In August, Mario Koran wrote a piece for the New York Times and Wisconsin Watch titled “Inside Waupun Correctional Institution’s ‘nightmare’ lockdown.” The story illuminated a complete lockdown at Wisconsin’s oldest prison that had been in affect since March. He found prisoners were confined to their cells 24/7 with the exception of once-a-week showers and many of the residents at Waupun reported living squalor and being denied medical treatment. Two people have died in the prison.

In his latest piece, Mario finds the lockdown is still in place, though a DOC spokesperson says restrictions are being incrementally eased–some prisoners are able to work jobs within the facility and behavioral health groups have resumed. While DOC hasn’t given a specific reason for the lockdown, Mario writes, “The lockdowns come amid a staffing crisis in Wisconsin’s prisons. At Waupun, more than 53% of sergeant and correctional officer positions remain vacant.”

On today’s A Public Affair, Mario joins host Esty Dinur to speak about his reporting on the issues at Waupun and other state prisons imposing restrictions.

Then, we take a broader look  at incarceration trends in Wisconsin with the help of a new report from the Wisconsin Policy Forum: “Prison Blues.” Vice President and Research Director Jason Stein joins us to discuss the workforce issues within the DOC and the high incarceration rates found in our state.

Mario Koran is currently a New York Times local investigations fellow. Previously, Koran served as a west coast correspondent for the Guardian US and spent five years covering education for Voice of San Diego, where he was named the 2016 reporter of the year by the San Diego Society of Professional Journalists. Since leaving an internship with Wisconsin Watch in 2013, Koran’s work has appeared in The New York Times, The Appeal, and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, among others. Koran holds a BA in Spanish literature and MA in journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Jason Stein is the Vice President and Research Director of the Wisconsin Policy Forum, where he focuses on researching state and local government out of the group’s Madison office and on building up the Forum’s relationships and members in the area.

Before joining the Forum, Jason worked as a Capitol reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and for the Wisconsin State Journal. He is the author with Patrick Marley of “More than They Bargained For: Scott Walker, Unions and the Fight for Wisconsin.” His work has been recognized by journalism groups such as the American Society of News Editors, the Society of American Business Editors and Writers, and the Association of Capitol Reporters and Editors. Milwaukee Magazine also named him as one of the city’s most influential media figures in 2015.

Image by Barbara Rosner from Pixabay

Did you enjoy this story? Your funding makes great, local journalism like this possible. Donate hereMore Posts for Show: A Public Affair