Wisconsin Right Now

Milwaukee County Sheriff inmates word change: The term inmates does "not accurately describe who we are, what we do, or reflect the message we wish to convey,” - Milwaukee County Sheriff's Department The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Department is now calling "inmates" in the county jail "person in our care" and "occupants," according to an internal memo obtained by Wisconsin Right Now. The August 20, 2021, memo is directive No. 002-21. It’s labeled “Agencywide Changes in Terminology,” and it was signed by Denita R. Ball, chief deputy, Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office . It says, “to be read at all roll calls and posted. Members to read and understand.” On the question of inmates, it says, “The phrase ‘inmate’ will be changed to Person in our Care or Occupant except in certain legal or policy contexts.” The change is coming at a time of skyrocketing violent crime in Milwaukee. There used to be a time where the goal of jail and pris...

"Instead of worrying what they are calling their inmates, maybe the MCSO should worry about their blue flu," a source told Wisconsin Right Now, but the Sheriff's spokesman points to the County Board and Executive, who have power over compensation. The Milwaukee County Jail is struggling with severe staffing shortages that appear partly driven by low pay that isn't comparable to the pay offered by other local jails, such as Racine's, Wisconsin Right Now has learned. They're 84 people short, with three more correctional officers resigning last week alone. The staffing crunch is even more severe due to people calling in sick, sources told us. How bad is the crisis in the jail? A source told us more than 35 correctional officers called in sick on Saturday and more than 25 called in sick on Sunday alone. The Sheriff's spokesman confirmed to Wisconsin Right Now that "we are currently operating at 177 out of 261 officer positions filled, a number tha...