WCA Hosts Successful Juvenile Corrections Forum

Close to 150 in Attendance

With the passage of 2017 Assembly Bill 953 (2017 Wisconsin Act 185), counties will play a greater role in the juvenile corrections system. Effective January 2021, counties will be responsible for housing non-violent juveniles with a corrections disposition in secure residential care centers for children and youth (SRCCCY).

What does this mean for counties? What should counties be doing now to prepare for January 2021?

The Wisconsin Counties Association (WCA) hosted a Juvenile Corrections Forum on May 3, 2018 in Wisconsin Rapids with the goal of providing counties with the tools they need to begin preparing for the closure of Lincoln Hills/Copper Lake and the opening of county SRCCCYs.

The event was a full house of close to 150 county executives, administrators, human service directors, corrections and law enforcement representatives  A special thanks to State Representative Evan Goyke and Representative Michael Schraa for speaking.

Topics covered included:

• Detailed review of 2017 Wisconsin Act 185
• Review of Options for County Cooperation – Andy Phillips, von Briesen & Roper s.c.
• County Role in the Juvenile Corrections Study Committee and How Counties Can Work Together to Send a Unified Message to the Committee
• Open Discussion
       -Questions and Answers
       -Counties Interested in Operating a SRCCCY
• Regional Discussions – time will be set aside for counties to break into small groups to discuss collaboration/cooperation