Call for change continues due to conditions in state prisons

 

DE PERE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A strong call Thursday night to shut down Waupun and Green Bay Correctional Institutions. Both remain on what the Wisconsin Department of Corrections calls, "modified movement" after full lockdowns were lifted, but concerns remain.

A panel was held at St. Norbert's College in De Pere Thursday night, less than three miles from the Green Bay Correctional Institution and people here certainly have big concerns about what's happening right down the street.

Months after we first heard of a mice infestation at the Green Bay Correctional Institution (GBCI), panelists say it's continuing.

"He had towels at the bottom of his doors and comforters at his door to prevent the mice from going into his cell," said one panelist.

"They were supposed to get pest control in place," said Terressa Russel, mom of Darion Person who's serving his sentence at Green Bay Correctional Institution.

But Terressa Russell from Racine says it hasn't happened. She worries about her son who's serving his sentence at GBCI.

"They still eat breakfast, lunch and dinner in their rooms. They get out once a week for rec but it's not outside, it's inside," said Russell.

And it's two people to a cell.

"Only one can be up at a time. One has to lay down. One has to be up. They can't be up at the same time because of how small the rooms are," said Russell.

"You know they call it modified movement, which is a fancy 50 cent word for lockdown, but that's exactly what we have there," said Wisconsin State Assemblyman David Steffen, District 4.

State Assemblyman David Steffen says he's sponsored legislation twice to shut down GBCI, but it didn't pass.

"Whether it's the rats or other issues, absolutely but let's be clear there are gonna continue to be issues when you have a facility that's 125 years old and should be condemned," said Steffens.

Steffens says Wisconsin recently gave a $13 an hour pay increase to attract more correctional officers. Right now, he says staffing at both Waupun and Green Bay are down 40% and that's likely to blame for the lockdowns.

The Department of Corrections sent us a statement saying:

"While Waupun and Green Bay facilities remain in modified movement, both have increased activities in a number of areas. At WCI, the remaining suspended rules relate to in-person visitation and leisure time activities. The facility has been able to offer two periods of recreation weekly for each person in our care (PIOC), and now permits video visitation on weekends and at least two showers each week. At GBCI, the only rule suspension that remains is related to leisure time. The facility resumed in-person visitation in November and offers one period of recreation each week. Regarding PIOCs eating meals in their cells, this was implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic to limit spread of the virus and was not the result of modified movement."

Those video visits cost the family though $250 for each video call, but Russell says she pays for it gladly.

"I just really try to keep him in good spirits," said Russell.

We reached out to Governor Evers' office for comment, but as of our broadcast Thursday night, had not heard back.