The former warden of Waupun Correctional Institution in Wisconsin and eight other prison employees were charged in connection with multiple inmate deaths within the last year. The charges included misconduct in public office, abuse of an inmate, and misconduct. The sheriff described in detail four deaths, one of which was ruled a homicide due to malnutrition and probable dehydration. He identified issues like inadequate staffing that contributed to the deaths.
Reports indicated that state lawmakers and prison officials were aware of staffing shortages at the prison for years but did little to address the problem. Governor Tony Evers called for accountability and justice, stating that those who failed to treat inmates with dignity and respect should be held accountable under the law. The Times reported that prisoners at the prison were confined to their cells for months, lacked access to fresh air, family visits, and faced delays in medical and psychological care.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel chronicled the four deaths that occurred at the prison, including suicide, stroke, drug overdose, and malnutrition with dehydration. A federal investigation revealed issues with smuggling contraband like drugs and cellphones into the facility, leading to the suspension of 11 prison employees. Sheriff Schmidt raised concerns about accountability and mentioned similar issues at another state maximum-security prison. He called for the closure of these facilities and the creation of new statewide standards for prisons.
Despite reports of the warden’s arrest and promises from the governor to address the problems, conditions at Waupun Correctional Institution have not improved significantly over the past year. Inmate Kevin Burkes mentioned that despite the warden’s arrest, he was not the only one responsible for the issues. He believes that the lockdowns put in place at the prison contributed to the abuse of inmates, as they led to problems with staffing and medical care. The state Corrections Department cited staffing shortages as the reason for lockdowns, but vacancies for correctional officers at Waupun are still high.
The former warden’s attorney could not be reached for comment on the charges brought against him. The sheriff reported that there was no employee misconduct found to be at fault in one of the deaths, but there were concerns about the frequency of contraband being smuggled into the facility. Despite investigations and promises to address the problems, multiple inmate deaths and issues with staffing and medical care have persisted at the prison. Lonnie Story, a lawyer representing Waupun prisoners, believes that the lockdowns at the prison enabled the abuse of his clients and exacerbated the problems with staffing and medical care.
