Wisconsin Candidates Diverge on Plans for Aging Prisons

Wisconsin gubernatorial candidates Tom Tiffany and David Crowley have outlined contrasting strategies for managing the state’s aging prison system. The two are vying to replace Gov. Tony Evers, who opted not to seek reelection, in a race decided on Nov. 3.

Tiffany, the Republican representative for the 7th U.S. House District, stated he supports closing the Green Bay Correctional Institution. The 128-year-old maximum security facility is located in Allouez. He said he would work with lawmakers and corrections officials to determine where to expand prison capacity elsewhere. This approach aims to safely close Green Bay without releasing violent criminals into communities.

Crowley, the Milwaukee County executive, took a less direct stance. His campaign stated he supports advancing bipartisan conversations to close Green Bay. He did not commit to a specific timeline. Crowley’s team emphasized the need for a plan that ensures safety and provides pathways to rehabilitation.

The candidates differ significantly on how to manage the state’s overcrowded prison system. Wisconsin currently houses roughly 23,900 adults, a number more than triple the 1990 figure. The system is over capacity by approximately 6,000 people. Tiffany’s campaign argued that Democrats have pushed to release more criminals onto streets. He cited the need to expand and build prison capacity.

Crowley has called for reducing the incarcerated population through investments in mental health, drug treatment, and vocational training. The average annual cost to incarcerate one adult in Wisconsin is $54,627. Neither candidate provided a specific deadline for closing Green Bay. Evers had previously proposed a 2029 shutdown date, but removed it via partial veto to avoid setting a timeline without a concrete plan.

The Waupun Correctional Institution presents a different challenge for the candidates. Parts of the maximum-security men’s facility were built before the Civil War. Roughly 960 men are currently incarcerated there. Tiffany did not address Waupun in his response. Crowley’s campaign indicated support for conversations about updating the facility. This suggests a preference for refurbishment over closure.

The Evers administration previously proposed using $245 million to convert Waupun into a medium-security vocational prison. Projected costs for that conversion have since risen to $382 million. Evers blamed Republican legislators for failing to approve the project. He stated that improving community safety and stabilizing population rates requires action to prevent the criminal justice system from falling further behind.