Waupun Guard Tower Positions Preserved

The proposed state budget called for the elimination of 3rd shift guard tower positions at all correctional facilities around the state. On Tuesday, the Joint Committee on Finance passed a motion to retain 6 guard tower positions at the Waupun Correctional Institute.  After meeting with Waupun Mayor Kyle Clark, local officials, concerned citizens and Correctional Officers on Feb. 24th as well as paying the facility a surprise visit at 3am on May 18th, Senator Rick Gudex and Representative Michael Schraa worked to get the motion passed by the committee. Senator Gudex says, “The Waupun Correctional Facility is one of the oldest correctional facilities in the United States. Citizens and community leaders had voiced their concern for the community’s safety given its location in the middle of the city.  After seeing the facility firsthand on Monday morning, we thought that we would ask that the Institution be given 18 months to get the added security measures and a community awareness effort in place before completely eliminating these positions.”