"A serious problem:" Milwaukee's Public Safety Committee meets with Dept. of Corrections to discuss crime and safety
MILWAUKEE -- Caught up in crime and terrorizing our city. A shocking and increasing number of juveniles are committing dangerous and serious offenses in Milwaukee. Friday, city leaders continued their effort to get to the bottom of the issues.
Over the past few months, Milwaukee Common Council's Public Safety Committee has been holding a series of meetings with a variety of government agencies. Friday was the seventh, featuring the Department of Corrections.
"Everyone realizes we want a safer Milwaukee," said Milwaukee Alderman Bob Donovan.
From carjackings to shootings and all crimes in between.
"It's a serious problem," said Donovan.
Bob Donovan
Milwaukee's youth is playing a big role.
"Currently the population of Lincoln Hills is 177 youth. Out of those youth, 119 are from Milwaukee County," said Wisconsin Department of Corrections Regional Chief, Luann Anderson.
Friday, Milwaukee Common Council's Public Safety Committee sat across from representatives from the Department of Corrections trying to get a better handle on the role in public safety.
"Out of these meetings we are hoping to come back with some action steps we feel need to be taken," said Donovan.
A bevy of questions were asked from skills offenders acquire to how they are monitored and treated while in and out of supervision. Lincoln Hills, which is under investigation for abuse allegations was a main point of discussion.
"There are a lot of reforms that have been made and they think Lincoln Hills is a successful institution," said Anderson.
Regional Chief Luann Anderson spoke of the facility's improvements.
"The institution is monitored by cameras in almost all areas. The youth complaint process was revamped so the youth has a voice in those things that go on in the intuition," said Anderson.
Luann Anderson
While touting education programs.
"There were 31 graduates who obtained a high school diploma," said Anderson.
Discussing both the good and bad in order to help the committee compile information to help reduce criminal activity.
"We want to have a plan that makes sense we can justify that has a timetable and goal and objectives and we can move forward from there," said Donovan.
The plan is due to be released in mid August. Meanwhile, the eighth and last of the series of meetings will be held Monday, July 25th and that will be with the Department of Mental Health and Office of Violence Prevention.