Mark Rice testifies at state budget hearing on “Wisconsin’s disastrous system of mass supervision”

“Many states have enacted policies to reduce incarceration for convictionless rule violations. Wisconsin policymakers continue to keep prisons and jails overcrowded through their unwavering support of this unreasonable and unjust policy.” Mark Rice (Leading with Conviction™ 2017) recently gave testimony on what he called “Wisconsin’s disastrous system of mass supervision” at a state budget hearing in West Allis, WI.

Watch:

Here’s what he had to say:

“My name is Mark Rice. I currently serve as the Transformational Justice Campaign Coordinator with WISDOM Wisconsin.

“Wisconsin’s disastrous system of mass supervision is not in alignment with the state’s motto of forward. Wisconsin policymakers have consistently been moving the state backward by investing nearly $200 million dollars per year to detain people for convictionless rule violations. This policy is at odds with common sense approaches to justice. This policy drains resources that could instead be used to build safer, stronger, and healthier communities.

“This issue is personal to me. In 2007, the Department of Corrections forced me to spend six months in Milwaukee Secure Detention Facility for allegedly violating a rule of supervision that did not involve a new conviction.

“Milwaukee police officers arrested me for disorderly conduct while I was experiencing a mental health crisis. I went to court a few days after being arrested. Court officials all agreed that my behavior was not criminal. The judge dismissed the case, but my probation officer, who had no specialized training in mental health issues, decided to move forward with the revocation process.

“Instead of helping me flourish in a community-based setting, my probation officer forced me to spend six months in one of the most inhumane prisons in the nation. This was a very stressful and traumatic experience for me. While I was detained, one man attempted to commit suicide, several other men were put under suicide watch, and a few men severely mutilated themselves.

“It’s time to end the practice of detaining people for convictionless rule violations.

“Let’s invest in communities not prisons. Let’s invest in health instead of punishment.

“It’s time to expand community-based options for the Alternatives to Revocation program.”