Administration of Justice
Positions taken by LWV Dane County
Juvenile Detention Dane County [adopted 1976; reviewed 2003]
Support of:
Principle of juvenile detention primarily as a holding function with secure detention to be used only for those who pose a serious threat to themselves or others or who are likely to run away prior to adjudication, with a diversification of nonsecure facilities to be provided for all others
Improved care for all children detained, separated from the adult population, including protection, medical care and a full range of activities
An adequate number of well-trained personnel at all levels, including professionally qualified intake workers available around the clock
Dane County Jail [adopted 1976; reviewed 2003]
Support of the following principles in treating those persons incarcerated in the Dane County Jail:
Basic human needs should be met. Specifically, an individual incarcerated in the jail should have an adequate diet, security of person, medical care, sanitary conditions, privacy and religious freedom.
A program of rehabilitation activities which will seek further to avoid criminalization and facilitate reentry into society should be provided. Such activities should include: access to legal counsel, counseling as necessary, and access to family in suitable facilities for visiting. Recreational activities should be available and should include opportunities for exercise. Inmates of the jail should have access to the community in the form of resource persons and work release with educational programs and opportunities being made available both inside and outside the jail.
Equality of opportunity for inmates of both sexes should be guaranteed.
Recent LWVDC Statements, Studies, and Position Updates
Statement to City of Madison Civilian Police Oversight Board (August 29, 2024) Recommending that the council consider more organizations from whom the PCOB could seek nominations for new members.
Statement to City of Madison Civilian Police Oversight Board (July 27, 2023) Urging timely and complete notice and agendas for PCOB and subcommittee meetings.
Email to City of Madison Police Civilian Oversight Board (June 29, 2022) Urging accelerated schedule for summary of community conversations.
Email to City of Madison Police Civilian Oversight Board (January 5, 2022) Supporting expansive interpretation of PCOB’s special rules concerning public comment.
Email to City of Madison Police Civilian Oversight Board (September 15, 2021) Supporting inclusion of policy questions in PCOB facilitated community discussions.
Email to City of Madison Police Civilian Oversight Board (April 12, 2021) Urging better documentation of agenda items and decisions. Follow-up email (June 7, 2021)
Email to all City of Madison Police Civilian Oversight Board (January 11, 2021) Suggestions concerning Special Rules for the Police Civilian Oversight Board Meetings.
Email to City of Madison Equal Opportunities Commission (August 13, 2020) supporting ordinances establishing Civilian Oversight Board and Independent Monitor. The same email was adapted and sent to the Madison Public Safety Review Committee (August 10, 2020 & August 25, 2020, Madison Common Council Executive Committee (August 26, 2020), Madison Common Council (August 31, 2020)
Email to all City of Madison alders (August 4, 2020) supporting referral of Police Oversight ordinances to appropriate city committees.
Email to Common Council Executive Committee (August 4, 2020) We urge the CCEC to place on file some outdated ordinance drafts that would delay consideration of police reform.
Email to City of Madison alders (July 29, 2020). We urge the Alder Workgroup for MPD Civilian Oversight to follow the recommendations of the Ad Hoc Committee in establishing the membership of the Civilian Oversight Board, instead of constructing a complex process which we believe will add confusion and delay in establishing the Board.
Email to City of Madison alders (June 15, 2020). We urge the members of the Council to support a resolution which creates a workgroup to develop ordinance and procedures creating Independent Civilian Oversight of the Madison Police Department.
Email to City of Madison Finance Committee (June 9, 2020). We urge the members of the Finance Committee to support a resolution which creates a workgroup to develop an ordinance and procedures creating Independent Civilian Oversight of the Madison Police Department.
Email to City of Madison mayor and Finance Committee (October 21, 2019). We urge the members of the Finance Committee to defeat the amendment to the 2020 City budget which would delete funding for the police auditor.
Email to City of Madison mayor and all alders concerning Police Policy and Procedure Review Ad Hoc Committee (July 29, 2019). We support the recommendation for an independent monitor and a civilian oversight board for the City of Madison Police Department.
Statement to Madison Common Council concerning the final report of the Madison Police Department Policy and Procedure Review Ad Hoc Committee (October 30, 2018). We urged the council to fund a service contract for a final report of the committee to be written.
Statement to the Madison Police Department Policy and Procedure Review Ad Hoc Committee (July 26, 2018). We urged the committee to request that staff track the committee’s decisions as it develops its report to the Common Council, so that the committee and the public can see what the committee is deciding.
Letter to the Dane County Board concerning the Dane County jail and related items (October 30, 2017).
Letter to Dane County Executive Joe Parisi about funding a restoration center (July 28, 2017).
Statement presented to the joint meeting of the Public Protection and Judiciary and the Health and Human Needs Committees of the Dane County Board of Supervisors regarding plans for the Dane County Jail (June 6, 2017).
The League presented a statement to the City of Madison Public Safety Review Committee on May 9, 2017, and also to the Equal Opportunities Commission on May 11, 2017, supporting the report of the President's Work Group on Police and Community Relations. A slightly modified version was presented to the Madison Common Council on May 17, 2017. This statement was based on state league positions on Law Enforcement “Support of: Law enforcement policy locally developed by cooperative efforts of citizens and law enforcement agencies using state guidelines, but reflecting local needs.” and Equal Rights “Support for equal rights for all regardless of race, color. . .disability. . ." and on national positions on Social Policy: “Secure equal rights and equal opportunity for all. Promote social and economic justice, and the health and safety of all Americans.”
Statement to the Madison Common Council supporting the proposed review of Madison Police Policies and Procedures. This statement was based on state positions on law enforcement and equal rights, and national positions on Social Policy: “Promote social and economic justice, and the health and safety of all Americans.” (June 7, 2016)