By Steve Schultze
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Wisconsin)
The county also faced a renewed crisis over inadequate inmate medical care, with the resignation of a part-time physician who has been the only medical doctor for the past few months. Following an emergency court hearing Friday, Milwaukee Circuit Court Judge William Brash III said he’ll consider whether to hold the county in contempt or order the county to hire a Florida firm to take over inmate medical care.
Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr.
has advocated privatizing inmate care for two years, but the County Board has resisted the move. Lawyers told Brash there appeared to be no other option to the outsourcing recommended by Clarke because the county has been unable to fill key inmate care positions.
Brash said he could issue a ruling Monday.
The mass inmate exchange began Thursday and continued into Friday, with 368 sentenced inmates at the downtown jail moved to Franklin and the same number of inmates in Franklin shifted to the jail, according to Kevin Schoofs, president of the union that represents correctional officers.
In addition, more than two dozen officers from Franklin were transferred to work at the jail, Schoofs said.
Sheriff’s department signage at the Franklin lockup, a department flag and photos of Clarke in offices there were also removed, Schoofs said.
Clarke did not return calls and email messages seeking comment. Sheriff’s Inspector Edward Bailey said Friday he didn’t have any information about the inmate transfer and other changes.
The changes follow a ruling against Clarke this week in his bid to retain control of the House of Correction, which Clarke renamed County Correctional Facility-South. He sued this year after the County Board approved shifting the Franklin operation to the oversight of a superintendent appointed by County Executive Chris Abele.
Clarke indicated earlier in the week that he would appeal Wednesday’s ruling rejecting Clarke’s argument that as sheriff he had constitutional authority over the Franklin lockup.
Abele said late Friday that he was working to prepare for his pick for superintendent - Michael Hafemann - to take over the House of Correction as soon as Monday. The County Board’s judiciary committee scheduled a special meeting Monday to consider a resolution clarifying that Hafemann could claim his post as soon as he’s confirmed. The full board was also expected to take up Hafemann’s confirmation Monday.
Hafemann was hired two months ago, but Clarke has not allowed him to see the House of Correction or to talk to any sheriff’s employees about the operation. The sheriff’s refusal to discuss the issue has made transition planning difficult, Abele said. “It would be easier if they were more comfortable just telling us” Clarke’s intentions on whether he’s pursuing an appeal of the court ruling, Abele said.
Schoofs said while the inmate and staff transfers hint that Clarke may be preparing to relinquish control of the Franklin facility, he won’t believe it until it happens. Schoofs said the transfer of the correctional officers would worsen an already bad overtime problem at the Franklin facility.
The resignation of jail doctor Robert Blanco means that the county’s only real choice for inmate care is to pursue at least a one-year contract with Armor Correctional Health Care, attorneys for Clarke and the county said at Friday’s court hearing. Armor would provide top managers and fill more than 40 vacant positions in inmate health care for about $9 million for one year, said Clarke’s lawyer, Michael Whitcomb. Peter Koneazny, a lawyer for Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee, said either that or inmates with difficult medical conditions should be transferred to other facilities.
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