MADISON, WI – (WGBW & WISS) – Local officials, state lawmakers, and concerned citizens asked for the closure of Green Bay Correctional Institution (GBCI) at a roundtable discussion in Madison on Tuesday.

The prison opened in 1898 in Allouez. It is 126 years old. Jim Rafter, President of the Village of Allouez said there are many reasons to close the facility; financial, operational; age, and disrepair of the building and the inhumane conditions contained within.

“It is time for Green Bay Correctional Institution to close. The facility has exhausted its lifespan and cannot provide those inside with the tools necessary to navigate a return to society,” said Rafter. “It is unsafe for the guards, the individuals housed there, and the community where it resides.”

Rafter said the maximum security prison has been on what is called “Modified Movement” since June of 2023. That means that the inmates must stay in their cells. They are only allowed out for recreation for 1 hour per week. Much of the prison is housing two people per cells that were designed for single occupancy.

The time is now

Representative David Steffen (R-Green Bay) said two massive independent studies (in 2009 and 2020) commissioned by two different governors and two different parties said GBCI needs to be closed.

“GCBI is unstable. It is unhealthy. It is unsafe. And it’s unsustainable. We can’t be continuing this path,” said Steffen.

Steffen said now is the time to commit to closing GBCI.

“It is in a dire state, and it is waiting for a major issue to happen,” Steffen said. “Here’s one of the challenges. Most of the solutions that are being discussed and will be discussed either today or in the future take years in the making. So we have to be proactive.”

Brown County Sheriff Todd Delain echoed the sentiments of Steffen. If the legislature and governor vote to close GBCI in the next budget, it will still take years to complete.

“This is a long process. And as we have heard before, this has already gone on for eight years,” said Delain. “If we don’t do something in the state of Wisconsin soon, it’s going to very quickly be another 8 years. And we can’t continue down this path.”

Rafter says that the future of GBCI lies now in the hands of 133 people in the state; members of the State Assembly, State Senate, and Governor Tony Evers.

“Now it’s up to the state. Now it’s up to our legislators. It’s up to the governor to do the right thing. And for all of the reasons that we’ve heard; to close it,” said Rafter.

The panel also included Brown County Executive Troy Streckbach, Steve Warner of Joshua, a faith-based social justice group, former inmate Dante Cottingham, family members of inmates, architects, and more.

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