Inside Green Bay Correctional Institution: A Glimpse into the Challenges Faced by Correctional Officers
At any given time, the Green Bay Correctional Institution houses roughly 1,000 inmates, with around 90% of them classified as violent criminals. Maintaining order within these walls falls on the shoulders of correctional officers a job described by those with experience as one that few can endure, according to the report of NBC 26.
Former Green Bay Correctional Officer Denis O’Neill Shares Harrowing Experiences: Surviving Assaults and Challenges
Denis O’Neill, a former officer with 25 years of service at Green Bay Correctional provides a stark perspective on the job’s challenges. “Your first week as a rookie you go in and you’re told within 5 years you’ll either be divorced an alcoholic, or both,” he recalls. O’Neill’s tenure outlasted many with some rookies leaving within their first week. His career ended after a 2015 attack by inmate James Luke, who assaulted a prison psychologist. O’Neill intervened, resulting in a violent confrontation where he sustained three head cuts and a concussion. “That was quite a day,” he said, reflecting on the incident.
(photo: WBAY)
Over 100 Staff Assaults Revealed in Public Records After Denis O’Neill’s Departure
Such violent encounters are not rare at Green Bay Correctional. A public records request revealed over 100 reports of inmate assaults on staff within three years after O’Neill’s departure. One incident involved two inmates injuring an officer to prompt a transfer to a different prison. In another, an inmate’s altercation with officers escalated to him throwing an ice bucket, causing a concussion. A judge later extended the inmate’s sentence, acknowledging the harsh realities faced by prison staff.
100 Staff Assaults Revealed, DOC Reports Decline in Incidents Amid Increased Staffing
These assaults span a range of violent actions from spitting to more severe attacks. NBC 26 sought an interview with the Department of Corrections (DOC) regarding the violence but was declined due to a new warden’s recent appointment. Instead, the DOC provided a statement emphasizing their commitment to safety and noting a decrease in assaults, from 74 reports in 2015 to 27 in 2019, attributing this decline to increased staffing levels.
Over 100 Staff Assaults, Declining Incidents, and Debates on Prison Closure Amid Criminal Justice Reforms
The state had considered replacing the aging facility, with funds allocated in the state budget for land acquisition. However, Governor Evers vetoed this, citing ongoing explorations into necessary criminal justice reforms in Wisconsin. Marianne Boyle Rohloff and her advocacy team are pushing to close Green Bay Correctional without constructing a new prison, proposing that other facilities could be repurposed and emphasizing treatment alternatives to reduce inmate numbers.
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Persistent Violence in Wisconsin’s 120-Year-Old Prison
Renovating the 120-year-old prison is another option though it could cost hundreds of millions of dollars. As the debate over the facility’s future continues, the century-old institution remains operational, enduring ongoing violence and aging infrastructure. “Anyone is capable of assault, anyone is capable of stirring up trouble,” O’Neill concluded, underscoring the relentless challenges faced by those working within one of Wisconsin’s most dangerous prisons.
