Corrections Dept. history

Old Newgate served as the state's prison for men until 1827 when the new state prison was opened in Wethersfield.

Fearful of state government encroachment, the "home rule counties preferred their brand of justice," and resisted the state's efforts to develop a penitentiary system until January 26, 1839.

The first centralized prison, later to be called The Walls, was not completed until 50 years later with the opening of the penitentiary in Jackson, April 15, 1840.

In October of that year, Governor Bagby laid the cornerstone of the Wetumpka State Penitentiary and by 1841 the 208 cell prison surrounded by walls twenty-five feet high was completed at a cost of $84,889.

The first inmate entered the Wetumpka State Penitentiary (WSP) in 1842 with a twenty year sentence for harboring a runaway slave.

On February 4, 1846, an act was passed which permitted private individuals to lease WSP's facilities and convicts.

In 1850 the first female convict was admitted after receiving a ten year sentence for murder, and she was kept in virtual solitary confinement in a single room of the prison's hospital.

1851 – A three member commission sites a prison in Waupun because of its proximity to transportation and the readily available building materials in the area.

1852 – Henry Brown becomes first Commissioner of the prison.

1853 – Inmates are paid to begin construction on South Cell Hall, the first permanent building at The Prison.

1854 - A nine-year old boy is sentenced to Waupun State Prison for larceny.

The facility that became known as the Utah Territorial Penitentiary was opened in 1855.

In 1862, private sector warden Doctor Ambrose Burrows was killed by a convict and the state resumed control of the prison with Doctor M. G. Moore as warden.

By 1864, the state Legislature found the prison to be in serious disrepair, posing unsafe conditions for inmates.

In the spring of 1865, the Federal Troops released all convicts, except one who remained voluntarily at the Walls.

By 1866 architects reported that the prison was ready to comfortably house 130 state inmates.

In January of 1867, Utah Legislators wrote Congress asking for money to improve it, stressing that Utah was a thoroughfare to the Pacific and subject to ``the marauding depredations of dishonest and unprincipled adventurers.``

Albert P. Rockwood, the territorial warden of the Utah Penitentiary, turned over the penitentiary to United States Marshal Patrick in compliance with the act of congress passed in January of 1871.

1873 – The elected office of State Prison Commissioner is abolished, and the prison is placed under the supervision of the State Board of Directors who appoints a warden.

1875 - Industrial School for Girls is established in Milwaukee by a group of concerned women.

By 1878, the revenues will be sufficient to allow the prison to run without drawing appropriations from the state’s treasury.

The Board of Directors is replaced by the State Board of Charities and Reform in 1881.

The City purchased Rikers Island in 1884 for $180,000.

On February 17, 1885, the Coleman Law made changes to the prison system.

1886 - The first issue of "The Waupun Prison Press" is published.

In addition, on February 28, 1887, the efforts of Julia Tutwiler, "The Angel of the Stockades," were realized when contractors were required to provide suitable room and furniture for schools.

1889 - Board of Supervisors are given the paroling authority for inmates.

Six inmates are paroled in 1890.

1892 - Three convicts serving life sentences tunneled from the laundry, under the wall and escaped.

On February 14, 1893, the Board of Managers (BOM) was created under a "New System" law.

Completed on January 17, 1894, #2 and #3 Camps were located across from each other on Mortar Creek and were used for making bricks for the larger main prison.

By February 1895 the deadline for removing the convicts from the mines passed without being met.

1897 - A convict work crew from the WSP is sent to Allouez (Green Bay) to erect the Wisconsin State Reformatory (WSR).

1898 – By close of the year, the WSR houses 24 inmates young inmates sent from Waupun.

In 1900 the legislature appropriated $80,000 for the purchase of the 3,789 acre Parchman Plantation located in Sunflower County.

In 1901, four stockades were built at Parchman and state prisoners were moved there to begin clearing efforts for cultivation of crops at the sprawling delta farm.

1907 - A law is enacted providing for the parole of prisoners from the prison by the Board of Control with the approval of the Governor.

1908 - An inmate band is established at the Prison.

1909 - The first parole agent in Wisconsin is appointed.

1913 - Construction begins on the Industrial Home for Women at Taycheedah.

The Reformatory will follow suit in 1917.

In 1918 the telephone system was installed between #4 Camp, Wetumpka Prison, and Speigner.

On September 30, 1919, the BIC was abolished and the Board of Control and Economy (BCE) was established.

Also the 1923 legislation provided for state-performed executions by electrocution in a room provided at Kilby.

1925 - Minimum security Prison Conservation and Reforestation Camps are opened as prison industries.

One of the first to suggest that a new prison site was needed was Warden Davis in 1926.

On April 8, 1927, the "Yellow Mama" was used for the first execution conducted in Alabama by electrocution.

On March 13, 1928, a 3,600 acre farm in Escambia County was purchased and Moffett State Farm was built to receive the final movement of convicts from the mines on June 30, 1928.

On January 23, 1931, a fire destroyed a portion of Wetumpka Prison, and within forty days it was fully functional again.

On November 28, 1932 a fire destroyed the prison at Speigner.

1933 - A State Prison for Women is completed at Taycheedah.

On January 19, 1934, the Hawes-Cooper Law became effective, creating a boycott on prison-made goods.

1936 - During an attempted escape, one inmate is shot in the leg and another is shot in both legs and the abdomen.

The authorization for a new prison was finally made in 1937, with the state legislature appropriating a hundred thousand dollars for the selection, purchase, and improvement of a plot of land suitable for a prison site.

1938 – John C. Burke is appointed warden of WSP. He is instrumental in abolishing the Silent System, installing lights in cells, and allowing inmates to shave themselves, see visitors, and attend parole school

In February 1939, a new prison built to replace Speigner was completed.

In November of 1940, construction began thanks to an authorization from the State of Utah on a pay as you go basis.

The first stage of construction on the prison was completed in 1941 at a cost of over $292,000.00.

In December of 1942, the current Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women was completed for a cost of $350,000 and had a capacity for 400 convicts.

The old Wetumpka Prison decreased in use and the property was sold in small parcels starting in 1945.

1947 - McNaughton Correctional Center opens.

Work on the prison was halted during the war years due to worker and material shortages, but was resumed in July 1948, at a time when the prison at sugarhouse was literally bulging with prisoners.

On February 11, 1949, a fire burned Atmore Prison.

By September 1950 a temporary barracks and hospital had been built and a modern prison was under construction.

On March 12, 1951, the 575 inmates at the old prison were transferred by bus to the newly completed Utah State Prison.

The Speigner Cotton Mill was sold in 1952 and the building was used by Draper for manufacturing mattresses and brooms, and shops for printing, bed repair, shoes, and carpentry.

On September 30, 1954, there were a total of 5,004 state and county inmates on hand.

Flambeau Correctional Center was originally opened in 1956 as a juvenile center.

1957 - A 50-bed maximum security special management unit is built at Waupun.

1959 - Ethan Allen School (EAS) for Boys is opened in Wales.

In 1960, Kilby Trusty Barracks was completed and had a capacity of 400 inmates.

The facility was built in 1962 as a camp and had been used as a juvenile detention center.

The Wethersfield Prison stood on land bordering the town's cove, adjacent to the current Department of Motor Vehicles. It served the state as the maximum-security facility for males until 1963 at which time a new state prison was opened in Somers.

On June 24, 1964, the Frank Lee Youth Center was opened to house male offenders 21 or younger with a sentence of less than 10 years.

In 1966, J. F. Ingram Vocational School was opened adjacent to the Frank Lee Youth Center.

As planned in response to Kilby Prison's continued deterioration, the Main Office moved to 101 South Union during Thanksgiving week of November 1968.

To accommodate the inmates, during November of 1969, Holman Prison was completed.

1970 - Lincoln School for Boys opens at Irma.

1971 - Inmates at the Wisconsin Home for Women riot.

On July 31, 1972, a furlough program began which allowed selected inmates to have family sponsored visits at home.

1973 - Black River Correctional Center is opened as an adult facility.

In 1974, both the Alexander City and Childersburg Work Release Centers were opened coinciding with the closing of the last road camp.

In February 1975, the Pre Release Job Assistance Program was initiated.

Responding in part to the overcrowded conditions, in March of 1976 work release centers were opened at Camden, Grove Hill, and Montgomery.

During April of 1977, work release centers were opened in Mobile and in Loxley.

On October 1, 1979, the BOC was abolished and the governor was authorized to appoint a commissioner who had overall control of the prison system.

Also during August of 1980, the Brookley Work Release Center was opened in Mobile to meet the needs of the Mobile and south Alabama area.

During May of 1981, the Decatur Work Release Center was opened.

On November 1, 1982, the West Jefferson Correctional Facility (later named Donaldson CF) was opened.

On February 3, 1983, the Department of Corrections (DOC) was established by statute.

East Thomas Community Based Facility opened during April 1984, and on August 9, 1984, the Fountain Trusty Barracks was completed and opened.

1985 - The Wisconsin Correctional Camp System (WCCS) becomes the Wisconsin Correctional Center System (WCCS) combining all minimum security facilities, including camps, community centers and the drug abuse treatment center.

In January, 1986, the department opened the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility (CMCF) located at Pearl, Mississippi.

The Bullock Correctional Facility opened in April 1987, and soon after began operating the state’s first sex offender treatment program.

During September 1988, the boot camp program was initiated at Kilby CF but was later moved to its current location in Childersburg.

Approximately a year later in October 1989, the Main Office at 101 South Union was closed and all central office functions scattered in Montgomery were consolidated together in the Gordon Persons Building at 50 North Ripley Street.

On April 13, 1990, MDOC opened the South Mississippi Correctional Institution (SMCI), located in Leakesville, Mississippi.

1991 - St Croix Correctional Center opens.

1995 - A 500-bed expansion opens at DCI. The expansion includes a 50-bed segregation unit, 64-bed infirmary and a 50-bed female reception unit.

During January 1996, the General Office relocated from the Persons Building to renovated office space at 1400 Lloyd Street.

1997 - Dormitory housing is added at six existing prisons, adding 1,200 new beds.

In February 1998, MDOC rectified all discrepancies in the Gates vs.

1999 - Ground breaking ceremonies take place in Milwaukee for a new 1,000 bed detention and drug treatment center for DOC. Ceremonies are also held at Redgranite and New Lisbon for new medium security institutions.

2000 – The Milwaukee Men’s Pre-Release Center opens.

2001 - Redgranite Correctional Institution, a 750 bed capacity facility, opens and within a year will house close to a 1,000 inmates.

2002 - The DOC changes the name of the Supermax Correctional Institution to the Wisconsin Secure Program Facility as a result of the settlement of a federal lawsuit.

By contract, all private and regional facilities are required to be accredited by the American Correctional Association (ACA). As of May 2003, all three state run prisons are ACA accredited.​​​​​​​

First Hispanic woman appointed as warden- 2006- Esther Torres

Since 2016, the UDC Prison Relocation team has worked to meet legislative expectations by providing a state-of-the-art new facility for staff and inmates within a reasonable budget.