Criminal Justice
Hunger strikes and other tactics emerge from Wisconsin prisons
If you’re in prison, it’s not just the likelihood of being exposed to COVID-19 that weighs on you. While you wait to see whether you’ll develop symptoms, there isn’t much else to do. As part of the Department of Corrections (DOC) strategy to limit the virus’ spread among incarcerated people, many things which may have […]
When police data extraction meets Black Lives Matter protests
“It was shocking really,” Attorney Lee Schuchart told Wisconsin Examiner, as he recalled grappling with the implications of how police had extracted data from his client’s cell phone, saved it for two months after closing their investigation, and then passed it off to another agency. “It was chilling, it was mind-blowing. I don’t think anybody […]
Is Wisconsin’s pandemic prison population going down quickly enough?
Granting compassionate release and clemency remains a focal point issue for incarceration activists across the state. Wisconsin’s rate of COVID-19 infection remains stubbornly high, and those held in its prisons are particularly vulnerable. According to the Department of Corrections (DOC), 14 incarcerated people have died of causes related to COVID-19. Over 7,900 in all have […]
House of Representatives passes cannabis decriminalization
The U.S. House of Representatives is experiencing a milestone moment with the passage of a Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act. The legislation aims to end the federal prohibition on cannabis, which has also contributed to systemic racial injustice. “Passage of the MORE Act in the House charts a path to repair and redress […]
Madison names four finalists in search for new police chief
After more than a year without a permanent police chief, the Madison Police and Fire Commission (PFC) named four finalists for the top job on Friday. The long search has been taking place with the city’s police department under constant pressure for reform from local activists. The four finalists come from local police departments across […]
Milwaukee FPC deadlocks, fails to choose new police chief
The Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission deadlocked 3-3 between two candidates as it attempted to vote to choose the next chief of the Milwaukee Police Department. The two candidates with support from commissioners were Dallas Police Major Malik Aziz and FBI agent Hoyt Mahaley. The commission went through two rounds of voting, failing to reach […]
Emails raise questions about the independence of police shooting investigations
In the Milwaukee area, investigations into police shootings are handled by a network of detectives, supervisors, and other personnel from every nearby municipality. Dubbed the Milwaukee Area Investigative Team (MAIT), it replaced the state Division of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in 2016 as the main entity handling the area’s officer-involved shootings. Rather than requesting help from […]
FBI agent supported by prominent groups for Milwaukee chief job despite lack of public record
The only Milwaukee native on the shortlist to be named the city’s next police chief spent most of his career in law enforcement at the FBI — with the result that there’s less publicly available information about his record and history of policing than there is for the other candidates. Hoyt Mahaley, who grew up […]
Tosa PD found ‘significant training issues’ in the Anderson shooting
“I have identified two significant training issues regarding this incident,” reads a version of the Wauwatosa Police Department (WPD) administrative review of Jay Anderson’s shooting by the Officer Joseph Mensah, who resigned on Nov. 30. The review, conducted by supervisors within the department, is part of a trove of emails obtained through recent open records requests. […]
Rittenhouse released from Kenosha County Jail
Kyle Rittenhouse posted his $2 million bail and was released from Kenosha County Jail Friday, his lawyer said on Twitter. The 17-year-old is charged with two counts of first degree homicide and one count of attempted homicide after shooting three people at a protest for racial justice in Kenosha in August, killing two. He also […]
Wisconsin law enforcement is everywhere, how many agencies operate where you live?
People are familiar with their local police department but Wisconsinites live under the jurisdiction of far more law enforcement agencies than just the municipal police. In total, there are nearly 600 local, state and federal law enforcement agencies operating in Wisconsin. These agencies vary in size from tiny village departments to the FBI. Even in […]
Columbia County man close to extradition to Michigan for involvement in Whitmer plot
A Wisconsin Dells man is in custody at the Columbia County Jail for his involvement in a plot to kidnap and execute Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The man is in the process of being extradited to Michigan to face a felony charge for providing material to support a terrorist act. Brian P. Higgins, 52, appeared […]