• Home
  • News
    • Politics / Govt
    • Legislature
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
    • Archives
  • Sports
    • Badgers
    • Packers
      • Titletown Report
    • Brewers
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support

Wisconsin Radio Network

Wisconsin News and Sports

You are here: Home / Legislature / Prison guards request John Doe protections

Prison guards request John Doe protections

February 1, 2008 By WRN Contributor

Wisconsin's John Doe law allows inmates to take criminal complaints directly to a judge. It's designed to help protect prisoners, but State Senator Carol Roessler (R-Oshkosh) says it's being abused by inmates who file frivolous claims against corrections officers.

Judges hearing the complaints have only listened to the testimony of the inmate, before deciding whether to file criminal charges against a corrections officer. Gabe Umentum, a guard at the Waupun Correction Institution, is currently facing felony charges after an inmate claims he beat him in the prison's segregation unit. Umentum is defending himself against the allegations by paying for an attorney out of pocket.

Prisoner rights advocate Peggy Swan says John Doe laws are needed, so inmates have a safe way to report abuses.

A legislative proposal from Roessler would send complaints to the local District Attorney, instead of a judge. Swan says that avenue already exists for inmates, but the vast majority of those cases are dismissed without merit.

The bill is currently being considered at the Capitol.

AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (MP3 1:09)

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Legislature



Featured Stories

Teachers to begin getting vaccinated March 1 in Wisconsin

Assembly approves bill to allow DWD to update computers

Bucks extend win streak to three

Evers defends proposed budget as Republicans voice disapproval on his spending targets

Antetokounmpo, Middleton lead Bucks past Kings

TwitterFacebook

Sports Headlines

Bucks extend win streak to three

Antetokounmpo, Middleton lead Bucks past Kings

Number-21 Wisconsin ends two-game slide (AUDIO)

Badgers tie Notre Dame, take 4 of 6 points on the weekend

Bucks losing streak reaches five games

More Sports

Tweets by @WRN

Get our news delivered to your inbox:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Copyright © 2021 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC