What is a Type 1 facility?
A youth may be placed in a Type 1 secure youth correctional facility if a court gives the youth a Serious Juvenile Offender Program (SJOP) disposition or a correctional placement disposition. A youth may receive one of these dispositions only if they commit certain offenses and the court makes specific findings. Type 1 facilities are operated and staffed by the state of Wisconsin Department of Corrections.
How many Type 1 facilities does WI currently have?
There are currently three Type 1 facilities in WI. The DOC operates two Type 1 secure youth facilities which houses boys at Lincoln Hills and girls at Copper Lake Schools (LHS/CLS). They are located on one campus in Lincoln County. The Department of Health Services (DHS) also operates a Type 1 secure youth facility in Dane County that houses boys at Mendota Juvenile Treatment Center (MJTC). DHS; Type 1 facility is a secure mental health treatment facility that houses boys who do not respond to the rehabilitation services provided at the DOC. Construction is underway at the MJTC campus to expand the facility to also house girls.
How was it decided to build new Type 1 facilities?
When will the youth from Lincoln Hills be transferred to one of the new facilities?
Youth at Lincoln Hills/Copper Lake will be transferred out of the facility as soon as an appropriate facility is constructed and adequate services are available for the youth.
Will the youth from Lincoln Hills eventually be transferred to the facility closest to their family?
The goal is to have the ability to transfer youth to the facility closest to their family and/or support system.
How many youth will the new Type 1 facilities hold?
The Southeast Regional Care Center Type 1 facility in Milwaukee is designed to serve approximately 32 youth. The Type 1 facility in Dane County will serve 40 youth (32 males and 8 females).
How many will be employed in the new Type 1 facilities?
DOC was authorized for 147 positions to staff the Southeast Regional Care Center in Milwaukee. We anticipate a similar staffing model for the Dane County Type 1.
When is the DOC going to close Lincoln Hills?
LHS/CLS will close when there is sufficient space to house both boys and girls under the care of the DOC in new Type 1 facilities. The DOC will provide regular updates to staff, the community and other stakeholders as the process moves forward. When Act 252 passed in spring 2021, the Legislature added language mandating that when the LHS/CLS could close, it shall then be repurposed into an adult correctional facility.
Why is it taking so long to close Lincoln Hills?
Although the legislature ordered LHS/CLS to close by July 1, 2021, it is not possible to close the facility until sufficient space exists to house youth in new facilities. Funding for a Type 1 was not approved until April 2022, and the DOC was unable to move forward before that point.
Building a new facility is a long process that requires several steps including identifying a site, gaining approval from local governments, the legislature, the Department of Administration, and the State Building Commission. Only after these approvals take place can planning, design, and construction begin. The state construction process typically takes several years, and in this case, the legislature added additional steps, extending the timeline further.
What's the difference between a Type 1 facility and a SRCCCY?
A Type 1 facility is operated by the state. A youth will be treated by the state in a Type 1 facility when a judge determines that a youth should be sentenced under the Serious Juvenile Offender (SJO) disposition, or if a youth is waived to adult court and is convicted as an adult. Please see the link on Type 1 Facilities for more information.
A Secure Residential Care Centers for Children and Youth (SRCCCY) is a county run facility.
How many SRCCCYs are located in WI?
The Racine County SRCCCY, named the Jonathon Delagrave Youth Development and Care Center, is the only functioning SRCCCY as of August 2025 with construction well underway in Milwaukee. Please see the link on SRCCCYs for more information.
Is it possible for a county to bypass a SRCCCY and send a youth directly to a Type 1 DOC facility?
2017 Wis. Act 185, as amended by 2019 Wis. Act 8, has restructured the Wisconsin juvenile correctional system, impacting both state and county systems, including how and where they can place youth who are adjudicated delinquent and the provisions governing changes of placement and transfers of juveniles from SRCCCYs to Type 1 juvenile correctional facilities.
Youth are placed in a SRCCCY under Wis. Stat. 938.34 (4m) a correctional placement disposition. Each county shall contact Racine County SRCCCY to complete a referral for the program who have a correctional placement disposition. If no SRCCCY is willing to accept the youth or there is no space available at the SRCCCY, a COP request can be made for placement to a Type 1 juvenile correctional facility.
Youth Programming & Juvenile Justice
What is DBT?
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is the primary treatment for all youth under the care of the Division of Juvenile Corrections (DJC.) DBT is an evidenced based cognitive behavioral therapy designed to help youth who struggle to control their emotions and behaviors. For more information, please review our
Overview of Youth Programs & Services.
Will you allow faith-based groups inside of the new facilities?
DJC currently provides faith-based groups the opportunity to volunteer and will continue to provide this opportunity at any new facilities. For more information, please review our
Overview of Youth Programs & Services.
Will you have programs for families of youth in the new facilities?
With the facility being in close proximity to where the majority of youth live, programing was designed with families in mind and will be more accessible for families and caregivers of youth. Examples of programs will include family therapy during visiting hours, parenting groups, and high school graduation ceremonies.
Will you have job readiness training in the new facilities?
The Department of Corrections (DOC) is designing the new facility with classrooms dedicated to career technical education. For more information about programming, please review our
Overview of Youth Programs & Services. Career technical education at the new facility will be developed based upon market needs.
Will you provide transportation for families to the new facilities?
There is currently transportation during certain times available for families of youth at Lincoln Hills Schools and Copper Lake Schools (LHS/CLS). Building new facilities in Milwaukee and Dane County was intentional in order to bring our kids closer to home. With public transportation options nearby and in close proximity to families, it will lessen the barrier of getting to the facility for many families.
How do you know the programs you will provide at the new facilities will work?
All of the programs and services provided to youth are based on research and evidence shown to have success in other youth facilities and jurisdictions around the country. We consult regularly with national experts to ensure our programming follows best practices and national standards.
Do you provide programming when a youth leaves the new facilities?
For State supervised youth, the DJC provides intensive case management and programming for youth once they leave the facility. For county supervised youth, the facility continues to provide consultative support. For example, facility therapists will work with a youth's new therapist and provide a warm hand-off to that person.
What types of programming will you have at the new facilities?
Building Design
How secure will the new Type 1 facilities be?
A Type 1 youth facility is a maximum-security secure setting. Staff are monitoring the facility 24/7/365. Youth never exit the secure perimeter without an escort. All visitors require background checks and must be pre-approved and scheduled.
Will there be fencing and what will it look like?
In Milwaukee, the facility is completely secured by the building itself and a proposed 16-foot wall that matches the facade of the front and sides of the building around the recreational space outside. In addition, there will be a 6-foot fence at the border of the property. In Dane County, we will utilize 16-foot fencing. Youth are outside at set times and staff will always be outside with them. Youth will never be outside of the secure perimeter unless they are being transported with an approved escort.
Will there be enough parking for people at the new Milwaukee facility?
The new building will have approximately 100 parking spaces. This will be enough space for employee parking and shift changes, as well as visitors.
Will youth have a place to go outside at the new Milwaukee facility?
Within the secure perimeter wall, there are plans for a recreational space. Please refer to the renderings section to see a visual.
How will visitation work? Will it increase traffic in the area?
Visitors coming to the secure facility must go through a background check and be pre-approved prior to visitations. Additionally, visitation is scheduled at set times and will not include all youth at the same time. Typically, visitation happens 2 times per week or may be scheduled on an individual basis with families.
Are there plans to expand the new Milwaukee facility beyond 32 youth?
There are no plans to expand this or any other new youth facility beyond 32. The available science indicates that is the maximum amount for a facility focused on treatment and rehabilitation of youth in the criminal justice system..
What does a bedroom look like for a youth staying at the Type 1 facilities?
Each bedroom will be single occupancy only. The bedroom will have a single bed, a sink and a toilet. Other amenities in each bedroom may include a mirror, places for youth to hang up pictures, artwork, etc.
Do you take any environmental considerations in the building design?
- Revegetation will occur as part of landscaping with trees, plantings, and grassed areas.
- Beneficial impact during building demolition by assessing and removing potentially hazardous materials: typical materials found are asbestos, lead-based paint, mold, mercury to be removed and properly disposed.
- Accessible ramps, bike lanes, and bike racks to be extended to the facility as a benefit.
- LED lighting throughout the facility.
- Natural lighting included wherever possible.
- We will have recycling containers throughout the facility.
- We've extended sidewalks for more walkable areas.
- There is a plan to utilize electric vehicles for maintenance and safety staff
- Electric vehicle charging stations
What happens when the new Milwaukee facility reaches a capacity limit? Where will other youth go?
Act 185 required the DOC to build smaller, regional facilities. The proposed site in Milwaukee is the first. The DOC will continue to operate LHS/CLS until we have enough space at other smaller facilities located throughout the state. Also, as part of Act 185, the Mendota Juvenile Treatment Center (MJTC) added additional beds and counties received grants to build Secure Residential Care Center for Children and Youth.
How will the youth be transferred in and out of the new Milwaukee facility?
The DOC anticipates movement of youth from the new facility to occur about twice a month. A youth will never leave or enter our facility unescorted.
Why are the new proposed facilities so expensive? Why can't you invest this money in prevention and community programming instead?
2017 Act 185 requires the DOC to build smaller regional facilities and 2021 Act 252 appropriated the money for that reason, and so the funding must be used for a new facility. The administration will always support increasing funds for effective evidence-based programs and services and in the last two budgets we have proposed such increases. The legislature has removed those increases. Regardless, the DOC will continue to invest in programming that works.
Operations, Security & Employment
I've read about past abuses at LHS/CLS. How will the DOC prevent that from happening again at new facilities?
Since the start of the Evers administration, the DOC has been working to comply with the federal consent decree. The DOC is committed to transitioning juvenile corrections from a punitive correctional model to evidence-based treatment facilities. In addition, this administration completed revisions to DOC 376 and DOC 373. Both of these administrative codes codify into law all elements of the federal consent decree. Codification of these two codes ensures current and future administrations follow current practices.
Will you hire residents to work at the Milwaukee and Dane County facilities?
The new facility will create a number of new positions in the community. Position openings will be open to anyone who meets the hiring qualifications and are able to complete our youth counselor academy.
How will you notify the local community about jobs at the new facilities?
Hiring for the Southeast Regional Care Center will occur in July of 2026, which is when funding for the positions was authorized in 2025 Act 15. Hiring for Dane County will not occur for several years, as the process for approval of the positions will need to be part of a future budget. Recruitment for both facilities will include advertisements in local area news sources. It will also include local job fairs.
Can this project be put on hold?
There is current law requiring the development of new Type 1 juvenile facilities in Milwaukee and Dane counties and the transition of LHS/CLS to an adult minimum custody facility.
I'm worried crime will increase and no one else will want to move in or do business in this area of Milwaukee because of the new facility.
There is no research to support that crime increases when new or existing secure facilities exist in urban settings.
I'm worried the new facilities will take critical police resources away from neighborhoods in Milwaukee and Dane counties.
This administration works tirelessly to provide safety and security for both youth and staff. Because of the priority of treating youth with dignity, respect, and providing a treatment-based environment, there is rarely a need for outside law enforcement resources. The majority of engagement with law enforcement is scheduled and should not take away from the local resources.
Will the new Milwaukee facility house girls? If not, where do they go?
The proposed facility in Milwaukee will only house boys. Two locations where girls can reside currently include Copper Lake School for Girls, and the Mendota Treatment facility operated by the Department of Health Services. Additionally, the Dane County Type 1 facility will have eight female beds.
What is the recidivism rate for youth in custody?
Because Wisconsin's Juvenile Justice System is primarily operated by local county governments, a statewide recidivism rate does not currently exist.
What will you do to ensure you'll increase diversity at the new facilities?
The current administration prioritizes the recruitment and retention of employees who reflect the youth we serve. Having the facility located in a diverse community and having local employee recruitment efforts exist in the area surrounding the facility, it is our belief that we will be able to increase the diversity significantly as compared to the current staff at LHS/CLS.
How do you hold staff accountable?
The DOC has extensive work rules to hold staff accountable. In addition, the facility will be guided by policies and procedures and all staff at the facility will be held accountable to those.
Public Engagement
Southeast Regional Care Center
The DOC has participated and facilitated several community meetings, and the City of Milwaukee held several public hearings in relation to the new youth facility in Milwaukee. Below are links to summaries of meetings already held and links to the City's website in relation to their public hearings.
Community Input & Public Listening Sessions: 11/16/22 and 11/19/22
Granville Development Advisory Committee: 12/7/22
City Plan Commission Public Hearing: 12/12/22
Dane County Type 1
Please check back for updates.