Skip Navigation LinksDOC > New Type 1 Facilities

New Type 1 Facilities

​​​​​​​​

​

​​​​​

New Type 1 Facilities
Act 185 requires the DOC build one or more new Type 1 facilities. The DOC currently operates a Type 1 facility, a secure facility that treats youth convicted and sentenced under the Serious Juvenile Offender (SJO) disposition, youth waived to adult court, youth convicted as adults, and certain youth with juvenile county commit. Each Type 1 facility will be designed to serve approximately 32 youth, and embrace a model of serving smaller populations of youth closer to home.

Type 1 Youth Placement Process
Wisconsin Statute Chapter 938 defines youth justice in Wisconsin. By the decision of a judge, there are three ways a minor can be sent to a Type 1 facility, under the care of the DOC:

Circuit Court Decision made by a Judge

Change of Placement (COP)
Wis. Stat. Chap. 938.357(3) & (4)

Change of Placement (COP)Wis. Stat. Chap. 938.357(3) & (4)A juvenile court can change a youth's placement from a SRCCCY to a Type 1 facility if: 1) no SRCCCY is willing to accept that youth, or 2) there is no SRCCCY space available to accept the youth, therefore requiring placement at a Type 1 facility.

Serious Juvenile Offender Program (SJO)
Wis. Stat. Chap. 938.34(4h)

A minor is adjudicated for certain violent offenses defined under the statute and is therefore required to be placed in a Type 1 facility.

Adult Sentenced Minor (ASW)
Wis. Stat. Chap. 938.183

A minor convicted and sentenced by the adult criminal court to serve a prison sentence. The minor will serve out their sentence at a Type 1 facility while under the age of 18. Once they turn 18, they are transferred to an adult institution within the DOC.
​













​Southeast Regional Care Center for Youth
Since the passage of 2017 Act 185, other laws have passed that have mandated additional steps prior to the construction of a new Type 1 Facility. These additional requirements also interact with the State of Wisconsin's established process for new construction. The State's established process for new construction projects includes a formal process for siting, planning, and building new construction that involves oversight by the Department of Administration (DOA), through the State Building Commission (SBC). 2019 Act 8 and 2021 Act 252 included additional approval requirements for the construction of a new Type 1 facility. Construction of a new facility is contingent upon all of these necessary approvals being completed prior to breaking ground. Delays in these additional approval requirements add significantly to the timeline of this project. If a required approval fails, proceeding approval requirements and planning cannot move forward. A normal building construction project of similar size typically requires approximately five years from funding approval to breaking ground.

Timeline for Southeast Regional Care Center for Youth (Milwaukee)
Below is a high-level summary of the sequence of requirements the DOC must successfully accomplish before proceeding to the construction of a new Type 1 facility. The different colors of each step identifies whether it is part of the normal state building process, or if it was mandated by 2019 Act 8 or 2021 Act 252.


Step 1. Funding Approved (normal)
Passed in April 2021, 2021 Act 252 provided the necessary funding authorization to fully begin the process of finalizing the site selection, planning, and design of a new Type 1 facility in Milwaukee County.

Step 2. Site Evaluations (normal)
The DOC, in partnership with the DOA, reviewed multiple locations in Milwaukee County as a potential site for a new Type 1 facility utilizing the criteria developed by the bipartisan Juvenile Corrections Study Committee.

Step 3. Proposed Site Selection (normal)
7930 West Clinton Avenue, in the City of Milwaukee, was selected as the most viable site for a new Type 1 facility.

Step 4. Local Governing Body Support for Site Selection (2021 Act 252)
2021 Act 252 included a mandate that requires support of the governing body of the municipality where the selected site is located.

Step 5. DOA Approval (2021 Act 252)
2021 Act 252 mandated the DOA may not approve plans for constructing a new Type 1 facility without community support for site selection.

Step. 6 Report to JCF (2021 Act 252)
2021 Act 252 mandated the DOA must submit a report to the JCF after reviewing and approving plans.

Step 7. Plan/Zoning/City Approval Process (normal)
The DOC received approvals from the local governing bodies in 2022 and 2023. 

Step 8. (7b) Public Listening Session (2019 Act 8)
Due to the timing of the local process, which is not under the control of the DOC, Step 8 occurred simultaneously to Step 7. State legislators and the DOC held several public listening sessions, which were noticed in compliance with 2019 Act 8. The local process only required the DOC hold one meeting, however due to the lack of local representation, the DOC held three public listening sessions and an environmental assessment meeting, additionally the local jurisdictional state legislators held two public meetings. Please see the Public Engagement section for more information regarding these committees.

Step 9. SBC Approval (normal)
The State Building Commission approval process is two-fold. The first request was for the land purchase at Clinton Avenue which was approved on February 3, 2023. Once planning and design were at or near completion, the DOA submitted a design report for approval from the SBC and requested authority to construct.

Step 10. Finalize Design (normal)
Once the plan was approved by the SBC on August 9, 2023, the DOA worked with the DOC to ensure all details of the design were finalized in preparation to put out the formal bid.

Step 11. Bid the Project (normal)
In the spring of 2024, the DOA submitted the project for bid to seek contractors to construct the new building. This process followed established DOA rules.

Step 12. Begin Construction (normal)
Once the bid process was completed, a contractor was selected, and the contracts were finalized, work began on the facility in the summer of 2024. Substantial building completion is estimated for mid-2026 with an anticipated opening in late 2026.​​

Facility Renderings
New Facilities renderings


Type 1 Facility in Dane County
Act 185 envisioned multiple, smaller Type 1 youth correctional facilities operated by Wisconsin DOC, coupled with county-run SRCCCYs to keep youth closer to home and family/community support systems. It also envisioned using state-owned land where possible for new Type 1 youth facilities and choosing locations in geographic locations reflective of the DOC s youth population. With Milwaukee and Dane counties having the highest number of youth in custody, a second location in Dane County will allow DOC to keep youth close to home and connect them to resources in their communities prior to their release.

2023 Wisconsin Act 19 provided $6,000,000 for project planning, development, design, site selection, land and property acquisition for a new Type 1 Juvenile Correctional Facility. Using the planning funds, design occurred for a 105,600 square foot facility. The facility will provide housing, food services, health services, education, counseling, vocational training, visitation, indoor and outdoor recreation, administrative offices, and other supporting spaces for a population of up to 32 male and 8 female youth.

The project was fully enumerated in the 2025-2027 Budget.
​
The new facility in Dane County will utilize DOC land located within Fitchburg and Oregon, acknowledging the intent of Act 185 and desire to use state owned land, when possible. This site will be located near the DOC's Grow Academy, Oregon Correctional Center, and Bureau of Correctional Enterprises Farm Campus.

Timeline for Type 1 Facility in Dane County
Dane County Timeline.png

Step 1. Funding Approved  
In 2023, the JFC approved $6 million for the planning and design of a Dane County Type 1 Facility. In July 2025, Wisconsin Act 15 provided the remaining necessary funding authorization to fully begin the process of finalizing the site selection, planning, and design of a new Type 1 facility in Dane County.

Step 2. Site Evaluations
The planning dollars authorized in 2023 Wisconsin Act 19 allowed the Department to begin the planning, site assessment and design work. The Department plans to utilize existing land in Fitchburg and Oregon.   

Step 3. Proposed Site Selection
It is proposed the new facility in Dane County will utilize DOC land located within Fitchburg and Oregon, acknowledging the intent of Act 185 and desire to use state owned land, when possible. This site will be located near the DOC's Grow Academy, Oregon Correctional Center, and Bureau of Correctional Enterprises Farm Campus 

Step 4. Planning/Zoning/City Approval 
The DOC plans to attend necessary city meetings in Fitchburg and Oregon (water connections) in the fall of 2025. 

Step 5. WEPA Public Listening Session 
A public listening session will be held as part of the Wisconsin Environmental Policy Act (WEPA) process in the fall of 2025. 

Step 6. SBC Approval
The state is targeting the winter of 2025/2026 State Building Commission for authority to construct.

Step 7. Finalize Design
Once approval is granted by SBC, the DOC will work with the DOA to ensure all planning and design details are finalized and it is ready to put out for bid.   

Step 8. Bid the Project 
The bid date is estimated for mid 2026. 

Step 9. Begin Construction 
The constructions start date is estimated as late 2026 with substantial completion estimated for mid 2028, final completion in late 2028 and anticipated opening of early 2029.

Note: The tentative dates referenced in the various steps for the Dane County Type 1 are all dependent upon the approvals and other steps occurring at their anticipated times. ​


Facility Renderings
2025 Mission & Vision.png
​