Wisconsin
Prisons make headlines for abhorrent conditions. Where’s the will to fix them? | Opinion
Inmates can still be shackled while giving birth in Wisconsin prisons
Stories about conditions in Wisconsin prisons hasn’t led to change
After months of journalists reporting about the conditions Wisconsin prisoners are living under, there doesn’t seem to be urgency to fix the problems.
Wisconsin prisons have been in the headlines a lot lately. The stories have exposed abhorrent conditions for inmates and documented long-festering problems. While the crisis has generated months of headlines, it hasn’t produced much will to tackle the issues.
At the beginning of this month, the New York Times and Wisconsin Watch published a joint investigation on the extreme shortage of correctional officers. The story outlined the extent of how significant the shortage is and how little had been done prior to last year, despite a decade of warning signs.
Ever since Act 10 passed, there has been an increasing exodus of correctional officers who no longer could collectively bargain. As of today, almost half of the guard jobs in Wisconsin’s prison have been unfilled.
The story goes on to highlight what the effects of this shortage has led to: shortcuts in how prison officials run facilities, two men escaped from Columbia Correctional Institution in 2020 when four out of the five guard towers were unmanned, and two of the state’s prisons have been in lockdown, or what Department of Corrections Secretary Kevin Carr called “modified movement”, for 10 months due to not enough staff to handle the number of inmates.
Rodents, lockdowns, shackles, suicides happening under state’s care
Multiple Wisconsin publications have been reporting on limitations being imposed on inmates due to the lockdowns despite Governor Tony Evers declaring in November that restrictions would be lifted. The Journal Sentinel reported last month that, “limitations on recreations, visitation, meals, showers programming and more persist without a clear end in sight”.
There has also been reports of the horrendous condition of some of the prisons are in, including a ongoing rodent problem.
All of this is also happening while an ongoing investigation and lawsuit against the DOC is playing out in the aftermath of a Waupun prison suicide, where staff allegedly failed to give the inmate his bipolar and antidepressant medications as prescribed in the months leading up to his death.
In addition to these current conditions, investigations and lawsuits, there are further conversations happening at the Capitol regarding sentencing and protocol for pregnant incarcerated women.
There are dual bills circulating in the Legislature that would end life sentences for children. Under Wisconsin statute, children as young as 10 are subject to adult treatment for first-degree intentional homicide with a life sentence without parole.
There is also a bill that would ban shackling pregnant inmates during childbirth, since that is still allowed under Wisconsin law and left up to the discretion of staff.
There are reports. There are lawsuits. There are noncommital suggestions of independent investigations. There are Senate committee questions. But, after months of journalists informing the public about the conditions incarcerated people in Wisconsin are living under, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of urgency to fix it.
Kristin Brey is the “My Take” columnist for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin authorities put total arrests from clashes at beagle breeding facility at about 25
MADISON (AP) — Around 25 protesters were arrested as around 1,000 animal welfare activists tried to gain entry to a beagle breeding and research facility in Wisconsin and were met by officers firing pepper spray and rubber bullets, authorities said Sunday.
Saturday’s protest was the second attempt in as many months by demonstrators to take beagles from Ridglan Farms in Blue Mounds, about 25 miles (about 40 kilometers) southwest of the capital, Madison. They were turned back by officers who arrested the group’s leader.
Owen Ziliak/Wisconsin State Journal via AP
The Dane County Sheriff’s Office said the situation was “significantly calmer and more peaceful” on Sunday, when around 200 people assembled outside the farm. They dispersed after around two hours, it said.
“We’re pleased with the group’s cooperation today, and their willingness to remain peaceful, while still sending their message of concern for the dogs at Ridglan Farms,” Sheriff Kalvin Barrett said in a statement. “We are happy to support anyone who wants to exercise the right to protest, as long as they do so lawfully.”
Owen Ziliak/The Wisconsin State Journal via AP
The sheriff had said in a video statement Saturday that 300 to 400 protesters were “violently trying to break into the property.” They tried to overcome barricades that included a manure-filled trench, hay bales and a barbed-wire fence.
Owen Ziliak/Wisconsin State Journal via AP
Some got through the fence but were unable to enter the facility, where an estimated 2,000 beagles are kept, the Wisconsin State Journal reported.
Amber Arnold/Wisconsin State Journal via AP
Those arrested included the leader of the Coalition to Save the Ridglan Dogs, Wayne Hsiung, 44, of New York, who was being held on a tentative felony charge of conspiracy to commit burglary. But most arrestees were just booked and released, the sheriff’s office said Sunday.
“No one should be assaulted for giving aid to a dog, even if damage to property is part of that rescue effort,” Hsuing said in a statement from jail Sunday that also accused authorities of using excessive force. “The animals of this Earth are not “things.” They’re sentient beings. And we have the right to rescue them from abuse,” he concluded.
Protesters took 30 dogs when they broke into the facility in March, when authorities arrested 27 people.
Ridglan denies mistreating animals but agreed in October to give up its state breeding license as of July 1 in a deal to avoid prosecution on animal mistreatment charges.
On its website, the company says “no credible evidence of animal abuse, cruelty, mistreatment or neglect at Ridglan Farms has ever been presented or substantiated.”
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About 1,000 animal welfare activists who tried to gain entry on Saturday to a beagle breeding and research facility in Wisconsin were turned back by police who fired rubber bullets and pepper spray into the crowd and arrested the group’s leader.
It was the second attempt in as many months by protesters to take beagles from the Ridglan Farms facility in Blue Mounds, a small town about 25 miles (about 40 kilometres) southwest of Wisconsin’s capital, Madison.
Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett said in a video statement that 300 to 400 protesters were “violently trying to break into the property” and assault officers. He said protesters have ignored designated areas for peaceful protest and blocked roads to prevent emergency vehicles from entering.
“This is not a peaceful protest,” Barrett said.
The sheriff’s department said a “significant” number of people were arrested out of about 1,000 protesters at the site but did not give an exact total as they were still being processed as of the afternoon.
Protesters tried to overcome barricades that included a manure-filled trench, hay bales and a barbed-wire fence. Some protesters did get through the fence but were unable to enter the facility, where an estimated 2,000 beagles are kept, the Wisconsin State Journal reported.
Wisconsin guard Andrew Rohde reflects on early March Madness exit
Wisconsin guard Andrew Rohde said the Badgers ‘thought we could do so many things’ in the NCAA Tournament before it ended abrupty with an upset loss.
Wisconsin men’s basketball has added a sharpshooting wing via the transfer portal.
Miami (Ohio) transfer Eian Elmer has signed with the Badgers, the team announced April 18. The 6-foot-7 wing will join UW with one year of eligibility remaining.
Elmer averaged a career-high 12.7 points and 5.9 rebounds while shooting 49.8% from the field and 42.9% from 3-point range in 2025-26. His production helped the RedHawks go 32-2 and earn an at-large NCAA Tournament bid.
“We are really excited to add another excellent addition to our spring signees,” UW coach Greg Gard said in a release. “Eian brings a wealth of experience and scoring punch as a 6-7 wing. … A terrific shooter, his skillset and production fit excellently into our plan as we build out next year’s team. Throughout our evaluation process, our staff loved his size, power and skill and truly believe he will thrive in our system.”
Elmer is Wisconsin’s third transfer portal addition since the end of the 2025-26 season, joining former George Washington guard Trey Autry and former Hofstra forward Victory Onuetu. UW also added Australian guard Owen Foxwell.
The additions of Autry, Onuetu and now Elmer leave Gard’s staff with three more roster spots to fill ahead of the 2026-27 season.
The Badgers are looking to replace much of their production from a 2025-26 team that went 24-11. Nolan Winter is expected to be the team’s only returning starter after John Blackwell and Aleksas Bieliauskas entered the transfer portal and Nick Boyd and Andrew Rohde exhausted their eligibility.
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