“Lock ’em up and throw away the key” too costly for many states

Apparently “lock ’em up and throw away the key” isn’t working for many state’s bottom lines: When Harry Coates campaigned for the Oklahoma state Senate in 2002, he had one approach to crime: “Lock ’em up and throw away the key.” Now, Coates is looking for that key. He and…

Continue Reading

Fred “No fact checker needed” Dooley swings and misses yet again

The Claim: State Senator John Lehman let Michael R. Green, who was convicted in 2007 of First Degree Reckless Homicide, out of jail early. Analysis: In an attempt to portray State Senator John Lehman as being “soft on crime,” Fred “Fast and loose with the facts” Dooley asserted State Senator…

Continue Reading

Shouldn’t we focus on results rather than legacy?

In an interview with the Capital Times editorial board on May 26, Department of Corrections Secretary Rick Raemisch said he plans to shift the Department’s early release programs into high gear. Speaking about the early release programs implemented by Act 28, Raemisch noted, “I want a program so successful and…

Continue Reading

Only 25% recidivism? I’d say that’s progress!

Just so we’re clear, I’m no fan of Wisconsin Act 28, which brought about sweeping reforms to Wisconsin’s Truth in Sentencing laws, including provisions that allowed for multiple early-release programs for inmates in Wisconsin prisons, including inmates convicted of violent offenses. Having made that point abundantly clear, I’d like to…

Continue Reading

Milwaukee officials express concern about Wisconsin DOC’s early release programs

Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and Milwaukee County District Attorney John T. Chisholm all expressed concern Wednesday about the effects that the early release of some prisoners as a result of Wisconsin Act 28 could have on the city of Milwaukee. The Wisconsin Department of Corrections…

Continue Reading

Illlinois lets felons out early & in secret

This is exactly why I think some provisions of Wisconsin Act 28 were poorly implemented (emphasis mine): Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn reversed a secret policy Wednesday that allowed more than 1,700 inmates to be released from state prison early, some of whom have already been sent back for new offenses,…

Continue Reading

Sentencing reforms at what cost?

Back in September, I wrote about the reforms to Wisconsin’s Truth in Sentencing laws that were enacted as a part of Wisconsin Act 28, and at the time I noted a good number of violent felony offenses would be statutorily eligible for early release from prison and/or early discharge from…

Continue Reading