MILWAUKEE – An organization aimed at curbing reckless driving in Milwaukee says harsher sentences are needed.

They released a report saying judges are being too lenient on felony reckless drivers.

What we know:

Capitol Drive is considered one of the city’s most dangerous roads.

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The group, Enough is Enough, has been trying to slow people down and believes harsher sentences are needed to do it.

For the past six months, Jeanne Lupo has spent most of her days at the Milwaukee County Courthouse.

Local perspective:

“It’s a lot of hours from a lot of people and a lot of commitment,” Lupo said. “I think the community’s tired of the reckless driving.”

Why you should care:

Lupo is the president of the advocacy group. It’s aimed at curbing reckless driving, following a tragedy that hit close to home.

Erin Mogensen was killed by a driver fleeing a traffic stop. Lupo is a family friend.

“It was her fourth anniversary and she was eight weeks pregnant,” Lupo said. “He was a repeat felon out on probation and in our opinion should not have been on the road.”

What we know:

Since June, volunteers have attended more than 200 court cases related to reckless driving. They took notes and compiled data, releasing a report this week, finding in the 109 cases that went to sentencing, judges were more lenient than what the prosecutors were asking for 69% of the time.

Additionally, 35% of cases resulted in probation or the community reintegration center, formerly the house of corrections, not prison.

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“Our hope would be that we would drive change in the sentencing practices of our courts,” said Roger Paulson with Enough is Enough.

What’s next:

Lupo and the volunteers say they just want their findings to drive change. The group plans to release another report in the next six months as volunteers continue to monitor cases.

What they’re saying:

Milwaukee County Chief Judge Carl Ashley:

The “Enough is Enough” initiative has rightly highlighted concerns about how reckless driving cases are handled and sentenced in the context of public safety. However, the initiative’s lack of scientific rigor and failure to account for the unique circumstances of each case undermine the impact of its recommendations. Every case involves an individual, not just a number, and each person deserves a thorough, individualized evaluation. Courts have a responsibility to impose the least restrictive sentence that ensures public safety, reflects the severity of the offense, and addresses the rehabilitative needs of the defendant. While the input of the initiative is appreciated, future efforts would benefit from integrating research-based practices and fostering community dialogue. This approach would enhance the effectiveness and credibility of the judicial process, and more importantly, work toward finding real solutions to prevent reckless driving.”

Milwaukee County Deputy District Attorney Kent Lovern:

“I appreciate the time and effort that members of our community are spending to closely observe our justice system. I continue to welcome their presence in our courtrooms, because I believe it is important for our community to see first-hand how our justice system works on a daily basis. The more the general public engages with our justice system, the more responsive and effective our justice system will be.It is important for our prosecutors to strongly advocate in making guilty plea and sentencing recommendations that reflect not only the facts and circumstances surrounding each individual case, but also the general community safety concern in each case. We will continue to do so.”

Read the report

To view the full report, visit the Enough is Enough website.