Wisconsin prison lockdowns: inmate speaks after Gov. Evers announces changes
MADISON, Wis. - Two Wisconsin prisons have been on lockdown for months, leading to protests and a class-action lawsuit.
Gov. Tony Evers announced Tuesday the state was taking steps to ease the lockdown and improve safety.
"It’s been a nightmare, this place. I’ve attempted suicide three times," said Waupun Correctional Institution inmate Nick VanEyck.
The inmate, who was convicted of sexual assault on a minor, says he's locked in his cell all day. "24-hours, we don’t come out. I’ll come out Monday or Tuesday for showers."
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Attorney Lonnie Story represents Waupun prisoners. In late October, they filed a class-action lawsuit against the Wisconsin Department of Corrections. He says the treatment of the inmates breaks the country's Eighth Amendment forbidding cruel and unusual punishment.
"There’s about an 18-month wait to see a dentist, so in particular I have one client who is named in the complaint who has an exposed nerve root," Story said. "To date, that has not been addressed, so for months now, that individual is in a constant state of pain. And when he talks when he when he drinks, that nerve root that is exposed, of course, it's like a taser in his mouth."
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Waupun prison lockdown, inmates file class-action lawsuit
Waupun Correctional Institution inmates have filed a class-action lawsuit against the Wisconsin Department of Corrections in response to an ongoing lockdown.
"I had one inmate that worked in the kitchen communicate to me the severity of the rodent infestation as well as the cockroach infestation," said Story.
A viewer sent FOX6 News video from inside the Waupun prison soon after the lockdown started. It showed toilet paper rolls lit on fire in protest of the conditions.
The Wisconsin DOC told FOX6 News this summer that Waupun Correctional was "placed on modified movement" in March due to "repeated threats and/or incidents of assaultive behavior" by inmates toward staff and other inmates.
FOX6 delved into the state's data, which shows a spike in Waupun prisoners assaulting staff – 135 for fiscal year 2023.
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Another problem has been staffing. Wisconsin DOC data shows the prison should have 219 full-time guards, but 57% of those jobs aren't filled. The data also shows Waupun has 115 people more than its 882-person capacity is meant to house.
The governor visited the prison on Nov. 9. Then, this week, he announced changes. Evers said they’re going to use every option to bolster staffing. That includes the latest budget giving pay raises to guards.
He also announced the state would be cutting Waupun's population, moving 220 prisoners to other prisons, to take pressure off security vacancies.
Wisconsin Department of Corrections (DOC)
"It’s about time. It’s about time that something gets done. I don’t want to take away that people are in prison for a reason. I understand that we’re all here, and we’re convicted of crimes that got us in here," said VanEyck. "I completely understand that, but at the same time, the day that conviction comes down and that sentence is handed, our human being card does not get turned into the judge. We’re still human beings."
It wasn’t just Waupun on lockdown. The Wisconsin DOC has locked down Green Bay Correctional Institution since this summer. The governor announced that prison’s restrictions will also be eased.
Despite the pledged changes, the lawsuit against the Wisconsin Department of Corrections will continue.
"I firmly believe that it took the filing of the lawsuit in order to get them to actually address the issues, at least to the announcement they recently made and to start to make some type of overt acts to hopefully remedy the situation," said Story. "And there's a lot of promises on the table. But there's been no action other than minimal steps."