The staffing shortage that is being experienced throughout the state prison system is having a negative impact on the remaining staff and on the prisoners within the Wisconsin DOC. Steps the DOC has taken to navigate the reduced number of staff have severely limited the opportunities of prisoners to utilize the resources within the prison. Some of the limitations that effect all prisoners, especially within Stanley, are the reduced number of in-person visits, the reduced number of zoom visits, reduced amount of phone calls possible, reduced amount of recreation allowed, reduced amount of leisure time in the dayroom, and reduced amount of program and education opportunities available. 

We understand that the security and safety of staff and prisoners must be the first consideration. We also understand that staffing issues can force the prisons of Wisconsin to take unpopular steps which serve to isolate prisoners and reduce the amount of movement and access to resources that each prisoner has available to them. Since these are not intended to be punitive measures, we are requesting here that proven accommodations are made to bridge the gap that is being experienced by prisoners with their loved ones and support systems. 

The loss of these opportunities serve to isolate each person within the prison, taking them further away from their reason and motivation for moving forward with their rehabilitation on their path to reintegration. With Truth In Sentencing, already there is no direct incentive for good behavior and positive initiative to take programs and further education. The steps taken with no recourse to alleviate the stress and tension this is causing, is serving to make this prison system a more dangerous place to live, and does nothing to help prisoners to prepare for their eventual release into society. These steps take our loved ones further from us, at a time when they need to be closer to us, to help reduce the stress and tension that is created, to make this prison system safer for everyone involved. 

We are asking the DOC to begin negotiating an agreement with vendors to provide access to phones on prisoner's tablets. This is not a new idea and has been successfully implemented in numerous states, the federal system, and countless county jails within the United States. There already exist policies in place in other prison systems that could be copied directly and used to speedily implement this positive action for the prisoners who are bearing the brunt of this staffing shortage and feeling each necessary step in the most negative way. The DOC may also immediately begin negotiating the allowance of video messaging on prisoner's tablets as well. This option is also not new or unique. The outline for review and management may be taken from the numerous states who have successfully implemented this kind of positive action to help bridge the gap between the prisoners within their care and the people who love them. Opportunities to further the education of the prisoners within the Wisconsin prison system can be taken with the addition of more clearbooks which may increase the opportunity for those who wish to pursue their education to do so through one of the colleges that are building and growing programs currently within the prison system. Utilizing these programs the colleges of Wisconsin are offering also benefit the DOC because they do not require supervision by staff to be done, it is all remote. These programs currently allow only a small portion of prisoners the opportunity to further their education, compared to the vast numbers of prisoners that are sitting idle and unproductive time. As an opportunity to occupy the minds and time of prisoners, many other states have allowed video game systems to be sold to their prisoners which resulted in the prisoners remaining in their cells by choice and reducing the conflict within their prison system. 

The ideas we are proposing are not new or revolutionary. These ideas have been implemented by other states within the United States and numerous county jails. The technology exists to allow these options and to monitor them as well. We all have the same goals, for those on the inside to be safe and productive, to come home and to remain productive members of society.

We need you to move The Wisconsin DOC reviewing our application and  to creating a dialogue, The system must move, the conditions of living for the inmates must change and improve, We need you !