Purpose Statement
The Wisconsin Women’s Correctional System (WWCS) provides female inmates a safe and secure confinement in an environment that is gender-responsive. WWCS utilizes gender-specific guiding principles to assist in the positive growth of inmates through treatment, education, and appropriate supervision, thereby fostering successful reentry to their families and communities upon release.
Institution Information
Center Setting
Each of the correctional centers is unique because of its historic development and geographic location. Correctional centers are similar in that each is small in size (fewer than 300 inmates) and all are operationally self-contained. Inmates are housed in single, double, or multiple occupant rooms. Inmates generally have more freedom to move about the facility's building and grounds during designated hours of the day than do inmates housed in an institution. Some correctional centers serve a specific program or population need; such as drug and alcohol treatment, education, or “boot camp” type programming. Others primarily focus on work release and work crew participation.
Most inmates at a correctional center are beginning the transition process back into society. Inmates are offered the opportunity of increased responsibility and begin making more decisions for themselves while at a correctional center.
Inmate Population
All inmates housed in correctional centers are convicted felons who are under the care and custody of the DOC. All inmates are classified minimum-security based upon criteria that includes factors such as offense and sentence structure, prison adjustment, risk of escape, and/or outstanding warrants/detainers. Felony probationers/parolees are sometimes placed in the centers as an alternative to revocation when found to have violated their conditions of supervision in the community.
Job Assignments and Work Release
Programming at the correctional centers is directed toward release and living in the community. Some inmates have center work assignments that assist with facility operations and maintenance. Many inmates are also placed on supervised community work crews, while others earn the privilege of a work release placement. All inmates on work release pay income taxes; room, board and transportation; child support; and restitution owed to victims. Work release pay also provides inmates with the opportunity to save money for release. Inmates at correctional centers continue treatment programs; education; family reintegration; religious and leisure activities.