Browsing: Law Enforcement

Milwaukee is among the cities that have repeatedly cut law enforcement positions in recent years.

Not only has the city reduced the number of authorized police positions, it has fewer officers to fill them, leading to higher vacancy rates. This inability to fill what remaining positions the city is funding includes leadership ranks: The Milwaukee Police Department is facing a damaging loss of institutional knowledge and practical skills, a loss that could worsen policing just when Milwaukee needs its force to perform at its peak.

Wisconsin’s crime trends in essence reveal two different states: the city of Milwaukee (and other select urban areas) and the “Rest of Wisconsin.” While most of the state is relatively safe in comparison to five years ago, troubling trends in Milwaukee — one of the primary economic engines of the Badger State and home to 10% of its citizens — are undermining the health and safety of the state in general.

The Badger Institute today released four new reports as part of a Mandate for Madison crime and public safety package.

For the people who need it most — poor residents of Milwaukee, families and victims of particularly violent crimes like homicide and aggravated assault throughout the state, children in schools where politicians won’t allow police, and almost anyone awaiting a verdict — Wisconsin’s criminal justice system is failing.

Students in Milwaukee’s public high schools who want a better life and know that school is their only way up are being battered, assaulted and exposed to gunfire or other reckless conduct on a daily basis.

Criminals are emboldened if they think they won’t get caught

Survey solicits opinions on health care, crime, occupational licensing, and other issues.

Unless kids are killed or maimed, gun battles at school are just police blotter items.

Pulling cops out of public schools was a crazy idea.

Four Badger Institute police reform recommendations have been signed into law

A proposal to enhance public credibility

These bipartisan, even-handed measures will provide better data, accountability

Reforms recommended by Badger Institute will increase transparency, work opportunities

The new age of electronic monitoring

Badger Institute Policy Analyst Julie Grace testified in favor of 2021 SB 120, SB 122, and SB 123 before the Wisconsin Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety on March 18, 2021.

2021 SB 120, SB 122, and SB 123 would increase transparency among law enforcement use-of-force policies and incidents.

By Patrick Hughes and Julie Grace Police use of force has sparked an intense debate across America, including in our…

Brief suggests ways to make officer discipline fair, quick, transparent and decisive

Cutting cops unnecessarily to placate protesters will do nothing to help George Floyd or Jacob Blake

The state labels thousands of offenders violent when they’ve never committed an act of violence

A cop’s toughest call: if and when to use force to apprehend a suspect