La Crosse County is located on the Mississippi River in southwest Wisconsin and has a population of 112,627. The city of La Crosse accounts for both the majority of arrests and the majority of service provision in the county. The La Crosse County Jail has a capacity of 211 with an average daily population of 187 (January – July 2009). A jail addition is scheduled to be opened in 2010 with a net increase of 58 beds focusing on direct supervision and jail programming linked to community based programming. For inmates incarcerated for more than 15 days, on average; 19% are sentenced, 48% are pre-trial, 31% are holds by the Department of Corrections, and approximately 2% are awaiting transport to prison or other miscellaneous reasons.
The La Crosse County Board of Supervisors has devoted a substantial amount of local resources to correctional programming, but it continuously seeks to improve the services to people inside and outside of the jail based on evidence based practices. In 2005, after considerable discussion and review, La Crosse County eliminated its work release facility after realizing the cost of operating a separate facility for a low risk population could be better used toward enhanced utilization of electronic monitoring, operating the secure jail facility, and further enhancing programs and services for inmates and people being released from the jail. As the services are not seamless, the Transition from Jail to Community Initiative will provide expertise and guidance to promote programs that reduce recidivism and aid in developing a safer community. County Board Chair Steve Doyle states "Receiving the Transition from Jail to Community technical assistance will help La Crosse County streamline services to incarcerated people as they leave the jail, in turn reducing recidivism which enhances community safety".
La Crosse has implemented some targeted intervention strategies such as a Drug Treatment Court, OWI Treatment Court and the Women's Community Based Program, and the courts have been utilizing the principles of Limited Risk Management to use resources in the most effective way. La Crosse is well-positioned to use TJC to leverage potential collaborative partnerships and enhance the jail transition work. According to Sheriff Steve Helgeson, "La Crosse County continues to work toward expanding inmate services to provide a safer jail environment for staff and inmates, and a safer community upon their release. We look forward to working with community organizations in maximizing the network of supports for former inmates".
For further information, please contact Jane Klekamp @ klekamp.jane@co.la-crosse.wi.us or at 608 785-5547.
