Wisconsin Department of Corrections Body-worn Camera Expansion Program

The Wisconsin Department of Corrections aims to expand the use of body-worn cameras, starting at Waupun Correctional Institution, then moving to Columbia Correctional Institution and Green Bay Correctional Institution. This expansion program will add a total of 415 cameras across the three institutions, allowing Correctional Officers and Sergeants working general population units, visitation, and transportation to wear a camera while on duty. The project's goal is to enhance transparency in staff and Persons-in-our-Care interactions, improve communication opportunities across the department, and enhance overall safety for staff and persons-in-our-care. To ensure proper implementation and policy development, the project will be carried out in four phases. Phase 1 will commence at Waupun Correctional Institution with the deployment of 155 new body-worn cameras. Phase 2 will gather data, best practices, and process improvements from the Waupun Correctional Institution deployment to guide implementation at the final two maximum security facilities. Phase 3 will integrate the lessons learned from WCI and deploy 120 new body-worn cameras at Columbia Correctional Institution and 140 new body-worn cameras at Green Bay Correctional Institution. Phase 4 will collect data from CCI and GBCI to make final program improvements. The expected outcomes of the Wisconsin Department of Corrections Body-Worn Camera Expansion include: establishing a Body-worn Camera Committee for program development and regular assessments; enhancing the current body-worn camera policy to include new practices and developments from Phase 1 at Waupun Correctional; updating training curricula to incorporate best practices and lessons learned; reducing assaults and improving safety; expediting investigations involving staff and persons-in-our-care interactions; providing additional training opportunities for officers; and collecting three years of data to guide the future expansion of BWC use to the remaining institutions.