Alert DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS | CONTRABAND Department of Corrections stops nonprofit from sending free books to Wisconsin inmates ANNA HANSEN Sep 20, 2024 Sep 20, 2024 Updated Apr 2, 2025 × Left behind bars: COVID devastated prison learning programs Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save For the third time since 2008, a Wisconsin nonprofit dedicated to sending books to inmates has been barred from the state’s facilities.kAm(:D4@?D:? q@@<D E@ !C:D@?6CD H2D 7@C>65 :? E96 72== @7 a__e E9C@F89 |25:D@?’D #2:?3@H q@@<DE@C6] %92E J62C[ E96 G@=F?E66C\CF? ?@?AC@7:E DE2CE65 D9:AA:?8 E96 7:CDE @7 >@C6 E92? f_[___ 3@@<D E@ E96 DE2E6’D :?>2E6D F?56C E96 s~r’D 25>:?:DEC2E:G6 4@56 8F:56=:?6D C682C5:?8 >2:=[ 244@C5:?8 E@ (q%! 4@\7@F?56C r2>J |2EE92J]k^AmkAmpD @7 pF8FDE[ E9@F89[ (q%!’D 677@CED 92G6 366? 92=E65]k^Am kAmx? 2? 6>2:= 52E65 pF8] `e[ s~r p5>:?:DEC2E@C $2C29 r@@A6C E@=5 (q%! @77:4:2=D E92E E96 s~r 92D D66? “>2?J :?DE2?46D” @7 5CF8D 4@>:?8 :?E@ 724:=:E:6D G:2 >2:=[ AF3=:42E:@?D 2?5 3@@<D E92E 2AA62C E@ 36 4@>:?8 7C@> =68:E:>2E6 D6?56CD DF49 2D 49:=5 DFAA@CE 286?4:6D[ E96 x#$[ E96 (:D4@?D:? !F3=:4 s676?56C’D ~77:46[ E96 s6A2CE>6?E @7 yFDE:46 2?5 :?5:G:5F2= 2EE@C?6JD]k^Am People are also reading… Two retired Walworth County sheriff's officers hired to Lake Geneva Police Department Big things expected at new small course How 'Mr. Brightside' and an intermission reset kept Wisconsin women's hockey's season alive Look Ahead: Gary Con, fundraiser to help animals & a Balloon Adventure begins in Lake Geneva Wisconsin Department of Transportation to host meeting about upcoming road improvement project New Visit Lake Geneva partner has the right look and feel for special events Head-on crash in Burlington on Wednesday afternoon leaves one dead Experienced captains to lead team, freshmen fight for varsity innings in upcoming season. Band, fans welcome Wisconsin women's hockey players arriving for Frozen Four Look Ahead: Maple Fest plus plenty of live music, comedy & more this weekend in Lake Geneva Polzin: Greatness remains out of reach for Greg Gard and Wisconsin men's basketball MLB Free Agency: Tarik Skubal could set more contract records next offseason How to watch, stream, listen to Wisconsin men's basketball's NCAA Tournament opener Lake Geneva school district set to implement updated facilities and grade configuration plan Mendota Marsh: War! What is it good for? kAm%96 s~r’D 4@?46C?D 5@?’E DE6> 7C@> (q%! :ED6=7[ 3FE C2E96C H:E9 A6@A=6 H9@ >:89E :>:E2E6 E96 (q%! G:2 3@@< >2:= — 325 24E@CD EC277:4<:?8 :? 5CF8D F?56C E96 8F:D6 @7 5:DEC:3FE:?8 =:E6C2EFC6]k^Am kAm“~G6C E96 =2DE D6G6C2= J62CD[ s~r 92D 925 E@ E2<6 255:E:@?2=[ :>A@CE2?E DE6AD E@ 6?DFC6 E96 D276EJ @7 @FC :?DE:EFE:@?D[ :?4=F5:?8 255C6DD:?8 5CF8D 6?E6C:?8 @FC 724:=:E:6D G:2 A2A6C 7C@> A6CD@?2= =6EE6CD[ =682= >2:=[ 2?5 3@@<D[ 2>@?8 @E96C >2E6C:2=D[” s~r DA@<6DA6CD@? q6E9 w2C5E<6 D2:5 :? 2? 6>2:= %9FCD52J]k^Am kAmq25 24E@CD :? (:D4@?D:? 2?5 6=D6H96C6 92G6 6IA=@:E65 @E96CH:D6 A@D:E:G6 AC@8C2>D E92E C6=J @? 5@?2E:@?D 7C@> E96 AF3=:4 2?5 92G6 9:DE@C:42==J DFAA@CE65 A6@A=6 :? 4@CC64E:@?2= D6EE:?8D[ D96 D2:5] “#646?E=J[ 7@C 6I2>A=6[ 5@?2E65 3@@<D 92G6 366? 2>@?8 >2E6C:2=D E92E 92G6 E6DE65 A@D:E:G6 7@C 5CF8D]”k^Am k9amsCF8D >2<:?8 E96:C H2J :?E@ AC:D@?Dk^9amkAmsCF8D 92G6 366? 2 D:8?:7:42?E AC@3=6> :? (:D4@?D:?’D AC:D@?D] x? |2C49[ 2>:5 2 DEC:?8 @7 562E9D 2E (2FAF? r@CC64E:@?2= x?DE:EFE:@?[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^H:D4@?D:?\AC:D@?\:?G6DE:82E:@?\=@4<5@H?\562E9D\``a4a34d6ed5he53dach4h3c6aaa2ed_Qmv@G] %@?J tG6CD 2??@F?465 2 7656C2= AC@36 :?E@ 2? 2AA2C6?E D>F88=:?8 @A6C2E:@?k^2m :?G@=G:?8 AC:D@? 6>A=@J66D]k^AmkAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^H:D4@?D:?\AC:D@?\562E9\H2C56?\ca2fecd6ah5g7464e3734eh6egbb55f2UR_bhjQmu:G6 :?>2E6Dk^2m 2E (2FAF? 92G6 5:65 D:?46 yF?6 a_ab[ @?6 @7 H9@> H2D <:==65 3J 2 76?E2?J= @G6C5@D6] }62C=J 2 5@K6? (2FAF? r@CC64E:@?2= x?DE:EFE:@? 6>A=@J66D 92G6 366? DFDA6?565] }:?6 6>A=@J66D[ :?4=F5:?8 2 7@C>6C H2C56?[ 7246 2 =:E2?J @7 492C86D]k^Am kAm%96 s~r 92D 56G6=@A65 ?6H AC@E@4@=D 7@C 5:DEC:3FE:?8 >2:= E@ E9H2CE H@F=5\36 :>:E2E@CD 2?5 E96:C 677@CED E@ 5:DEC:3FE6 5CF8D] x>A=6>6?E65 :? a_a`[ 4FCC6?E A6CD@?2= >2:= A@=:4:6D 5:4E2E6 E92E 2== >2:= 92D E@ 36 6=64EC@?:42==J D42??65] p55:E:@?2==J[ =682= >2:= :D 36:?8 G6EE65 >@C6 42C67F==J[ 56E2:=D 2?5 D6?56CD’ ?2>6D 36:?8 42C67F==J :?DA64E65 3J AC:D@? DE277]k^Am Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts k9am}@E E96 7:CDE E:>6k^9amkAm(q%! H2D 7:CDE 32CC65 3J E96 s~r :? |2J a__g[ H96? @77:4:2=D 4:E65 4@?46C?D 23@FE 4@?EC232?5[ 3FE E96 @C82?:K2E:@? H2D =6E 324< :? :? 62C=J }@G6>36C E92E J62C H:E9 E96 AC@G:D:@? E92E @?=J ?6H 3@@<D H@F=5 36 2446AE65] x? a__h[ s~r @77:4:2=D 56?:65 2 A@CE:@? @7 2? p>6C:42? r:G:= {:36CE:6D &?:@? C64@C5D C6BF6DE D66<:?8 6G:56?46 @7 2?J 4@?EC232?5 36:?8 7@F?5 :? 3@@<D D9:AA65 E@ AC:D@?D[ |2EE92J D2:5]k^Am kAmp7E6C E92E :?:E:2= E6>A@C2CJ 32?[ (q%! 4@?E:?F65 7F=7:==:?8 :?>2E6D’ 3@@< C6BF6DED F?E:= E96 @C82?:K2E:@? H2D 282:? 32??65 3J E96 s~r :? a_`g] %92E 32? H2D @G6CEFC?65 3J E96 s~r H:E9:? 52JD[ 2?5 2E E92E E:>6 E96 AC@;64E H2D 8:G6? 6IA=:4:E 2AAC@G2= E@ D6?5 FD65 3@@<D W2D H6== 2D ?6H 3@@<DX[ 2D =@?8 2D E96J H6C6 4=62? 4@A:6D 7C66 @7 F?56C=:?:?8[ 9:89=:89E:?8[ :>AC:?ED[ >:=56H[ H2E6C 52>286 @C @E96C 7=2HD]k^AmkAm(q%! C6>2:?65 2? 2AAC@G65 G6?5@C[ C6277:C>65 3J DF3D6BF6?E D64FC:EJ 49:67D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ |2EE92J[ F?E:= y2?F2CJ a_ac] x? u63CF2CJ[ E96 s~r C6277:C>65 :ED 32? @? FD65 3@@<D[ 4:E:?8 4@?46C?D @G6C DAC2J65\@? ?2C4@E:4D 2?5 @E96C :==:4:E DF3DE2?46D :? FD65 3@@<D] (q%! 4@?E:?F65 D6?5:?8 3@@<D 2?5 2AA62=65 E96 FD65 3@@< 32? :? |2J]k^Am k9am!2CE @7 C6923:=:E2E:@?k^9amkAm|@:C2 |2CBF:D 7@F?565 !C:D@? q2??65 q@@<D (66<[ 2? :?:E:2E:G6 2:>65 2E 2:5:?8 :?>2E6D’ 2446DD E@ =:E6C2EFC6 2?5 @E96C 65F42E:@?2= >2E6C:2=D] ~? %9FCD52J[ |2CBF:D 42==65 E96 s~r’D C6A62E65 32CC:?8 @7 E96 (q%! “2?E:E96E:42=” E@ E96 56A2CE>6?E’D AFCA@CE65 >:DD:@? @7 C6923:=:E2E:@?]k^Am kAmp>@?8 E96 >@DE C6BF6DE65 @7 (q%!’D =:3C2CJ 2C6 E:E=6D @? :?5FDECJi 7:?5:?8 H@C< :? E96 EC256D[ DE2CE:?8 2 3FD:?6DD[ 6?EC6AC6?6FCD9:A] xE :D?’E ;FDE C64C62E:@?2= =:E6C2EFC6 E96 :?>2E6D 2C6 =@D:?8[ |2EE92J D2:5]k^Am kAm“!6@A=6 :?D:56 2C6 G6CJ ?6CG@FD 23@FE E96:C C6=62D6 2?5 H92E E96J’C6 8@:?8 E@ 5@ 2?5 2C6 E96J BF2=:7:65 7@C E9:?8D[ 2?5 E96J’C6 ?@E 36:?8 @776C65 6?@F89 C6D@FC46D[” |2CBF:D D2:5] “w@H >F49 6?6C8J 2?5 E:>6 5@6D 2? 2==\G@=F?E66C ?@?AC@7:E ?665 E@ DA6?5 E@ ;FDE 2C8F6 H:E9 E96 DE2E6 :?DE:EFE:@? E92E E96J 92G6 2 C:89E E@ 5@ H92E E96:C >:DD:@? :Dn”k^Am kAmx?>2E6D 5@ 92G6 2446DD E@ D@>6 E:E=6D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ w2C5E<6] x? 255:E:@? E@ E96 =:3C2C:6D >2:?E2:?65 3J 6249 AC:D@?[ E96 56A2CE>6?E A2CE?6CD H:E9 65F42E:@?2= :?DE:EFE:@?D 2?5 AC@8C2>D E92E AC@G:56 E6IE3@@<D 2?5 @E96C C625:?8 >2E6C:2=D] %96 56A2CE>6?E :D 2=D@ H@C<:?8 @? E96 :?EC@5F4E:@? @7 7C66 6=64EC@?:4 E23=6ED E92E H:== 2==@H :?>2E6D E@ 2446DD 6\3@@<D[ w2CE5<6 D2:5]k^Am kAm“%96 s6A2CE>6?E @7 r@CC64E:@?D Ws~rX 7F==J DFAA@CED E96 65F42E:@?2= 8@2=D 2?5 2DA:C2E:@?D @7 A6CD@?D :? @FC 42C6 2?5 36=:6G6D :? E96 A@H6C @7 C625:?8 E@ 492?86 =:G6D 2?5 2:5 :? C6923:=:E2E:@?[” D96 D2:5]k^AmkAm|2EE92J :D =@@<:?8 :?E@ H2JD 2C@F?5 E96 32?] !C@G:5:?8 EC24<:?8 ?F>36CD 7@C 6249 3@@< A2C46= (q%! D6?5D :D @?6 :562]k^Am kAm“xE’D ;FDE F?7@CEF?2E6 E92E 2 76H 325 24E@CD 2C6 AC6G6?E:?8 E9@FD2?5D @7 AC:D@?6CD 7C@> 86EE:?8 3@@<D[” |2EE92J D2:5] “%96C6’D 8@:?8 E@ 36 2 =@E @7 5:D2AA@:?E65 A6@A=6[ 2 =@E @7 C62==J 5:D2AA@:?E65 A6@A=6]”k^Am Locations Madison Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Left behind bars: COVID devastated prison learning programs Left behind bars: COVID devastated prison learning programs Rehab on hold: COVID devastated prison learning programs In a nation that incarcerates roughly 2 million people, the coronavirus pandemic was a nightmare for prisons. The highly contagious virus disr… OUR VIEW: Don't let the cost of Wisconsin's prisons dodge scrutiny Candidates in the Nov. 5 election need to offer solutions Madison woman arrested in 2022 overdose death of Waupun inmate An autopsy of the inmate turned up latex balloons filled with a suspected mixture of cocaine and fentanyl, according to a statement from Dodge… 12-year-old Darlington girl cited after crashing vehicle in Lafayette County, authorities say The girl was taken to the hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening, authorities said. Wisconsin prisons agree to help hearing-impaired inmates under settlement The Wisconsin Department of Corrections has agreed to provide more help to hearing-impaired inmates as part of a settlement with federal inves… As Wisconsin prisons crack down on drug smuggling, not even paper is safe On Saturday, a Waupun Correctional Institution employee was hospitalized and treated with Narcan after trying to intercept a drug-laden piece … Wary of governor's prison proposal, Assembly speaker says Republicans will draft own plan Robin Vos said he's open to spending up to $2 billion to revamp the prison system, including demolishing the Green Bay Correctional Institutio… Watch Now: Related Video WisEye Morning Minute: Assembly Speaker Robin Vos on Surplus Deal Direction of Middle East War Unclear Amid Mixed Messages Direction of Middle East War Unclear Amid Mixed Messages Iran threatens world tourism sites and says it's still building missiles - AP explains AP Iran threatens world tourism sites and says it's still building missiles - AP explains Top stories for March 20, 2026 Top stories for March 20, 2026
Left behind bars: COVID devastated prison learning programs Left behind bars: COVID devastated prison learning programs
Rehab on hold: COVID devastated prison learning programs In a nation that incarcerates roughly 2 million people, the coronavirus pandemic was a nightmare for prisons. The highly contagious virus disr…
OUR VIEW: Don't let the cost of Wisconsin's prisons dodge scrutiny Candidates in the Nov. 5 election need to offer solutions
Madison woman arrested in 2022 overdose death of Waupun inmate An autopsy of the inmate turned up latex balloons filled with a suspected mixture of cocaine and fentanyl, according to a statement from Dodge…
12-year-old Darlington girl cited after crashing vehicle in Lafayette County, authorities say The girl was taken to the hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening, authorities said.
Wisconsin prisons agree to help hearing-impaired inmates under settlement The Wisconsin Department of Corrections has agreed to provide more help to hearing-impaired inmates as part of a settlement with federal inves…
As Wisconsin prisons crack down on drug smuggling, not even paper is safe On Saturday, a Waupun Correctional Institution employee was hospitalized and treated with Narcan after trying to intercept a drug-laden piece …
Wary of governor's prison proposal, Assembly speaker says Republicans will draft own plan Robin Vos said he's open to spending up to $2 billion to revamp the prison system, including demolishing the Green Bay Correctional Institutio…
