The order puts a “moratorium” on prisoner intake for DOC’s prisons and juvenile detention facilities, with the exception of the temporary detention of those on probation, parole or extended supervision. All internal transfers of prisoners within DOC are also suspended except for “essential transfers,” Neal said Saturday.
The DOC secretary has the power to lift the moratorium at any time.In a statement, Evers and DOC Secretary Kevin Carr said the decision “was made out of an abundance of caution” to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
Under the order, any defendant who is sentenced to prison will be held in a county jail instead of being transferred to one of DOC’s more than 30 prison facilities across the state.Neal said most individuals who violate probation and parole rules would also go to the county jails, but some would go to a DOC facility in Milwaukee that is specifically for felons who violate their supervision terms. It is the only such DOC facility.
Source: Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers halting prison admissions to prevent COVID-19 spread | Crime | madison.com