Visit highlights the contrast with leadership of the past.

MILWAUKEE - Rep. David Bowen (D-Milwaukee) released the following statement on Friday’s announcement that Governor Evers toured the Lincoln Hills & Copper Lake juvenile prison:

Governor Evers and Lt. Governor Barnes conducted a tour on Friday of the troubled Lincoln Hills juvenile prison with Secretary Carr of the state Department of Corrections. Bowen stated, “This stands in stark contrast to the actions of former Governor Walker who neglected to visit once during his tenure, even as the situation deteriorated to the point that an investigation was opened by the FBI.

“No matter what side of the aisle you’re on, we can be thankful for Governor Evers making this trip one of his top priorities in office and showing these youth, advocates, and workers that they finally have a governor who is willing to lead.

“As Ranking Member of the Assembly Committee on Corrections, I look forward to working with the Evers Administration and the other members of this committee to bring bi-partisan transparency to our juvenile correctional institutions. It’s time to further restoration and dignity-based reforms that put an end to the horrors that have been allowed to happen at Lincoln Hills & Copper Lake for far too long,” Bowen concluded.

A repair bill to last session’s legislation is forthcoming and being worked on currently.