(MARINETTE, WI.)–(“There is no room at the inn,” said Judicial District 8 Chief Judge James Morrison, in kicking off the Jail Overcrowding and Juvenile Justice Symposium held Wednesday, March 28th in Suamico. At the meeting, participants representing 12-Northeastern Wisconsin counties, discussed common solutions to a serious and growing problem, “Where to provide secure custody for juveniles.” Currently, Marinette County and virtually all the other counties in Northeastern Wisconsin, have no place to locally house juveniles requiring short-term secure detention. In fact, Marinette County is required to transport these juveniles to the juvenile facility in Sheboygan, at least a six hour round trip for the juvenile and the transporting officers. Judge Morrison approached Brown County, which is currently expanding its juvenile detention facilities to meet with all the Northeastern Wisconsin counties to see if a common solution to this problem can be fashioned. The meeting in Suamico was the result to that effort. Brown County officials, along with regional leaders, left the Symposium with the spirit of collaboration on shared objectives. Brown County Executive, Troy Streckenbach stated, “The goal remains, solving our future detention and correctional needs with the goal of saving taxpayers money into the future by running government more effectively and efficiently.” Attending the Symposium according to Marinette County Sheriff Jerry Sauve, himself, Judge James Morrison, Administrator Bob Majewski and HHSD Deputy Director Glenn Sartorelli. Other counties attending according to the Sheriff included Brown, Outagamie, Winnebago, Door, Oconto, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Shawano, Sheboygan, Waupaca and Fond du Lac, including, Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Patience Roggensack.
(Aaron Harper,WJNR,WOBE,WHTO)
aaronharper22@gmail.com