Madison students push back against new 825-bed jail proposal

A new student group at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is challenging the county's plan to shrink its jail system, arguing that the proposal ignores deep racial divides in who gets arrested. On Oct. 7, Students Against Mass Incarceration, or SAMI, gathered in Union South for a panel discussion on criminal justice reform.

The group, which has already scheduled a visit to the Dane County Jail, aims to spark local debate on these issues. Vice President Gabriel Meyer-Herron said the organization wants to build a comprehensive understanding of the justice system in Madison. They want to create a space for ongoing discourse on these policies.

Panelists presented data showing that Black residents in Wisconsin are 12 times more likely to be arrested than white residents. Shar-ron Buie, a data coordinator for the Dane County Office of Justice and Reform, noted that this statistic places Wisconsin second in the nation for the Black-white incarceration disparity. The figures were central to the group's critique of current county plans.

Ion Meyn, a law professor at UW-Madison, offered historical context for the gap. He noted that incarceration rates in the 1820s were 1 in 10, a ratio he said is worse than the 1 in 12 rate seen today. "It means we are doing worse than Jim Crow," Meyn said. He argued that white institutions have historically found ways to maintain racist structures even after the end of chattel slavery.

The discussion turned to the specific mechanics of the Dane County jail consolidation project. The plan would merge outdated downtown facilities into a new tower attached to the Public Safety building. This move would cut the total bed count from 1,013 to 825. The project also seeks to reduce or eliminate solitary confinement.

James Morgan, a community organizer with Madison Organizing in Strength, Equity and Solidarity for Criminal Legal System Reform, criticized the new design as totally inadequate. He argued that people with mental health issues and alcoholism would be the most likely targets for the reduced capacity. Morgan said policymakers are focusing on the wrong issues and are not talking about adequate housing.

Benjamin Gonring, a Wisconsin public defender, addressed the high rate of recidivism among young adults. He pointed to a 24.5% gap in recidivism rates between 20 to 24-year-olds and those over 45 in 2016. Gonring argued that young people need investment and at least one person who tells them what they can become. Morgan closed the event by saying the university should expose its own use of prison labor and ensure those workers receive a living wage.