By Steven Elbow
The Lacrosse Tribune
MADISON — A Democratic state lawmaker has requested a wide-ranging audit to look into severe staff shortages and an uptick in violent incidents at Wisconsin’s corrections facilities.
“Representing more than one corrections facility, I have heard time and time again of disintegrating workplace safety because of systemic understaffing, lack of training, and moving target policies on overtime and other safety issues,” said state Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Middleton, in a letter sent Friday to the co-chairs of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee.
He’s calling for an audit by the non-partisan Legislative Audit Bureau to look into unsafe working conditions, forced overtime policies that have led to staff burnout, staffing levels, inadequate training, inadequate pay and a new state policy of closing guard towers at night in an effort to save money.
Full story: Wisconsin Democrat calls for state Corrections Department audit