and it’s still under construction!
Did we warn you? Did we tell our Platinum Subscribers that the anti-cop progressives who run Dane County were making a big mistake? Didn’t we say they were building a new jail that would be too small on Day One? Which is where we’re at.
Dane County taxpayers are spending $207 million to build a jail addition that was supposed to accommodate the closing of two outdated and dangerous facilities elsewhere, while reducing total inmate capacity by one-fifth — or 200 fewer beds — for a metro population that will grow 58% in the next 25 years. You do the math because this county board sure as hell can’t.
Defunding cops by other means
“If we were to open the new jail today, we would be at maximum capacity,” says Sheriff Kalvin Barrett. That is forcing the sheriff to keep open the “old jail” — the lock-up located atop the City County Building whose antiquated conditions motivated the new jail construction in the first place. With no improvements because it was supposed to be closed when the new six-story jail tower is completed later this year. Even that was too much for some supervisors who voted to lop off one of the six floors before then-County Executive Joe Parisi vetoed.
“The No. 1 goal of this new jail facility was to close the old, outdated and borderline unconstitutional City-County Building,” Barrett told The Capital Times. “Well, … we are not going to be able to close that.”
Kudos to The Capital Times for breaking this story. Reporter Danielle DeClos writes:
The decision raises questions over how effectively public officials are diverting people accused of low-level offenses away from incarceration and whether county leaders failed to consider the realities of a growing population’s stress on the legal system.
The Werkes can report that of 743 inmates (as of 07-08-26), 103 are under “community supervision” and electronic monitoring; 25 more were farmed out to Iowa County’s jail, due to over-crowding.
To replace Graham Platner, anyone else think Maine Democrats will put up Kamala Harris?
“Where is the criminal case v. Platner?” Paul Mauro asks.
We were wrong about no other Democrat dropping out of the race for Wisconsin governor. Milwaukee County Exec David Crowley shows he is a realist. Might help Rodriguez at the expense of Hong.
The justice system did not divert Montre L. Whaley-Clacks Jr. but he got out anyway by posting $50,000 bond. He was charged with shooting to death a teenager in February 2025 in a drug-related robbery on the Far East Side. (Another example of police violence!) A week ago police scooped up Whaley-Clacks Junior along with a gun with a machine gun conversion kit. (Probably planted by the cops.) W-C Jr is still only 17. Now his bond is $100,000. (Can anyone help him post that or, at least, arrest some Asians to even out the numbers?)
Meanwhile, the dreaded racial disproportionality among the “residents” of our jail continues — 53% of inmates (the Democrat(ic) sheriff calls them “residents”) are black; that demographic countywide is only 6 percent.
Blaska’s Bottom Line: This is how progressives think: If we build the jail too small, the slave-catchers can’t stock it with victims! It’s why Madison will vote Francesca Hong, defunder of police and opponent of the “carceral state,” for governor.
9 responses to “New jail is already over-crowded”
I think the top two floors of the City County jail were built in the 1980s. My job at the time gave me a view of the construction.
Thanks.
Better send the firearm/gun charges to Federal Court or Dane County will drop them or plea bargain them away as they always do.
When Franny becomes governor, she’ll empty the jails (including Dane County’s). Problem solved. The old (new) jail can then be repurposed as the country’s largest homeless shelter. Another problem solved. See how easy it is to address these seemingly intractable societal problems? Just lie back and imbibe the progressive/socialist kool-aid. As for the racial disparity issue: if 53% of prisoners (I prefer the traditional term) in deep, deep blue Dane County are black despite making up just 6% of its residents, it’s time to face some uncomfortable truths about the REAL causes of crime, as opposed to fake ones like “systemic racism.”
Whoops! Now Eric Swalwell and Graham Platner won’t be able to save Democracy.
And don’t Hong, Satya et al. just scream “affordablity, abundance and accountability?”
Progressive logic tells Madison that ‘if you don’t build jails and you defund police then crime will not happen.’
Oh yeah… congratulations on the Diversity of the Dane County “guests.”
Yes, progressive logic says that lowering crime rates by prosecuting fewer criminals makes sense. Just like they’ve illustrated with dumbing down standardized tests and other statistical contortions so that certain public schools don’t look so bad.
there is crime in Madison and Dane county, I am shocked, just shocked.
I always say , you either have common sense or you don’t. Is it learned; I don’t know. City leaders have little to none. As for the old dilapidated jail, maybe city & county politicians should have the pleasure of spending a few days/nights as “residents “, “ guests “ to experience what the real guests have to endure in dilapidated conditions. Thankfully the Sheriff recognizes the need to keep the old jail open.
Just elect DSA. Defund the police, close the jails and prisons. Problem solved.