Criminal Justice
Lawsuit filed over worsening issues at Waupun prison
A lawsuit has been filed in federal court against the Department of Corrections (DOC), blasting conditions at the Waupun Correctional Institution (WCI) as “cruel and unusual conditions of confinement.” Men incarcerated within Wisconsin’s oldest prison have reported lack of access to medical treatment, restricted recreation time, no family visits, and other issues as the prison […]
Video surfaces of Milwaukee sheriff’s deputy punching teen girl during arrest
The Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) responded to public criticism after video showing a deputy punching a girl as she lay on the ground after a traffic stop appeared on social media earlier this week. Phone video shot by a bystander captures the deputy striking the girl as the person taking the video screams in […]
Report: How Wisconsin’s criminal legal system robs Milwaukeeans of democracy
A new report, “Still Not Free When They Come Home,” produced by the Center for Popular Democracy (CPD) and Black Leaders Organizing for Communities (BLOC), examines how Wisconsin’s criminal legal system harms access to democracy in the state’s largest Black communities. Compiled over the first half of 2023, it condemns Wisconsin’s legal system as “a […]
With tie vote, Wisconsin Supreme Court sends sex assault evidence case back to appeals court
In a 3-3 vote, the Wisconsin Supreme Court sent a case concerning the evidence that is admissible in sexual assault trials back to the state court of appeals. Justice Janet Protasiewicz did not participate in the arguments or the decision, leaving an equally divided Court. The case, Wisconsin v. Seaton, involves a man accused of […]
Wisconsin’s racial disparities among incarcerated people remain high
Wisconsin continues to incarcerate its residents — especially African Americans — at rates far outpacing other states and even other countries. According to a new Prison Policy Initiative analysis, the Badger State locks up its Black residents, who make up just 6% of the state’s population, in state prisons at a rate of 11.8 times […]
Menendez to address U.S. Senate Democrats Thursday about his indictment
WASHINGTON — New Jersey U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez will address his Democratic colleagues in a closed-door meeting Thursday amid growing calls for him to resign following a federal indictment. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Wednesday that he was “deeply disappointed, disturbed” after reading the indictment, which charged Menendez with conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy […]
Racial gap persists in Milwaukee PD’s use of stop and frisk practices, annual report states
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Wisconsin is accusing the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) of not complying with key provisions of a five-year-old legal settlement that mandated an end to racial profiling stop and frisk practices in Milwaukee. Citing the latest annual report from the Crime and Justice Institute, which evaluates MPD’s compliance with […]
Menendez steps down temporarily as U.S. Senate committee chairman amid federal charges
WASHINGTON — New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez will temporarily step aside as chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee following a federal indictment for conspiracy to commit bribery and other charges. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer made the announcement Friday afternoon, saying in a written statement that “Senator Menendez has rightly decided to […]
Is under-staffing really what’s wrong with Milwaukee’s County Jail?
As questions have grown over conditions in the Milwaukee County Jail – where six people have died over the past 14 months – citizens have demanded an explanation for the continued deaths even as city and county leaders, including the county executive, mayor and sheriff have changed. The Milwaukee County Sheriff has blamed staffing shortages […]
U.S. attorney general defends Hunter Biden investigation under questioning by House GOP
WASHINGTON — U.S. House Republicans led by Ohio’s Jim Jordan on Wednesday grilled U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland about how the Justice Department has handled its investigation and prosecution of Hunter Biden on felony gun charges. The questions about the president’s son came after House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last week asked several committees, including the […]
Federal case sheds light on payroll fraud, wage theft and worker misclassification
A Wisconsin drywall contractor was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison last month on charges of ripping off state and federal taxpayers to the tune of more than a half-million dollars. The case in federal court was a rarity — the first big prosecution in the state of a construction labor broker for payroll […]
Wisconsin Supreme Court hears arguments in case on allowing prior sexual assault as evidence
The Wisconsin Supreme Court heard arguments in the first criminal case of its new term Wednesday, weighing if prior sexual assaults should be allowed to be used as evidence in sexual assault cases. The case, Wisconsin v. Seaton, involves a man accused of sexually assaulting his 17-year-old friend after she had been drinking. The man […]