MILWAUKEE — The ACLU of Wisconsin today applauded Gov. Tony Evers for his decision to keep the Felmers O. Chaney Correctional Center open and choose a different Milwaukee location to build a new proposed Type 1 juvenile facility, creating a path to finally close Lincoln Hills.

Earlier this year, the ACLU of Wisconsin and several other local advocacy groups spoke out against the Department of Corrections proposed plan to demolish the Chaney Center for the new facility. The coalition sent a letter to Gov. Evers, urging him to consider alternative sites for the new youth prison.

The selected location at 7930 West Clinton Avenue would allow incarcerated youth to move closer to their communities without depriving Milwaukee of the essential services of the Chaney Center.

The Chaney Center currently operates as a minimum-security adult facility that provides work release programs and other vital transitional services to incarcerated individuals nearing the end of their prison sentences and preparing to reenter the community.

“We are so glad that Governor Evers’ actions today proved what several other organizations and we have known all along: that we did not have to choose between bringing our incarcerated youth closer to home and helping Milwaukee men reintegrate into their communities,” said Abby Kanyer, deputy director of community engagement at the ACLU of Wisconsin. “This is a major step forward and provides a path to finally close Lincoln Hills, a facility that has long been unable to provide a healthy and safe environment for the youth housed there.”

“Members of the Milwaukee community have been working tirelessly to convince our leaders to adopt a plan that gets incarcerated youth out of Lincoln Hills and closer to their families without sacrificing the needs of returning citizens, who rely on the Chaney Center to help get them back on their feet. We are grateful that the governor has listened to what the people of Milwaukee, and Wisconsin, have been asking for, and we celebrate being one step closer to closing Lincoln Hills.”

The Milwaukee Common Council has a special meeting set for 10: 30 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 12, to vote on the site. The ACLU of Wisconsin urges Milwaukee residents to contact their alderperson before Friday’s meeting to urge the Common Council to approve the site. Your alderperson’s contact information is available here.

Related Content

Press Release
Mar 07, 2022
Placeholder image
  • Criminal Legal Reform

Advocates Speak Out Against Demolition of Felmers O. Chaney Correctional Center

The ACLU of Wisconsin, several other local advocacy groups, and State Senator Lena Taylor gathered outside of the Felmers O. Chaney Correctional Center today to speak out against the proposed demolition of the facility as part of the plan to close Lincoln Hills.
Issue Areas: Criminal Legal Reform
Press Release
Jun 03, 2022
Placeholder image
  • Education Equity|
  • +1 Issue

Monitor Reports Deteriorating Conditions at Lincoln Hills Youth Prison

Juvenile Law Center, ACLU of Wisconsin Sound Alarms Over Use of Solitary Confinement, Worsening Conditions
Press Release
Mar 18, 2022
Placeholder image
  • Criminal Legal Reform

Ten Wisconsin Organizations Call on Gov. Evers to Save Chaney Center As He Signs Bill to Close Lincoln Hills

The ACLU of Wisconsin, Juvenile Law Center, and eight other Wisconsin organizations today called on Gov. Tony Evers to consider alternative sites for a new youth prison,  rather than the Felmers O. Chaney Center site, after signing Senate Bill 520. 
Issue Areas: Criminal Legal Reform