The Wisconsin Department of Corrections (DOC) is set to open the Southeast Regional Care Center (SRCC) on the northwest side of Milwaukee this November. Located on Clinton Avenue near 76th and Good Hope, the new facility will house up to 32 boys from southeastern Wisconsin.
Closer‑to‑home model
DOC Juvenile Youth Counselor Kashunda Brown, who grew up in Milwaukee, said the center reflects a “closer to home” approach that keeps youth near their families while providing treatment and education. “What I’ve learned is that kids want to do well, they just don’t have the skills to do well,” Brown explained.
Brown, a four‑year veteran of the DOC’s Grow Academy program in Dane County, highlighted daily counseling methods that focus on emotional support and practical decision‑making.
State investment and goals
Governor Tony Evers, Division of Juvenile Corrections Administrator Lance Horozewski and Secretary Jared Hoy toured the SRCC on Wednesday. Horozewski emphasized that the $65 million, 32‑bed center is designed to reduce recidivism through dignified treatment and non‑traumatizing environments. “We know what works to reduce recidivism: treatment, treating people with dignity and respect, and having environments that aren’t further traumatizing kids,” he said.
The SRCC includes classrooms, metal and wood workshops, and a recording studio, offering vocational training alongside academic instruction.
Policy background
The opening follows nearly a decade of planning that began with the 2017 passage of Act 185, which mandated the closure of the Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake youth facilities by 2029 and the conversion of those campuses to adult‑capacity prisons. The DOC is now transitioning youth from those troubled centers to smaller, community‑based facilities like the SRCC.
Horozewski noted the broader goal: “Build that capacity — connect them with community resources — that they can continue with in the community.” The state also plans a similar youth facility in Dane County and a third site in northern Wisconsin.
Community impact
Evers acknowledged concerns about the amenities, stating, “They’re in a prison, but they are in a place where they’re going to be learning, growing, and be able to get out and get back to their families and the community as soon as possible.” The center aims to rebuild the lives of young offenders and strengthen families, aligning with Wisconsin’s commitment to restorative justice.
Original reporting: FOX6 WITI – local news — read the source article.
