AB 181/SB 170: Earned Release for Employment Readiness Training

Under the bill, completion of an “employment readiness training program” would be added to the list of factors a court may consider to reduce an incarcerated person’s confinement time.

Failed to pass both houses, will not become law this session

This bill expands an existing program called the Earned Release Program (ERP). ERP is currently limited by state law to individuals determined to have a substance use disorder and other criteria. A court may, after someone completes treatment, reduce the in-custody portion of the person’s sentence, and the amount of confinement time reduced is then added to the individual’s community supervision.

Under the bill, completion of an “employment readiness training program” would be added to the list of factors a court may consider to reduce a person’s confinement time. If passed Wisconsin would join Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia in authorizing a reduction of confinement time for completion of vocation or educational training programs.

The bill was drafted following issues raised during the 2022 Legislative Council Study Committee on Increasing Offender Employment Opportunities.