Wisconsin, a state located in the Midwest region of the United States, is home to a number of correctional facilities.
Prisons in Wisconsin are run by the state’s Department of Corrections and house individuals who have been convicted of a wide range of crimes, from misdemeanors to felonies.
The state’s prison system has come under scrutiny in recent years for issues such as overcrowding, high recidivism rates, and inadequate access to mental health and addiction treatment programs.
This post will provide an overview of the prison system in Wisconsin, including its history, current state, and ongoing debates surrounding criminal justice reform in the state.
State Prisons
| Prison Name | Location | Inmate Capacity | Security Level | Gender | Operator/ Manager |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black River Correctional Center (BRCC) | Black River Falls, Jackson | 118 | Low | Male | Wisconsin Correctional Center System |
| Drug Abuse Correctional Center (DACC) | Oshkosh, Winnebago | 294 | Medium | Male | Wisconsin Correctional Center System |
| Felmers O. Chaney Correctional Center (FCCC) | Milwaukee | 100 | Medium | Male | Wisconsin Correctional Center System |
| Flambeau Correctional Center (FCC) | Sawyer | 90 | Minimum | Male | Wisconsin Correctional Center System |
| Gordon Correctional Center (GCC) | Gordon | 89 | Minimum | Male | Wisconsin Correctional Center System |
| John C. Burke Correctional Center (JBCC) | Waupun | 250 | Medium | Male | Wisconsin Correctional Center System |
| Kenosha Correctional Center | Kenosha, Wisconsin | 115 | Minimum | Male | Wisconsin Correctional System |
| Marshall E. Sherrer Correctional Center | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | 60 | Medium | Male | Wisconsin Correctional System |
| McNaughton Correctional Center | Oneida County, Wisconsin | 102 | Minimum | Male | Wisconsin Correctional System |
| Oregon Correctional Center | Oregon, Wisconsin | 112 | Minimum | Male | Wisconsin Correctional System |
| Sanger B. Powers Correctional Center | Outagamie County, Wisconsin | 120 | Minimum | Male | Wisconsin Correctional System |
| St. Croix Correctional Center | New Richmond, Wisconsin | 120 | Minimum | Male | Wisconsin Correctional System |
| Thompson Correctional Center | Deerfield, WI | 125 | Minimum | Male | Wisconsin Department of Corrections |
| Winnebago Correctional Center | Oshkosh, WI | 266 | Minimum | Male | Wisconsin Department of Corrections |
| Taycheedah Correctional Institution | Fond du Lac, WI | 745 | Maximum & Medium | Female | Wisconsin Department of Corrections |
| Milwaukee Women’s Correctional Center | Milwaukee, WI | 109 | Minimum | Female | Wisconsin Department of Corrections |
| Robert E. Ellsworth Correctional Center | Union Grove, WI | 1016 | Minimum | Female | Wisconsin Department of Corrections |
Black River Correctional Center
Black River Correctional Center (BRCC) is a male correctional facility located east of Black River Falls, in Jackson County, Wisconsin. The facility’s operating capacity is 118 adult male inmates.
BRCC is part of the Wisconsin Correctional Center System, which is comprised of 14 adult male correctional centers overseen by a single warden whose office is centrally located in Madison. The facility has a long history, having opened in 1962 as a correctional “camp” for boys. In 1972, the law changed and BRCC was converted to an adult facility for males.
Today, the facility focuses on a low-risk, Earned Release Program with a major emphasis on community reentry. Inmates are required to fully participate in programming, work-related activities, and community service.
Additionally, BRCC provides a variety of staff and volunteer-facilitated support groups, as well as a Project Crew that assists local government agencies and non-profit organizations.
Drug Abuse Correctional Center
The Drug Abuse Correctional Center (DACC) is a medium-security prison located north of Oshkosh in Winnebago County, Wisconsin. The facility has an operating capacity of 294 adult male inmates, all of whom must have a medium- or high-risk Earned Release Program (ERP) need.
DACC is part of the Wisconsin Correctional Center System, which is comprised of 14 adult, male correctional centers overseen by a single warden whose office is centrally located in Madison.
The facility offers a 20-week program that utilizes two core curriculums, Thinking for a Change (T4C) and Cognitive Behavioral Interventions for Substance Abuse (CBISA), as well as a variety of ancillary programs. Inmates are required to participate in both program and work-related activities, and the program places a major emphasis on community reentry.
DACC inmates provide community service work for many non-profit, community-based organizations and often serve as speakers in presentations about criminality and substance abuse for various schools, colleges, universities, church groups, and other community organizations.
Felmers O. Chaney Correctional Center
Felmers O. Chaney Correctional Center (FCCC) is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, at the intersection of 30th and Hadley Streets. It is part of the Wisconsin Correctional Center System and has a current operating capacity of 100 adult male inmates.
The center opened in 2000 and was named after the late Felmers O. Chaney, who served the Milwaukee community with distinction. FCCC offers work release programs with local employers, individual tutoring for inmates working towards earning a High School Equivalency Diploma, and other programs based on available volunteers and community partners.
The center’s community service crew assists local government agencies and non-profit organizations on a variety of work projects. Work release and offsite opportunities are a privilege, not a right, and are provided at the discretion of the center superintendent and warden.
Flambeau Correctional Center
The Flambeau Correctional Center (FCC) is a minimum-security correctional facility located in the Flambeau River State Forest in Sawyer County, Wisconsin. It was opened in 1954 as a work center for minimum-security male inmates who were intended to supply a labor force to assist with the development of the newly created Flambeau River State Forest.
Today, FCC has an operating capacity of 90 adult male inmates and is part of the Wisconsin Correctional Center System, which is comprised of 14 adult, male correctional centers overseen by a single warden whose office is centrally located in Madison.
The Earned Release Program (ERP) at FCC is designed to help inmates successfully reintegrate into society upon release and includes core curricula such as Thinking for a Change and Cognitive Behavioral Interventions for Substance Abuse, as well as a range of ancillary programs.
Inmates also have the opportunity to attend school and learn woodworking skills at FCC’s woodshop. The FCC project crew also assists the Department of Natural Resources, local government agencies, and non-profit organizations on various work projects, giving back to the community.
Gordon Correctional Center
Gordon Correctional Center (GCC) is a minimum-security prison located approximately 2 1/2 miles southeast of the Village of Gordon, Wisconsin. The facility is part of the Wisconsin Correctional Center System, which is comprised of 14 adult, male correctional centers overseen by a single warden whose office is centrally located in Madison.
Initially built in 1932 to relieve overcrowding at the Wisconsin State Prison, GCC began as a forestry camp where inmates worked in the forest and adjacent tree nursery operated by the Wisconsin Conservation Department. The facility’s current operating capacity is 89 adult male inmates.
GCC offers work release programs with local employers through which employment is provided for qualified inmates, and inmates also have an opportunity to attend school, with individual tutoring for inmates as they work towards earning a High School Equivalency Diploma.
Additional programs are available for inmates with identified needs, based on available volunteers and community partners. The GCC project crew assists local government agencies and non-profit organizations on a variety of work projects, incorporating a positive work experience, building new skills, and giving back to the community.
John C. Burke Correctional Center
John C. Burke Correctional Center (JBCC) is a male-only correctional center located in Waupun, Wisconsin. The current operating capacity of the center is 250 adult male inmates.
JBCC is part of the Wisconsin Correctional Center System (WCCS), an institution comprised of 14 adult male correctional centers overseen by a single warden whose office is centrally located in Madison.
The center was originally a minimum-security male facility until it was converted to a female facility in October 2000. In November of 2011, the center reverted to housing minimum-security males as part of WCCS.
JBCC offers work release programs and offsite work opportunities to provide employment for qualified inmates, with the aim of maintaining employment placement after their release. Inmates also have an opportunity to attend school on-grounds, with individual tutoring for inmates as they work towards earning a High School Equivalency Diploma.
JBCC project crew assists local government agencies and non-profit organizations on a variety of work projects, incorporating a positive work experience, building new skills, and giving back to the community.
Kenosha Correctional Center
Kenosha Correctional Center (KCC) is a male correctional center located in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The center first opened in 1990 and currently has an operating capacity of 115 adult male inmates.
KCC is part of the Wisconsin Correctional Center System, which consists of 14 adult, male correctional centers overseen by a single warden.
The center offers work release programs with local employers, with an emphasis on maintaining employment after release. Inmates can also receive individual tutoring as they work towards earning a High School Equivalency Diploma.
KCC’s project crew assists local government agencies and non-profit organizations on various work projects, and community service opportunities are also offered.
Marshall E. Sherrer Correctional Center
Marshall E. Sherrer Correctional Center (MSCC) is a male-only prison located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It opened in 1981 and can currently house up to 60 adult male inmates.
MSCC is part of the Wisconsin Correctional Center System, which is comprised of 14 adult, male correctional centers overseen by a single warden whose office is centrally located in Madison.
The center offers work release programs with local employers, with an emphasis on maintaining employment after the inmate’s release. Funds earned through work release can be used to pay fees, restitution, and other obligations.
Additionally, MSCC community service crews assist local government agencies and non-profit organizations on a variety of work projects, incorporating a positive work experience, building new skills, and giving back to the community.
McNaughton Correctional Center
McNaughton Correctional Center (MCC) is a state correctional forestry camp located in Oneida County, Wisconsin. Originally built in the town of McNaughton in 1931, MCC received inmates transferred from the Green Bay Reformatory.
In 1957, the center was relocated to its current site, which was the former Lake Tomahawk Tuberculosis Rehabilitation Camp. MCC’s current operating capacity is 102 adult male inmates.
The center is part of the Wisconsin Correctional Center System, which is comprised of 14 adult, male correctional centers overseen by a single warden whose office is centrally located in Madison.
MCC offers work release programs and community service opportunities to qualified inmates, with an emphasis on maintaining employment placement after the inmate’s release. The Oneida County Humane Society Canine Development Program is a community service initiative operated in conjunction with MCC inmates who assist with the socialization of the dogs prior to adoption.
Oregon Correctional Center
Oregon Correctional Center (OCC) is a male correctional center in Oregon, Wisconsin, that was originally built in 1928 to house inmates who worked on the adjacent correctional farm. Today, the center has a current operating capacity of 112 adult male inmates and is part of the Wisconsin Correctional Center System.
OCC is committed to using evidence-based practices in furtherance of the core principles of effective Substance Use Disorder (SUD) intervention strategies. The center offers work release programs with local employers, and funds earned through these programs help to pay fees, restitution, and other obligations.
OCC also offers community service opportunities with staff or agency supervision, and in cooperation with the Department of Natural Resources, raises day-old pheasant chicks through adulthood, which are then released to local communities to facilitate youth hunts and hunter education programs.
Sanger B. Powers Correctional Center
Sanger B. Powers Correctional Center (SPCC) is a minimum-security prison located approximately three miles north of Oneida in Outagamie County, Wisconsin. The center was opened in 1982, replacing an aging bunkhouse that was home to inmates who worked at Oneida Farm, then operated by Green Bay Correctional Institution.
The center was named after Sanger B. Powers Sr., a well-respected figure in the field of corrections for his leadership and contributions to correctional programs in Wisconsin and nationally. SPCC can currently house up to 120 adult male inmates and is part of the Wisconsin Correctional Center System.
The center offers work-release programs and offsite work opportunities to eligible inmates, as well as various programs to address individual needs.
SPCC also partners with local organizations and government agencies to provide community service initiatives, including the Fox Valley Humane Society Canine Development Program, the Northeast Wisconsin Leader Dogs Puppy Project, and pheasant raising for youth hunts and hunter education programs.
St. Croix Correctional Center
The St. Croix Correctional Center (SCCC) is a male-only correctional facility located in New Richmond, Wisconsin. The facility was converted into the Challenge Incarceration Program (CIP) in January 1991 and currently has an operating capacity of 120 inmates.
The CIP program at SCCC focuses on evidence-based practices and effective Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse intervention strategies, as well as in-depth group interaction. Inmates also have access to individual tutoring as they work towards earning a High School Equivalency Diploma.
The program is voluntary, but all program elements are mandatory, and it is designed to be completed in a minimum of 140 days. Additionally, the SCCC project crew assists local government agencies and non-profit organizations on a variety of work projects, incorporating a positive work experience, building new skills, and giving back to the community.
Thompson Correctional Center
Thompson Correctional Center (TCC) is a state prison located 17 miles east of Madison, Wisconsin, between Deerfield and Cambridge. The facility is situated on 22 acres of land that is bisected by State Farm Road, and it derives its name from the Forger Thompson farm, which dates back to the 1840s.
TCC was established in 1942 as a prison farm and was located on 1,100 acres of land then owned by the University of Wisconsin, but leased to the Department of Welfare. Today, TCC’s current operating capacity is 125 adult male inmates.
The center offers work release programs with local employers through which employment is provided for qualified inmates, with an emphasis made on maintaining that employment placement after the inmate’s release.
TCC also partners with the Labrador Education and Rescue Network (L.E.A.R.N) to become a part of their rescue network for Labradors, which is a beneficial union for both man and canine.
Winnebago Correctional Center
Winnebago Correctional Center (WCC) is a state prison for adult male inmates located on the shores of Lake Winnebago in Wisconsin. The center was opened in 1974 to replace a minimum-security bunkhouse at the Winnebago State Farm and housed inmate farm workers.
The Winnebago State Farm closed in the early 1990s to facilitate an expansion at Oshkosh Correctional Institution. WCC’s current operating capacity is 266 adult male inmates.
The center is part of the Wisconsin Correctional Center System, which is comprised of 14 adult, male correctional centers overseen by a single warden. WCC offers work release programs with local employers, and funds earned through work release help to pay fees, restitution, and other obligations.
Additionally, WCC’s project crew assists local government agencies and non-profit organizations on a variety of work projects, incorporating a positive work experience, building new skills, and giving back to the community.
Taycheedah Correctional Institution
Taycheedah Correctional Institution, located in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, is a maximum- and medium-security facility for adult female offenders. The institution offers a safe and secure environment that is gender-responsive, utilizing gender-specific guiding principles to assist in the positive growth of inmates through treatment, education, and appropriate supervision.
TCI serves as the intake, assessment, and evaluation facility for all female inmates sentenced to adult custody. It is also part of the Wisconsin Women’s Correctional System, which includes Robert E. Ellsworth Correctional Center and Milwaukee Women’s Correctional Center, all falling under the supervision of the TCI warden.
Taycheedah’s history dates back to the early 1800s when Governor James Doty built his home in Fond du Lac, which still stands on the institution’s grounds.
The facility was opened in 1921 as the Wisconsin Industrial Home for Women and was later consolidated in 1945 under the name Wisconsin Home for Women before officially being renamed Taycheedah Correctional Institution in 1975.
Milwaukee Women’s Correctional Center
Milwaukee Women’s Correctional Center (MWCC) is a minimum security facility located in the City of Milwaukee. It is one of the facilities that make up the Wisconsin Women’s Correctional System, which includes Robert E. Ellsworth Correctional Center and Taycheedah Correctional Institution.
MWCC opened in December 2003 and has a capacity of 109 beds. The facility provides a safe and secure environment for those in its care and the surrounding community.
MWCC offers both Earned Release Programming (ERP) and Work Release opportunities. The ERP program is evidence-based and gender-responsive, addressing substance use, trauma, anger, and coping skills. Work Release opportunities provide individuals with the chance to gain work experience and earn money.
MWCC also offers various services and programs to all individuals, including parenting support, trauma survivor support, release planning, religious services and study, ServSafe Certification, obtaining a driver’s license, and educational opportunities.
MWCC places great emphasis on personal responsibility, trust, and maturity and expects individuals to co-exist in a respectful manner. The facility also participates in various community service projects each year.
Robert E. Ellsworth Correctional Center
Robert E. Ellsworth Correctional Center (REECC) is a minimum-security facility located in Union Grove, Wisconsin, that is entrusted with the custody and supervision of adult female offenders.
The facility was built in 1954 as part of the Southern Wisconsin Center and was originally called Atherton Hall. In 1989, the Department of Corrections converted the then-vacant building into a correctional facility, which was renamed Robert E. Ellsworth Correctional Center after Mr. Ellsworth, who had an illustrious 32-year career with the Department of Corrections.
REECC provides an extensive array of programs, such as education, substance abuse disorder (SUD), re-entry, family reintegration, grief counseling, religious instruction, and more. Inmates are given the opportunity to volunteer for various community service programs, and thousands of community service hours are completed each year.
Federal Prisons
| Prison Name | Location | Inmate Capacity | Security Level | Gender | Operator/ Manager |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Correctional Institution, Oxford | Adams County, Wisconsin | 783 | Medium | Male | Federal Bureau of Prisons (DoJ) |
Federal Correctional Institution, Oxford
The Federal Correctional Institution, Oxford (FCI Oxford) is a medium-security prison located in Adams County, in central Wisconsin, 60 miles north of Madison, the state capital.
It is a United States federal prison for male inmates and is operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, a division of the United States Department of Justice. The facility is home to 783 male inmates, who are housed in four different units.
Additionally, there is an adjacent satellite prison camp that houses minimum-security male offenders. FCI Oxford provides a range of educational and vocational programs to help inmates develop skills and prepare for their eventual release.
Sources:
https://doc.wi.gov/Pages/OffenderInformation/AdultInstitutions/AdultFacilities.aspx