The state Department of Corrections says movement continues to increase at prisons in Waupun and Green Bay. WFDL news was first to report nearly a year ago that the Waupun Correctional Institution had been placed on modified movement as a result of continued defiance and disruption by inmates. Beginning Wednesday the DOC lifted the personal hygiene administrative rule suspension, made possible by relocating 11 additional security staff from other facilities to WCI. The DOC has seen an influx of security staff through its Facility Staff Training and Support graduations. Academy graduations in November and December brought nearly 300 new corrections officers to Wisconsin’s adult institutions. This helped lower the DOC’s vacancy rate among correctional officers and sergeants from 35% in August to 26% as of January 13. The DOC says increased interest in security staff jobs is largely driven by new wage increases included in the state budget approved by the legislature. The DOC anticipates another record-setting graduation in February. In-person visitation and leisure time activities are still suspended at the Waupun prison. The facility has been able to offer two periods of recreation weekly for each PIOC, and now permits video visitation on weekends and at least two showers each week. At GBCI, the only rule suspension that remains is related to leisure time. The facility resumed in-person visitation in November and offers one period of recreation each week. In November, Governor Evers and the DOC announced a number of measures that included transitioning WCI to single-cell housing by March 1. This effort required the transfer of approximately 230 PIOCs, and as of January 26 the DOC only needs to transfer 54 PIOCs to meet its goal. The reduction in population at WCI will help take pressure off of the facility’s security staff.
