“We can’t punish people into being healthy. We need for families to stay intact and for offenders to be responsible to their communities. We are all better off when people can be healed and made whole through these effective programs that bring accountability to the offender and to the community. Alternative treatment programs work better than incarceration.”
ESTHER is part of the statewide ROC WI (Restore Our Communities) Campaign. The campaign is a movement of people of faith calling for change in the Wisconsin system of incarceration.
More you can do for Transformational Justice. The Governor is hosting Listening Sessions. Here are the two possibilities---one virtual, one local. You can register now: More details will be coming soon and, if you are registered you'll get those details.
Virtual Budget Listening Session
Wednesday, December 14, at 6 p.m.
Register to attend via Zoom here.
Budget Listening Session in Green Bay
Tuesday, December 20, at 5:30 p.m.
Register to attend here
Please register for one if you can, and encourage others to do the same. It is most helpful for each individual to focus on one thing (like TAD funding, or any of the other things listed in the transformational justice launch--see above story). It is extra helpful if you have a testimony to share (even if you are not an "impacted" person,if you share why you care, it makes your testimony more powerful.
The December 8 Transformational Justice Launch event in Madison was very energizing and productive.
The day began with a panel that gave an overview of much of the work on Transformational Justice. It includes important stories by people who have been formerly incarcerating, highlighting needs for changes. This panel presentation was covered by Wisconsin Eye, and can be seen here: (It will ask you to subscribe to Wisconsin Eye. There is no cost for that; it mostly just gets you on their mailing list).
The principal aims of the Transformational Justice Campaign are:
Invest in programs and strategies that will end the racial and economic disparities that fuel mass incarceration in Wisconsin
Reduce our prison population to 11,000, and reduce the number of people on extended supervision.
Justice Reinvestment: Allocate money, especially savings from reduced incarceration, to building up communities that have been most harmed by mass incarceration.
View people who have been convicted of a crime as human beings, members of families, and assets to the community.
Restore formerly incarcerated people to full participation in communities, the economy and civic life.
See a list of issues that are prominent in the campaign. . . .
Watch recorded video of the first hour of the program here
Sponsored by WISDOM, FREE and EXPO
Program
10 - 11 AM
Public presentation at the North Hearing Room in the State Capitol featuring remarks on Solitary Confinement, TAD, Old Law Parole, and Post-release Issues. Video of this is segment is available here.
1-2 PM
Start of Transformational Justice Convening: Welcome, Reflection, Icebreaker
11 AM - 12 PM
Drop Lit at Legislative offices and the Governor’s Office in the Stated Capitol
2-3 PM
Breakout Sessions by region: Madison Action Day and Joint Finance Committee hearings discussion
12 - 1 PM
Lunch at Grace Episcopal Church, 116 W Washington Ave, Madison
3-4 PM
- Breakout sessions: strategic planning for issue campaigns
- Closing remarks and calls to action
Help spread the word. Download and share the attached flier.
Most Blessed Sacrament Church 448 High Avenue Oshkosh
We will be serving food & beverage, and child supervision is available for school-age children. In addition, rides can be arranged. All are welcome! Come join us and let's reimagine justice in Winnebago County!
If you have any questions, contact Marianne Oleson at marianne@expowisconsin.org
A couple weeks ago, I had the privilege of going to the state capital in Madison for EXPO’s Empathy Day of Action. We spent the day learning from EXPO leaders, senators, and representatives on Unlock the Vote and AJR 107. Using the information we learned, we got to have conversations with our legislators, representatives, and their staff. We met with those who voted in favor of AJR 107 which is a constitutional amendment that was created after the Waukesha parade tragedy.
This amendment would change the eligibility and release conditions prior to a conviction. This amendment would also create a stricter cash bail system by making it possible for judges to consider past criminal history when setting bail charges. Setting higher bail charges would punish low-income people and keep more people incarcerated if they cannot pay bail.
At ESTHER’s most recent Mental Health Task Force meeting, we were joined by two women who educated us on an issue that is currently affecting incarcerated pregnant women.
One of the women who joined us was Felicia Turner-Walton, who is the CEO and Founder of Healing Our Hearts. This is a non-profit based out of Madison that provides support to those that have experienced loss. This organization is committed to providing an understanding of grief that is centered around black and brown communities.
The issue they covered during our meeting was the injustice of shackling and how it affects incarcerated pregnant women. Prisons have historically been designed by men, for men. Inmate treatment has therefore not taken into account women’s specific needs. Pregnant inmates are thus shackled while receiving medical care because that is how all inmates are treated. Shackling is an inhumane and dangerous practice as it limits the medical care that can be provided due to the restraints and it puts more stress on the pregnant woman or birthing mother.
When I first learned of this practice during our meeting, I had a mixture of feelings. On one hand, I was shocked to learn about this inhumane practice. On the other hand, I was not surprised as prison systems have historically been created to control black and brown communities. These systems of control therefore do not take into account the specific indignities that pregnant women face and the different treatment they need to receive.
Most Blessed Sacrament Church 448 High Avenue Oshkosh
We will be serving food & beverage, and child supervision is available for school-age children. In addition, rides can be arranged. All are welcome! Come join us and let's reimagine justice in Winnebago County!
If you have any questions, contact Marianne Oleson at marianne@expowisconsin.org
(These programs will be recorded for later viewing by registrants who cannot attend all sessions.)
In the series, we will learn from experts, including people directly impacted by Wisconsin’s criminal legal system. We will learn about many aspects of the system, including:
A couple weeks ago, I had the privilege of going to the state capital in Madison for EXPO’s Empathy Day of Action. We spent the day learning from EXPO leaders, senators, and representatives on Unlock the Vote and AJR 107. Using the information we learned, we got to have conversations with our legislators, representatives, and their staff. We met with those who voted in favor of AJR 107 which is a constitutional amendment that was created after the Waukesha parade tragedy. 
One of the women who joined us was Felicia Turner-Walton, who is the CEO and Founder of Healing Our Hearts. This is a non-profit based out of Madison that provides support to those that have experienced loss. This organization is committed to providing an understanding of grief that is centered around black and brown communities. 
Join the Transformational Justice Campaign leaders of EXPO and WISDOM for a 5-part Zoom series on mass incarceration in Wisconsin.
