By Oona Mackesey-Green
Northside Planning Council

Community demands: No new jail

The Northside Planning Council and Northside Antiracism Group released a statement Sept. 22 calling on the Dane County Board of Supervisors to vote to stop work on a new jail facility. The statement calls for investments in human services to build community safety, and to address growing racial disparities within Dane County’s criminal justice system — racial disparities that were already some of the worst in the nation. Read the statement and find myths, facts and FAQs about the Dane County jail at
northsideplanningcouncil.org.

Last June the county board approved $220 million, including interest, to build a new jail. In early September, the board announced a delay to rework the jail design due to budget overruns, pushing back some contracts for the project until next spring. 

The board is now considering a resolution that would stop or suspend work on the new jail. The resolution responds to ongoing community demands for investments in alternatives to incarceration.

Updates on police oversight

The Common Council passed legislation in early September to create a Civilian Oversight Board and Independent Monitor for the Madison Police Department (MPD). Nominations for seats on the Civilian Oversight Board were due Sept. 16. Once those seats are filled, the Oversight Board will hire the Independent Monitor.