Records: Gov. Walker told of juvenile prison problems last year

MADISON — Records released by Gov. Scott Walker's office show he was informed about potential problems at a juvenile prison in northern Wisconsin more than a year ago.

It wasn't until this month that the governor ordered the Department of Corrections to take aggressive action against prison staff involved in any wrongdoing at the Lincoln Hills School for Boys in Lincoln County.

The State Journal reports the documents show Walker's office received a letter from a Division of Juvenile Corrections administrator in November 2014 which raised potential concerns at Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake School for Girls.

The records show the governor's office received communications in June and July alleging abuse of inmates by staff at the schools. Walker spokeswoman Laurel Patrick says the DOC placed staffers on leave after learning about possible mistreatment of inmates late last year.