The Future of Youth Justice: A Blueprint of Statewide Care

A new model for youth justice is emerging in Wisconsin. New and expanded state and county run facilities are opening in Racine, Milwaukee and Dane counties to provide better care for our youth, closer to home. In the January 2026 Wisconsin Counties, we walk through the status of these projects and the need for more funding.

The January issue also features a report on the need for county leadership in EMS systems, the interesting work of the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, and several federal policy updates. The Uniquely Wisconsin column highlights Brown and Washington counties, while the legal update provides an overview of a new case before the U.S. Supreme Court on tax-foreclosed properties.

See the January 2026 issue of Wisconsin Counties here. View the January 2026 issue as a PDF here.