You can read here several days worth of emails sent to and by the head of the Wisconsin prison system, DOC Secretary Cathy Jesse, obtained via Open Records Request: Cathy Jess Emails August 2018
Here are a few sections from these emails copied here:
From: Heise, Mark K – DOC
Sent: Wednesday, August 15, 2018 9:14 AM
To: DOC DL DAI BOCM Staff <DOCDLDAIBOCMStaff@wisconsin.gov>
Subject: DAI beds and IC Production
As many of you –especially BOCM staff at DCI or temporarily reassigned to DCI – DAI bed availability and IC production has reached a critical point. DCI counts have long been a “dashboard indicator” of the state of DAI beds and BOCM classification efforts. Unfortunately, the growth of inmate populations are anticipated to grow for the foreseeable future.
Temporary solutions have been implemented and continue to be considered… with an eye towards evaluating and implementing more permanent solutions.
We are well on our way to filling 60 HOC beds this month which became available today.
Our next challenge will be filling 58 WRC SUD beds coming on line in early September…and being prepared to backfill resulting vacancies at other DAI sites
On Aug 16, 2018, at 5:21 PM, Cook, Tristan D – DOC <Tristan.Cook@wisconsin.gov> wrote:
Pending Media Inquiries
MEDIA: Dee Hall, WCIJ
INQUIRY: Seeking comment on inmate alleging Department violation of State ex rel. Singh v Kemper.
ACTION: Pending.
INQUIRY: Seeking interview with CLS/LHS Superintendent Jason Benzel.
ACTION: Pending.
MEDIA: Bruce Vielmetti, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
INQUIRY: Seeking number of inmates with parole-eligible sentences, number of parole hearings, and
number of parole grants.
RESPONSE: Information provided.
INQUIRY: Seeking confirmation of dismissal in 17CV381 (R.E. v. Litscher).
RESPONSE: Case was dismissed with prejudice; no financial settlement was paid.
Tristan
Tristan D. Cook
From: “Cook, Tristan D – DOC” <Tristan.Cook@wisconsin.gov>
Date: August 16, 2018 at 12:31:42 PM CDT
To: “Vielmetti, Bruce” <bruce.vielmetti@jrn.com>
Subject: RE: Media query
Bruce,
I was able to track down the following for you:
As of August 31, 2017, there were 2,948 inmates with at least one parole-eligible sentence. There were 2,136 inmates with only parole-eligible sentences. In 2017, there were 1,738 parole hearings (inmates can potentially have more than one parole hearing per year) and 187 parole grants.
Tristan