Wisconsin Governor Eases Prison Lockdowns Amid Inmate Lawsuit

Plan includes ending lockdowns, reducing solitary confinement, and transitioning to single-cell housing to alleviate pressure on understaffed prisons.

• Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers has eased lockdowns at two of the state's oldest and most understaffed prisons, Waupun and Green Bay, following a federal lawsuit filed by inmates alleging inhumane conditions.
• The prisons have been under lockdown for months due to deteriorating buildings and staff shortages, with Waupun's lockdown beginning in March and Green Bay's in June.
• Despite the easing of restrictions, some rules related to visitation, personal hygiene frequency, and recreation time remain suspended due to ongoing staffing shortages.
• Evers' plan includes ending the lockdowns, reducing the use of solitary confinement, bolstering staff emergency response, and transitioning Waupun to single-cell housing by March 1, which will reduce the number of inmates and alleviate pressure on the understaffed prison.
• Efforts to increase staffing have included pay raises for prison guards, leading to a doubling in applications to work for the Department of Corrections over the past four months.

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