A Wisconsin prison warden and eight employees are facing criminal charges following an investigation into the death of two inmates. The charges include misconduct in public office and abuse of residents of penal facilities. The warden is specifically charged in connection with the death of a mentally troubled inmate who died of malnutrition and dehydration. Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt revealed that the oldest prison in Wisconsin was being operated in a dangerous manner with shoddy oversight and care of inmates.
Sheriff Schmidt's investigation uncovered disturbing conditions within the prison. Inmates were deprived of basic necessities such as water and food, with one individual not being fed nine out of twelve times during a four-day period. Medications were not administered as required, and regular checks on inmates were neglected, contrary to the standard hourly checks expected of correctional officers.
The lack of accountability extended to supervisors and administration, with staff not being held responsible for their actions. Sheriff Schmidt emphasized the need for a significant cultural shift within the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, starting from the top leadership down to frontline staff.
The sheriff attributed the deteriorating conditions at the prison to a failure of leadership at the highest levels of the state. He highlighted the importance of setting clear expectations for staff and ensuring accountability throughout the organization. The former Department of Corrections secretary's resignation following discussions with Sheriff Schmidt underscored the systemic issues plaguing the prison system.
Sheriff Schmidt advocated for either the closure or renovation of the troubled prison, emphasizing the need for significant changes to ensure the safety of both inmates and staff. He expressed concern that the current conditions were setting correctional officers up for failure and cited the tragic deaths of four individuals in Dodge County prisons as evidence of the urgent need for reform.
The sheriff's call for action underscores the critical need for comprehensive changes within the Wisconsin Department of Corrections to prevent further tragedies and ensure the well-being of those in state custody.
