Badger InstituteBadger Institute
  • Home
  • Issues
    • Taxes
    • Education
    • Crime & Justice
    • Spending & Accountability
    • Economy & Infrastructure
    • Federalism
    • Licensing
    • Healthcare
    • Civil Society
  • Mandate for Madison
  • Research
  • Magazines
    • Diggings
    • Wisconsin Interest
  • Events
  • Media
    • Podcast
    • Fact Sheets
    • Viewpoints
    • Press Releases
    • Badger in the News
    • Video
    • Audio
    • Testimony
  • About
    • Our Mission
    • Board of Directors
    • Team
    • Visiting Fellows
    • America’s Future
    • Careers
  • Newsletter
  • Donate
  • Contact Us

Subscribe for Updates

Get the latest news and updates from Badger Institute.

What's New

Latest crime figures show a Milwaukee in trouble

March 23, 2023

Wisconsin lawmakers in the dark on broadband

March 16, 2023

The underfunded part of Wisconsin public schooling

March 16, 2023
Facebook Twitter YouTube LinkedIn Instagram
TRENDING:
  • Latest crime figures show a Milwaukee in trouble
  • Wisconsin lawmakers in the dark on broadband
  • The underfunded part of Wisconsin public schooling
  • If we don’t pay for roads, we don’t get mobility
  • Foreseeing the Future of Wisconsin’s Flat Tax
  • Wisconsin voters will be asked about welfare work requirements
  • A state without convictions
  • Why Wisconsin Needs a Flat Tax and Education Reform
  • Donate
  • Newsletter
  • Contact
Facebook Twitter YouTube LinkedIn Instagram
Badger InstituteBadger Institute
SUPPORT OUR MISSION
  • Issues
    • Taxes
    • Education
    • Crime & Justice
    • Spending & Accountability
    • Economy & Infrastructure
    • Federalism
    • Licensing
    • Healthcare
    • Civil Society
  • Mandate for Madison
  • Research
  • Magazines
    • Diggings
    • Wisconsin Interest
  • Events
  • Media
    • Podcast
    • Fact Sheets
    • Viewpoints
    • Press Releases
    • Badger in the News
    • Video
    • Audio
    • Testimony
  • About
    • Our Mission
    • Board of Directors
    • Team
    • Visiting Fellows
    • America’s Future
    • Careers
Facebook Twitter YouTube LinkedIn
DONATE
Badger InstituteBadger Institute
Home » Corrections and Public Safety » Outstanding Warrants in Milwaukee County
Corrections and Public Safety

Outstanding Warrants in Milwaukee County

By Jean WhiteJune 2, 2000
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest

Fugitives from the justice system

In April of 1997, the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department reported that there were at least 69,189 warrants outstanding. These warrants included bench warrants for failure to appear in Milwaukee County courts, District Attorney Office apprehension requests, and warrants issued by the 18 municipalities surrounding the City of Milwaukee (which the Milwaukee County jail/sheriff’s department processes when the offender is arrested on the warrant).

As of October 31, 1999, there were 49,366 total warrant papers in the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s system. The sharp drop in this number does not necessarily mean that more people are showing up for their court appearances or that the numbers of people being charged with crimes has declined. The number primarily reflects the results of “operation purge,” undertaken by the court and the district attorney’s office to close out warrants for misdemeanants of “victimless crimes” that were seven or more years old. Some 20,000 bench warrants were “purged” in this effort.

Of the 49,366 warrants outstanding at the end of October of 1999, 27,211 were bench warrants — i.e. warrants issued when persons charged with a crime fail to appear for a scheduled court appearance. The nature and extent of this problem comprises the bulk of this report. Sources for data are relatively new, but they indicate that the “system” tries hard to apprehend and put into jail persons who might be a threat to public safety. The criminal justice system’s notification and follow-up process to defendants regarding their scheduled court appearance dates, times, and locations, however, continues to be a problem.

In addition to those individuals who are charged with a crime and who fail to appear in court, and are, therefore “out walking the streets,” the State of Wisconsin Department of Corrections reported in 1998 that there were about 3,800 persons convicted of a crime in Milwaukee County who were “unsupervised” because they had failed to report to the proscribed probation/parole agent.

After all efforts to find the offender have been expended by the agent, the agent (officially the Wisconsin Department of Corrections) may issue an Apprehension Request and Warrant. These are not bench warrants, because they have not been issued by the court, but they are recorded in the State Crime Information Bureau system, which means that the Request for Apprehension is noted in the Milwaukee Sheriff’s Department computerized system as well.

Two programs have been implemented since 1998 to deal with the 3,800 probationers who have failed to appear: the Absconder Unit, and the Rope Unit. The success of both programs relies on the probation/parole agents and Milwaukee County police officers jointly going out into the communities to last known addresses and other locations seeking out the offenders. The Rope Unit deals primarily with high-risk, assaultive individuals, and the Absconder Unit deals with probationers or parolees who have not shown up for regularly scheduled meetings with the probation/parole agents. Both Units are thought to be somewhat successful, although an evaluation audit has been conducted only of the Absconder Unit. There are currently about 3,500 uncontacted and unsupervised individuals in the corrections system, a decrease of about 8% (300 persons) in one year of operation.

There are still issues not being addressed (defendant notification, courthouse accessibility, courtroom locatability), and there are still causes for concern (27,211 outstanding bench warrants, and 3,500 absconders from their pro- bation/parole obligations). The wheels in the criminal justice system grind incredibly slowly, with more excuses than progress usually, although, thanks to the enthusiasm and stamina of some key individuals, some ideas are currently being tried in the courts on a pilot basis.

It is the conclusion of this report, however, that there needs to be a more comprehensive attack on the issues of failure to appear, and that the implementation of a full-time agency, dedicated to tracking and communicating with defendants from their first court appearance until their last, is required. This agency would bear the responsibility of assuring that defendants arrive when they are scheduled to appear, and, if they don’t, would have the authority and creativity to find them and bring them in. Many cities, in most states, have long-term experience with such an agency (often called a pretrial service agency). Milwaukee should cull through the material and knowledge available, and establish a notification/tracking/follow-up agency that meets the criminal justice system’s needs for the 21st century. The community would benefit from having fewer absconders and persons with outstanding bench warrants out on the streets.

Vol13no3Download
Reports
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Telegram Email
Jean White

Related Posts

Latest crime figures show a Milwaukee in trouble

March 23, 2023

Calls to Police from MPS High Schools Up Dramatically Again

February 20, 2023

A state without convictions

January 12, 2023
Categories
Top Posts

Local pols filling old budget holes with massive COVID aid

December 8, 20221,452

This is not four years ago

November 10, 20221,287

A state without convictions

January 12, 2023645

Billions in federal spending in Wisconsin unaudited; results never measured

November 9, 2022491
Archives

Sign Up for Top Picks

Our weekly e-Newsletter with the latest items and updates

Connect with Badger Institute
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
About Us
About Us

The Badger Institute is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit institute established in 1987 working to engage and energize Wisconsinites and others in discussions and timely action on key public policy issues critical to the state’s future, growth and prosperity.

Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube LinkedIn

Sign Up for Top Picks

Our weekly e-Newsletter with the latest items and updates

What’s New

Latest crime figures show a Milwaukee in trouble

March 23, 2023

Wisconsin lawmakers in the dark on broadband

March 16, 2023

The underfunded part of Wisconsin public schooling

March 16, 2023

If we don’t pay for roads, we don’t get mobility

March 9, 2023
© 2023 Badger Institute | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Sitemap

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

This site uses functional cookies and external scripts to improve your experience.

Privacy settings

Privacy Settings

This site uses functional cookies and external scripts to improve your experience. Which cookies and scripts are used and how they impact your visit is specified on the left. You may change your settings at any time. Your choices will not impact your visit.

NOTE: These settings will only apply to the browser and device you are currently using.

CRM Software

Customer Relationship Management Software

Google Analytics

Google Analytics is a web analytics service offered by Google that tracks and reports website traffic. Google uses the data collected to track and monitor the use of our Service. This data is shared with other Google services. Google may use the collected data to contextualize and personalize the ads of its own advertising network.

You can opt-out of having made your activity on the Service available to Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on. The add-on prevents the Google Analytics JavaScript (ga.js, analytics.js, and dc.js) from sharing information with Google Analytics about visits activity.

For more information on the privacy practices of Google, please visit the Google Privacy & Terms web page: https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en

Powered by Cookie Information