Hmmmm....something doesn't quite add up there. I did time in NC, and when I went to intake (or processing) I was in a dorm. Now although each state is different, I want to first establish that there is overcrowding in almost every state...including NC.

So if I was asked if this was the regular protocol of Wisconsin prisons, I would initially disagree. I cannot believe that the common practice of Wisconsin DOC is to lock all new inmates for 23 and a half hours a day, for 16 weeks. Somethng isn't quite right about that.

Now, I might agree that if you are sent to a max, or close custody prison, that MIGHT be the case, or if the state has problems with gangs in prison, it MIGHT be the case. But I am not sure that a lower security level inmate would be subjected to isolation conditions without cause. I can see if an inmate is there for a violent offense, or has been known to cause trouble, but in intake you are almost starting from zero...especially a first time offender.

If you can, check on this, see if ALL Wisconsin prisons do this, I have to wager that this is not the case, but I will agree that some prisons do this, depending on the security level of the inmate. I am not saying you are wrong, not at all, but I am saying that for an entire prison system to use this practice seems way out of hand. Maybe someone else can help you on this question.

Thanks for the comments. Hes there for probation violations no new crime. And what he told me in our short phone call was that usually people are only there for 4-6 weeks but with WI overcrowding it is taking more like 12 weeks. And at most he should be going to a medium security at most not maximum. He was on probation for disorderly conduct and after 2 years probation was revoked on multiple probation violations breaking curfew, driving without a license but no new criminal charges. So do you think I should call Dodge or WI DOC. Cuz from what I've found out so far this is where all prisoners go at first from minium to maxium. But the process is taking longer due to the overcrowding. Thanks for any inout.

when my son get to intake he will be lockdown 23 hrs a day for a min 4 to 6 weeks thats the way they do it in ok. right now they are moving him to different counties until there is a space. i heard there are 1500 people waiting for a 200 person intake

My friend K was at intake for about 6 weeks and locked down in his cell 23 hrs a day. Hang in there. This is the roughest time and letters are very important.

4everhopeful, I was kinda cautious about the info, and you asked if anybody knew more about it. When I read this, I was pretty sure that it wasn't totally accurate, and wanted to try to see if I could shed a little light on this. Now I say to most people, there are some misinformed lines of info when it comes to incarceration. Some folks believe that many inmates, when they go to intake, are put in a cell for 23 hrs a day, for weeks on end....folks, this is the excpetion, NOT the rule.

I looked up Wisconsin prisons, and found that Dodge Correctional Institution was the reception, or intake prison for your state. And you are right, they are currently having an influx of inmates. From what I looked up, Dodge normally houses about 1100 inmates, but at the time they had swelled up to abut 1600. If I am correct, it is indeed a max security, so dorm rooms would be rare, possibly they might have double bunks.

But the idea of being in a cell 23 hrs a day is questionble. I looked up some info on it, and found that some say that the first 3 days at Dodge they are likely on lockdown, but after that they are probably moved to general population.

Now don't get this twisted, I am not saying that NOBODY is in intake under lockdown, but I will debate with almost anybody that very few prisons operate with every inmate on lockdown. Consider that this means that inmates have to shower, have to eat, and still have to be able to move around if the prison wants to keep the mentality of the prison generally safe.

Dodge Correctional is also moving inmates around, to other county jails, because of the influx of inmates. Now, because of this, one can see how a person might be in a cell for 23 and a half hours a day, because most county jails hold inmates in longer than prisons. Between prison and jail, prisons give inmates MUCH more freedom on the yard than jails.

If you asked me if I honestly thougth your loved one would be on lockdown for 4 to 16 weeks, I would say no way....none at all UNLESS he was in for a major violent charge, or broke some rules and was put in isolation. Because of the overcrowding, I would guess that he might spend a LITTLE time in lockdown, but certainly not a month...let alone 4 months. When prisons get overcrowded, they usually send the overflow to county jails, or make deals with out of state prisons to ship them there.

To put your mind at ease I would email or mail the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, I am very sure they can give you a solid answer on this. But as a guy that did time, regardless of the state, I honestly don't believe they would put an inmate under such intense isolation for such a long period of time. CAN he be put on iso, sure, especially when first entering the prison system. CAN he be on lockdown for a few days, sure. But a MONTH? Not unless his charge was very violent, or he broke some prison rules. And the idea of the 23 hours is the minimum an inmate should have as far as exercise.... even in max prisons many inmates are on the yard longer than that. Some prisons the yard is open as many as 3 times a day, for about 2 hrs at a time.

I am not saying I have the gospel on this, but I am implying that the extremes of his incarceration may not be as bad as you think. No time in prison is easy, but unless there are paticular and specific elements to his incarceration, most inmates would not be subjected to such extremes for such a long period of time, unless there was a clear and present danger in the prison, such as gangs or a hostage situation, or if there was word on the camp that someone had some drugs or dangerous weapon. Then they would lock down the camp until they found what they were looking for. But lockdowns are dangerous to the prisn itself because if you supress the inmates too long, they will start to get stressed... and stressed inmates make for violent inmates.

Hope that helps, but if you can, email the WI DOC, I am sure they can give you more direct answers. Hang in there ok?

It's happens... I went to Soledad prison in California years ago, and when we got there, they sent us straight to the hole! Not for punishment, but that's just where they put new arrivals. We were there for a week at least, 23 hours a day in the cell. And the sent to a unit, where we were housed in the TV room they made into a dorm because of over crowding... after about a month I finally got to a cell for like 7 months, my custody level dropped and then I was moved to the biggest dorm I have ever seen, the gymnasium. 300 inmates were housed there... it was literally like a small city. circa 1986 The over crowding situation is bad all over the country, male, female and juvenile facilities.