Sexual assaults on the rise in Wisconsin prisons

We have heard plenty about allegations of assault and abuse at Wisconsin’s youth prison. That has led to personnel changes for prison administrators and prompted an FBI investigation. Turns out the problems are not isolated to the Lincoln Hills school for boys. State records show that throughout the Wisconsin prison system, Wisconsin prison officials investigated numerous complaints of correctional officers sexually abusing or harassing inmates. More than 100 complaints, all within the span of one year. Not all of the claims were substantiated, but still, 11% of the claims were proven. Another 32 claims of sexual harassment or abuse are still being investigated, so the numbers may rise. Many involved correctional staff in positions of power creating intimate relationships with prisoners. That includes sexual harassment, spanking, forging romantic relationships, even sexual intercourse behind bars. The problem is not unique to Wisconsin prisons. Nationally, claims of abuse or harassment of inmates by guards rose by 191% between 2011 and 2015. But Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, still hasn’t stepped foot in the state’s prisons since taking office. Perhaps he should just stop by and tell them to knock off all this hanky-panky.