Phase 1
In November 2024, the DOC contracted with Falcon, Inc. to conduct a comprehensive independent review of the state's adult prison system. Falcon reviewed and evaluated Wisconsin DOC's correctional operations, mental health, and medical practices.
Timeline
| Project initiation and core working group formation | Data request and document review | 28 thematic workshops and supplemental meetings | Regional site visits | Feedback and analysis | Final report and recommendations |
Approach & Methodology
- Staffing
- Correctional trends
- Healthcare
| 28 workshops
- Intake
- Restrictive housing
- Mental health
- Staffing
- Reentry
- Women's services
| 15 facilities
- 5 maximum
- 7 medium
- 1 minimum
- Taycheedah Correctional Institution
- Wisconsin Resource Center
| - Wardens
- Facility leadership
- Frontline staff
- Residents
- Advocates
| Synthesis of data to identify strengths and needs, and recommend areas for improvement. |
The final report was issued in October 2025.
Areas of strength identified
- Developing an objective custody classification system in 2023.
- Restructuring the Bureau of Health Services in 2024.
- Expanding the earned release program and enhancing correctional practices.
- Transitioning Waupun Correctional Institution to single cells.
- Restrictive housing policy reforms in 2024.
Recommended focus areas
- Correctional practices: Reinforce foundational security practices through standardized operational training, monitoring, and accountability.
- Mental health practices: Improve mental health care by updating policies (i.e., MH classifications) for improved assessment, treatment, and proactive intervention.
- Restrictive housing: Further reduce RH use, improve conditions of confinement, and increase out-of-cell time; operational and mental health enhancements.
- Bed management: Optimize bed placement and movement between facilities by resolving bottlenecks to ensure timely placement; objective point-based classification.
- Staffing: Address HR challenges by streamlining recruitment, retention, and resource allocation statewide.
- Medical practices: Enhance medical care via a patient-centered model, effective clinical teams, and expanded specialty capacity.
- Data management: Expand and improve the collection, use, and impact of the department's rich data resources.
Phase 2
In February 2026, DOC and Falcon, Inc. entered into their second contract to continue implementation work. The Department identified six facilities for this focused work.
- March - Leadership Summit
- April - Identification of Initiative Managers to lead in the areas of:
- Correctional Practices
- Restrictive Housing
- Bed Management
- Medical
- Mental Health
- May - First site visits focused on operational initiatives at all six sites
- June - Second site visits focused on operational initiatives at max sites and on medical/mental health at various sites
- On-going:
- Policy development/alignment and increased use of data to drive decisions
- Work towards the goals/objectives in the initiative categories identified
- Technical assistance and support from Falcon experts
Key Initiative Objectives
Correctional Practices
- More standardized practices
- Quality/compliance in the areas of searches, rounds and entrance procedures
- Completion of staff training
- Increased communal meals in max-security settings
- Increased and consistent recreation and leisure time activities
- Consistent visiting practices
Restrictive Housing
- Track/monitor RH housing utilization and criteria
- Increase out-of-cell time
- Increase and improve effectiveness of multidisciplinary reviews
- Develop alternatives for individuals with serious mental illness (SMI)
- Improve the standards of observation placements
- Create consistency regarding property incentives
Bed Management
- Align bed capacity and custody assignments across DAI
- Establish criteria for a consistent approach to cell assignments within a facility
Medical
- Develop a utilization management framework
- Develop/maintain chronic care guidelines
- Align provider recruitment strategies in favorable job markets and increase utilization of telemedicine
- Develop reporting to inform on aging population trends
Mental Health
- Revise mental health classification codes and provide training to staff related to the delivery of mental health care
- Designate living units or areas for individuals with SMI as an alternative to RH
- Update behavior management plans to include more incentives
Since the site visits in June, the DOC is continuing to make progress towards its goals. Examples include increasing communal dining in maximum custody sites, making local bed/housing assignments based on custody level, and increasing out-of-cell time and tracking in restrictive housing.
*Updates will be made to this page as work in the various initiatives progresses.*