MILWAUKEE – For decades, the standard response to crime in America followed a predictable script: police make an arrest, the court hands down a sentence and a jail door closes.

That revolving door rarely solves the root problem for people battling substance use or mental health crises. That’s where treatment courts come in.

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What is treatment court?

By the numbers:

Instead of handing down prison time, treatment courts’ specialized programs use legal accountability to push people into intensive, supervised recovery. Data shows it’s working.

According to the National Institute of Justice, treatment courts slash re-arrest rates by up to 58% compared to traditional court sentences. It isn’t just a temporary fix, either – research shows lower crime rates stick around for years after a treatment court participant graduates.

Milwaukee County Courthouse

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So, how does the program get people to actually stick with it? It comes down to high stakes and strict supervision.

Participants face regular drug testing, mandatory check-ins with a judge and a requirement to secure housing or employment before they can graduate. People are six times more likely to stay in treatment long enough to actually get clean because of that pressure.

Milwaukee County graduates

Local perspective:

Milwaukee County hosted its annual treatment court graduation ceremony on Friday, honoring the people who successfully completed the programs. They were commended for their commitment to recovery and stability.

“Today, we gather to honor the remarkable achievements of the individuals who have shown an incredible strength, resilience and determination on their journey towards recovery and a brighter future,” said Milwaukee County Chief Judge Carl Ashley. “A future that positively impacts their families, and our community.”

The program is designed to help Milwaukee County residents rebuild their lives and reconnect with their families.

Milwaukee County will again opt for drones over fireworks for its Independence Day festivities this summer.

The county had its first-ever Fourth of July drone show in 2025, with officials saying at the time that drones would be better for the environment, safer and less costly than fireworks.

The show costs about $150,000 less than fireworks, Milwaukee County officials told the Journal Sentinel this week.

“Milwaukee County is at its best when we come together to create memorable, inclusive experiences for everyone,” County Executive David Crowley said in an April news release. “This drone show is another example of how we’re investing in our parks, our neighborhoods and our shared sense of community pride.”  

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How did residents react to last year’s drone show?

Milwaukee County Parks Executive Director Guy Smith said in a news release last year the show is “an exciting and environmentally conscious way to celebrate our community.”

“Unlike traditional fireworks, drone shows reduce noise and air pollution while still delivering an unforgettable experience,” Smith said. “It’s about making memories and ensuring everyone feels welcome in these shared spaces.”

But the Journal Sentinel polled readers after last year’s show and a majority responded that they would prefer the county bring back fireworks.

This year’s show will debut pyrotechnic drone technology, adding spark effect for an “even more dynamic and visually stunning performance,” the news release says.

How long is the Milwaukee drone show?

The show is 45 minutes long and features 900 drones, county officials said. It is scheduled for 9:15 p.m. July 3 along the lakefront at McKinley Beach.

MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee Police Department is giving the public a closer look at how officers use license plate reader cameras, part of an effort to be more transparent about how the technology affects community safety.

What we know:

For the first time, FOX6 got a look at a sample of audit results from the MPD involving the license plate reader system, also known as Flock.

The transparency effort comes after former officer Josue Ayala was charged with using the license plate readers to track someone he was dating and that person’s ex. Earlier this month, the department said a second officer was under investigation for possible misuse of the Flock camera system.

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On Thursday, May 28, FOX6 obtained MPD’s Flock audit report from April. It is something the department does every month.

In the report, MPD shared 24 “outlier uses” of the system. Those are possible red flags. The list is not all of them, but it gives a glimpse into how MPD uses the Flock system and how the department checks for misuse.

Of the 24 outlier uses, some plate numbers were associated with a wanted homicide suspect, a felony narcotics trafficking suspect and a suspect vehicle used in the abduction of a 5-year-old. According to the audit, that vehicle was located, the child was returned safely and a suspect was arrested.

The audit also listed a homicide investigation in which detectives developed plate numbers for both a suspect and victim, as well as a plate connected to a person wanted for second-degree sexual assault who was later arrested.

What they’re saying:

“Those audit logs are what was used to hold the officer accountable,” said Paris Lewbel, Flock Safety spokesperson.

Lewbel said Flock Safety is partnered with 220 law enforcement agencies in Wisconsin.

“We think it is important that communities are talking about their technology and how they use it,” Lewbel said.

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The company does not release how many cameras there are, but Lewbel said there have been fewer than 15 misuse cases across the country among the 140,000 users on the platform.

“Within the FLOCK system from day one, we built an immutable audit log in the system that allows law enforcement command staff and internal affairs in these cases to be able to see exactly what is being searched in the law enforcement system and FLOCK system specifically,” Lewbel said.

Dig deeper:

In Milwaukee, license plate readers have faced pushback from people who fear the data could be misused. Critics have called the system an invasion of privacy, saying it tracks innocent people as the debate over how the cameras are used continues.

FOX6 asked the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office on Thursday whether the second officer under investigation had been charged. The office replied, “not at this time.”

What you can do:

The full list of outliers from the audit is available on the FOX Local app.