2017 Act 185 Overview
2017 Wisconsin Act 185 ("Act 185") restructures Wisconsin's juvenile correctional system, which is a part of the broader youth justice system. The act establishes new Department-operated
Type 1 facilities for youth adjudicated under the Serious Juvenile Offender (SJO) program or convicted as adults. It also establishes county and/or tribal
Secure Residential Care Centers for Children and Youth (SRCCs) for non-SJO juvenile correctional placements.
The Act will expand the Department of Health Services' (DHS) Mendota Juvenile Treatment Center (MJTC) by at least 29 beds. Wisconsin's existing juvenile correctional facility, Copper Lake School/Lincoln Hills School (CLS/LHS), will be converted to an adult correctional institution. The legislation requires these changes take place no later than January 1, 2021.
Background on the DOC Division of Juvenile Corrections (DJC)
DJC has two primary responsibilities:
On average, youth continue on correctional supervision for three to four months after leaving a JCF, except serious juvenile offenders who may remain on supervision for two to three years.
DJC 2019 At-a-Glance Brochure
DJC Overview of Services
Draft Emergency Rule Governing SRCCs
The Department has developed a
Draft Emergency Rule governing SRCCs which will be submitted to the Governor's Office on December 17th. To provide input, please e-mail your comments to
DOCWIAct185@wisconsin.gov by December 10th.
Currently, there are 13 Juvenile Detention Centers across the state that are county-run.
Youth Justice System Illustration
Please click below for an illustration of the Wisconsin youth justice system and how Act 185 reshapes the juvenile correctional system:
Act 185 Information
Act 185 Text
Act 185 Legislative Council Act Memo
Department of Corrections Summary of Act 185
DOC 347 Emergency Rule
