Dane County Studies La Crosse Jail Alternatives

By Reid Magney, La Crosse Tribune, Wis.

Jan. 31–Two dozen Dane County officials took a field trip Tuesday to learn how La Crosse County closed its Huber work-release jail.

Dane County is planning to build a new treatment facility for alcohol and other drug addiction, along with a Huber center.

“The inevitable question came up: Is there a smarter and better way to go forward?” said County Executive Kathleen Falk, who learned about

La Crosse’s jail diversion programs from her many visits here during her recent failed campaign for attorney general.

The Dane County officials met for two hours with La Crosse’s judges, attorneys, sheriff, staff and county supervisors.

The La Crosse County Board closed its Huber center, a remodeled Montgomery Ward auto service garage, in 2005. Eventually, the county plans to tear down the former Huber building to make way for an addition to the main jail for female inmates and expanded programming.

Inmates who once slept at the Huber center and left during the day for work and other activities now are in the

Justice Sanctions program. It uses a combination of electronic home monitoring, day reporting, drug testing and other programs to supervise them.

Some Dane officials, including District Attorney Brian Blanchard, expressed skepticism. Others like Sheriff Dave Mahoney were more optimistic.

“I see a lot of encouraging potential,” Mahoney said. “My primary hesitation is I want to examine it further on the safety potential for the community. Particularly for those offenders with drug and alcohol dependent issues this is very viable.”

Reid Magney can be reached at (608) 791-8211 or rmagney@lacrossetribune.com.

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Copyright (c) 2007, La Crosse Tribune, Wis.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.

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