 2006, the plan projects future jail space need by using a starting number higher than the current average daily number of jailed people, and then projects a steady increase.

[2] The plan proposes 64-bed “pods” to maximize facility/staffing efficiency.  But each pod is only efficient if at least 90% full.

[3] The plan projects only 14 youth beds needed, but proposes a 40-bed youth unit so that Dane County can make over $1 M annual revenue housing teens from other counties.


 

PEOPLE INCARCERATED IN DANE COUNTY JAIL
ADP = Average Daily Population (2012 actual or 2013 estimated);
LOS = Length of stay (in days)

People in Dane County Jail% of ADPLOSProposed Alternatives to Reduce Jail Time
People who cannot post their bail bond of:Do these people need to be in jail?
< $5000.33884Establish bail payment fund, sliding scale bail, or ROR
$501 to $1,0000.08125Assist into FoodShares & other job training programs
$1,001 to $5,0000.07134Implement Pre-Trial Services Program
Effect: Jail functions as a Poor HouseCommunity service in lieu of bail
People in jail who could be released for Huber privileges (to work or school)0.236If these people are safe enough for Huber, why aren’t they completely out on supervision?
Note: No racial data provided in report.Did they ever need to be in jail?
Note: Some Dane Co. Huber participants return to jail nights & weekendsHuber participants should be on home electronic monitoring, not in jail
Need racial data and eligibility policy to ensure equity
People with DOC holds, many with rule violations, not new crime. Note: 40% of holds are dropped; see next row.0.19425.1Why so long? What systems changes could reduce or eliminate jail time?
Note: Malfunctioning DOC bracelet/GPS equipment causes thousands of jail days
People with mental illness0.02931 to 43Treatment, alternatives, diversions
to 18.4% Create Mental Health Court (Medicaid funds)
(Note: Estimates in the jail plan report vary widely)Prohibit solitary confinement for person with mental illness (except emergency segregation pending transfer to treatment facility)
Transfer to mental health treatment facility
Release to community with Medicaid services
People with admission type “amended”0.06467.5Need clarification of what this “amended” admission type means and whether there are potential alternatives to jail for people in this category.
People who are released by signature bond or ROR (Release on Recognizance)0.0414.6Why does this take 3 to 5 days?
What systems/policy changes could reduce this?
People released after “hold” dropped0.03510.1Need clarification of what these “holds” are: Does it include DOC holds, and/or other types of holds?
People who are later released on cash bail 0.0333.3Why does this take 3 to 5 days?
What systems/policy changes could reduce this?
People in jail for 24 to 72 hours0.0231 to 3Video court sessions 7days/week
·    Initial court hearings occur only Mon-FriIf safe in community, release ROR, or w/ supervision
·    Bail hearings occur only twice/weekMore staff in District Attorney’s office
Youth—16 and 17 year olds0.019Youth court, restorative justice, treatment, etc.
MOSES/WISDOM is working on legislation to reassign16/17 year olds to juvenile justice system.
People in jail for less than 24 hours0.017<1What systems/policy changes could avoid this? (e.g., diversion from arrest; diversion from prosecution; District Attorney’s policies]
Low-level drug offensesTreatment instead of jail, and/or release ROR or on supervision
Arrests on old warrants Erase old warrants (Hoover Family Foundation work)
Reduce RecidivismAssist people with access to benefits (BadgerCare, FoodShare, job programs, etc.) before release[1]

[1] The Hoover Family Foundation has trained MOSES volunteers to help people apply for benefits, and has offered funding for other ways (e.g., bail fund) to stop unnecessary incarceration.

Tell the City of Madison to #BanTheBox !

Help stop hiring discrimination based on conviction history! Tomorrow, Madison’s Common Council will vote on a resolution supporting the Ban the Box initiative.  This resolution contains language that would encourage employers to leave questionBan the Boxs regarding criminal history off of applications.  They would agree not to ask about criminal history until a conditional offer of employment has been made.

Click here to read the full resolution.

If you would like to support this initiative, you can come to the Common Council meeting Tuesday, September 2 at 6:30pm, room 201 at the City County Building, 210 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd in Madison.  Even if you do not wish to speak in support of the resolution, you can fill out a registration card when you get to the meeting and note that you support Ban the Box!  Also, consider emailing your alders to let them know why they should support this important resolution.

Reform Now: Revocations & GPS Monitoring #ReformNow

On Wednesday, August 20, WISDOM members from across the state gathered to speak out against the unjust and counterproductive practice of sending people to prison for “technical violations” of their parole or supervision.  Click below to view a video on the event by Tim Coursen.

MOSES goes to Milwaukee #ReformWisDOCNow #ReformNow

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”                                             -Margaret Mead

 

Today, REFORM NOW in front of the Milwaukee Secure Detention Facility (and please note that those are NOT real windows – it is only a facade made to LOOK like there are windows).

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James H. Hall, Jr., the President of the Milwaukee branch of the NAACP, speaking at the REFORM NOW action in front of the Milwaukee Secure Detention Facility.

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Reverend Willie Brisco, President of MICAH (Milwaukee Inner-city Congregations Allied for Hope), speaking today at the REFORM NOW action in front of the Milwaukee Secure Detention Facility.

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Delivering WISDOM’s latest letter to Governor Walker to staff members at the state office building in Milwaukee. Speaking truth to power about unnecessary revocations and faulty GPS monitoring.

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Tish Minor of Milwaukee speaks to the crowd about the NAACP and Moral Mondays.

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Dr. Rose M. Scott, of Prison Action Milwaukee, speaks to the crowd. Dr. Scott is also Faculty Emeritus in Teacher Education at University of Wisconsin-Parkside.

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Two effective and very experienced community organizers: David Liners, the Executive Director of WISDOM, and Rev. Joe Ellwanger, who has been working for social justice since the days in which he marched with Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Buy an Ad in the MOSES 2014 Yearbook!

Support MOSES and promote your business at the same time. Ads for the 2014 yearbook are now for sale! Click to download this form to purchase dc7e87ngiyour ad.  Ad must be received by October 1.

Curious about how your ad will be used? Click to browse the 2013 Yearbook! 

Monthly MOSES Meeting THIS Saturday, Aug 2

Stay informed! Join us on Saturday, August 2 at First Congregational Church, the lower level, from 10-12pm.

Check out this poll to learn what are Wisconsinites thinking about the DOC. This article came out Sunday. 

View Testimony from MOSES members at the July 9 event #ReformWiscDOCNow

Here are some video testimonies from the July 9th event at the State Capitol. Please share! Scroll down on the Home page to see more information and links to press regarding this event.

More press from July 9 #ReformWiscDOCNow

Check out the front page story in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel from Sunday, July 13!
Also, Journal Sentinal columnist James Causey, who was at the July 9th event all day, wrote this column entitled A Wisconsin epidemic: imprisoning black men.
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WISDOM and MOSES Call to #ReformWiscDOCNow at State Capitol July 9, 2014

On Wednesday, July 9, 2014, many diverse interfaith groups and justice advocates gathered at the Wisconsin State Capitol for WISDOM’s press conference and to speak to the State Criminal Justice Coordinating Council. Speakers from organizations across the state, including Madison’s own MOSES contingent, conveyed passion and knowledge as they unveiled REFORM NOW, a campaign to illuminate failures, share stories, offer solutions and call for accountability at the DOC.  More than 125 people directly impacted by prison injustices, including those recently-released from years in prison, the spouses, children and parents of individuals currently incarcerated, and those who have chosen to stand in solidarity for change were present to work for a better future.#ReformWiscDOCNow

MOSES, or Madison Organizing in Strength, Equality and Solidarity, will continue to play an important role, along with all of the statewide WISDOM affiliates, as we work on criminal justice issues in the months to come. From July through October, REFORM NOW will release briefs on revocations and GPS monitoring, compassionate release, and solitary confinement, culminating in the release of a report on the Wisconsin Department of Corrections in November of 2014.In addition, dedicated MOSES members and task forces will explore the impact of a proposed new jail and will continue to work for treatment alternatives and diversion.Jul9_2

WISDOM is a statewide network of 160 congregations representing 19 faith traditions, and it serves as the convener of the 11×15 campaign to reduce the state prison population from 22,000 to 11,000 by 2015. To support this effort, MOSES welcomes supporters, advocates and contributors to continue the conversation for creating more just and equitable communities throughout Wisconsin.  For additional involvement opportunities and information, please contact info@mosesmadison.org.

To see the first REFORM NOW brief:
http://www.gamaliel.org/Portals/0/Documents/WisdomBriefOne.final.pdf

Check out all the press generated from this event below or on our Facebook page:

AP — http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_268748/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=0Ch9p2le

And here are just some examples of where the AP story reached:

Wisconsin Public Radio — They read AP story this morning, even though Gil Halstead covered it. Not sure why …

AP story in the Green Bay paper — http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/2014/07/09/church-coalition-seeks-wisconsin-prison-reforms/12414651/

-AP story in Star Tribune — http://www.startribune.com/local/266457071.html

-AP story in Beaver Dam paper –– http://www.wiscnews.com/bdc/news/local/article_6eebbb3a-4dfe-5f9c-a6cf-8dbe14512826.html

AP story appeared at Fox affiliate station in Minneapolis — http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/story/25977637/church-coalition-launches-prison-reform-campaign

-AP story appeared in San Francisco paper!

Journal Sentinel — http://www.jsonline.com/news/religion/ministers-others-press-scott-walker-for-parole-reforms-b99308325z1-266517391.html

CBS affiliate in Madison (Jessica Arp was the reporter at the press conference) — http://www.channel3000.com/news/26872858

ABC affiliate WKOW in Madison (which went to all their affiliates in the state; e.g. I saw this on the LaCrosse page, too) — http://www.wkow.com/story/25981292/2014/07/09/wisdom-kicks-off-reform-now-campaign

Interview w/ Jerry at MKE public radio — http://wuwm.com/post/faith-based-network-demands-wisconsin-adjust-its-corrections-system

A front page in Beaver Dam!
http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/hr.asp?fpVname=WI_BDDC&ref_pge=gal&b_pge=1

Wisconsin Eye –– http://www.wiseye.org/Programming/VideoArchive/EventDetail.aspx?evhdid=8919     (This shows the entire press conference.)

WPR ‘Central Time’ – a truly great 10 minute interview with Jerry Hancock – explains the issues really clearly – http://www.wpr.org/listen/613606

Short report by Gil Halsted of WPR – with audio fr Jerry & Kate – http://www.wpr.org/listen/613571

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2 Day Leadership Training June 27 and 28!

Just a reminder that the 2-day training here in Madison for formerly-incarcerated people, as well as family members of currently or formerly incarcerated people will be on June 27 and 28.
We have a good place, and it seems we have a fair number of people planning to attend. We want to ask you to encourage people who want to attend (including yourselves) to sign up as soon as possible.  We especially need to know how many out-of-towners will need a place to stay.
If you have any questions, please let me know.  To register for the training e-mail info@mosesmadison.org, give your contact information, and whether you will need a place to spend the night on Friday.
2 day training flyer