Gov. Evers has some ‘splaining to do!
It is impossible to overstate the scandal coming out of the Waupun state penitentiary (excuse us) correctional institution. It’s as if Dodge County Sheriff’s deputies got to the warden at Shawshank prison before he could put that bullet through his brain, still wondering how Andy Dufresne put one over on him.
Waupun warden Randall Hepp and eight of his subordinates stand accused of Class 1 criminal felonies for, essentially, sleeping on the job, letting the prison go to hell, and allowing inmates to perish. We’ll caveat like hell before we continue: running a prison is a sh*tty job. Maximum security prisoners are awful people. You can’t pay jailers enough to put up with them. It may be inexcusable but hardly surprising that some of the prisoners died of fentanyl overdoses. (Wasn’t “Red” the guy who could get anything for you?) (The feds were already investigating the torrent of contraband into the prison.) Part of Waupun “correctional institution” was built in 1854. Waupun makes Shawshank, the prison in that 1994 movie based on the Stephen King novella, look enlightened.
As Marvin Gaye once sang, How Long Has This Been Goin’ On? What did WI Dept of Corrections secretary Kevin Carr know when he announced his retirement March 1 and when did he know it? Warden Hepp also resigned just last week, essentially saying it was for the good of the institution.
“Tony Evers can’t keep his head in the sand anymore. Waupun and Green Bay Correctional need to be replaced. He knows it. The Department, the guards and even the inmates know it. Five years ago, Governor Evers said he wanted comprehensive criminal justice reform in order to replace the outdated, inefficient prisons. Five years later, we’re still waiting for his plan.” — Van Wanggaard, R-Racine, chair of the Senate Judiciary & Public Safety Committee.
→ Also worth your while: “The fake controversy over Wisconsin’s ‘fake electors“
→ 2000 Mules, another trick exploding cigar in the never-ending quest to find proof that the 2020 presidential election as stolen
Blaska’s Bottom Lines: Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt, a Republican, is the hero in all this. The sheriff on 06-05-24 urged the State of Wisconsin to replace Waupun and Green Bay correctional institutions. In so doing, he joined legislative Republicans who have long sought new construction. You cannot run a clean prison in antiquated facilities. Gov. Evers, a Democrat, looks very much out of the loop. If you’re governor, you want to be the one doing the press conference.
Let’s also remember that Democrats were opposed to building prisons much as progressives fought replacing Dane County’s antiquated jail cells. Prison inmates should not be tortured or neglected but you do not want those people back out on the streets.
If the prosecution of the Waupun Nine puts into evidence a hollowed out Bible concealing a tiny rock pick, we’re booking a trip across the border to Zihuatanejo.
Blaska Policy Werkes 
6 responses to “Shawshank Wisconsin”
Hepp is charged with a Class “I” felony, § 946.12(1): “Any public officer or public employee who does any of the following is guilty of a Class I felony:
(1) Intentionally fails or refuses to perform a known mandatory, nondiscretionary, ministerial duty of the officer’s or employee’s office or employment within the time or in the manner required by law[.]”
The charge carries a max of 3 years 6 months, which translates at initial sentencing to a max of 1 year 6 months “confinement” (i.e., prison) and 2 years extended supervision (basically, parole). The case is lodged in Dodge County, No. 2024CF263. (I think this link goes to the online court record: https://wcca.wicourts.gov/caseDetail.html?caseNo=2024CF000263&countyNo=14.)
I see from the court record that Hepp has retained counsel from Milwaukee, Robert Webb. The latter happens to be highly experienced and very competent.
David’s point about WCI and GBCI being “antiquated facilities” desperately needing replacement is quite right. It’s been at least twenty years since I set foot in either institution but even then they were, for want of a better term, relicts.
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“Shawshank Wisconsin“
EXACTLY what The Gotch thought when reading that, especially after rewatching the movie (for the umpteenth time!) Monday night.
Andy Dufresne also claimed that the Mexicans said that the Pacific Ocean has no memory; whaddya bet the Waupun Nine are hoping (but not hopeful) that witness testimony takes the same approach?
The Gotch
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These prisons should have been replaced decades ago. There should be enough blame to go around to democrats and republicans. How much money is left from covid?
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Just because one of the “mules” is suing for defamation doesn’t make the movie untrue. I don’t believe you’ve seen it David, but it is worth a view. The evidence of shenanigans seems substantial.
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Except that the distributor has no faith in it any more.
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[…] his addled age. Here in Wisconsin, the Left’s antipathy toward “the carceral state” is making Shawshank prison look enlightened. Dane County dithered replacing its own Sing Sing and doubled the costs in so doing and still built […]
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