Probe Into Milwaukee Jail Moves Ahead With County Board Adoption

MILWAUKEE, WI — After four inmate deaths in the span of nine months, the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors on Thursday adopted a resolution aimed at starting a probe into the Milwaukee County jail to inform policy down the line, a news release from the board said.

The resolution requests the probe, plus a baseline report about the Milwaukee Criminal Justice Facility's operation to promote "well-informed, thoughtful, and respectful engagement, and to balance transparency and accountability with the need to manage legal risks and legal privileges," the news release said. The measure was authored by Supervisor Ryan Clancy and Supervisor Juan Miguel Martinez.

"After hearing of the horrific conditions in the jail and experiencing four in-custody deaths within a nine-month period," said Clancy and Martinez in a joint statement, "it was essential for us to conduct a comprehensive probe, assessing both the policies and finances of this department that has often operated with limited transparency.

Related: Inmate Dies At Milwaukee County Jail: Reports

"The jail probe resolution signifies a significant step towards addressing the long-standing issues surrounding the county jail," the joint statement said. "After witnessing unacceptable conditions and a concerning number of in-custody deaths, the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors initiated this comprehensive investigation. The aim is to thoroughly examine both the policies and finances of the jail, ensuring transparency, accountability, and the implementation of necessary reforms."

The resolution calls for a report on the criminal justice facility's organizational structure outlining who is responsible for monitoring and their roles, how many people are in the county's care and explaining external monitoring. The resolution also looks to identify a plan to help the county board and public better understand the best policies for mental and physical health and asks the sheriff's office to outline its current procedures and their policy sources.

"If the report finds Milwaukee County is not achieving standards or requirements, and the cause is a result of understaffing, for each instance, the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office is requested to provide information regarding historical staffing levels, current staffing levels, and the staffing level required to satisfy the standard. Furthermore, a description of the standard, policy or reason for determining the recommended staffing level is requested," the resolution reads.

You can read the full resolution through the Milwaukee County legislative information website.

After passing Thursday, the resolution will head to the desk of Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley.

See also: Milwaukee Jail Officer Charged After Inmate's Death In January