Wisconsin Prison Population Reaches Record High, Exceeding Capacity and Straining Resources
Wisconsin's prison population has reached a new record high, with 23,854 individuals in custody, surpassing the 2019 record and nearly 6,000 beyond the prisons' intended capacity. This overcrowding has been a persistent issue for at least two decades, leading to measures such as adding bunk beds and increasing the number of people per cell. Women's prisons are particularly affected, with some holding more than double their design capacity, forcing staff to convert offices into dorms and set up beds in gyms. Governor Tony Evers, who previously vowed to address prison crowding and reduce the population, has faced legislative hurdles in implementing reforms. While the Department of Corrections (DOC) spokesperson Kevin Hoffman noted the department's limited statutory authority to reduce the population, Governor Evers recently signed executive orders in April allowing eligible prisoners to apply for sentence shortening, a first in 25 years. Overcrowding exacerbates staffing shortages, increases dangers, and lim... 
