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Panel tackles the hidden effects of prison spending

November 18, 2002

Wisconsin ranked seventh in the nation for per capita spending on prisons in the year 2000. The state ranked tenth for growth in prison spending per capita (1980 to 2000). Governor-elect Jim Doyle will soon be faced with balancing Wisconsin’s monstrous budget. How does increased spending on prisons affect Wisconsin communities?

On Nov. 20, from 5-7 pm, in the Memorial Union, a panel of Madison-area activists and professionals will discuss the issue of increased state spending on prisons and how youth, people of color, residents of rural communities, and others feel the impact. The discussion, entitled “Prisons: Hidden Effects,” will address how students and campus community members can get involved with the issue.

The event is part of “Hot Topics” in the Service in Action Series, a collaborative project between the Morgridge Center for Public Service, University Health Services (UHS), and the Wisconsin Union Directorate (WUD).

“This is a significant issue for all students engaged in community service,” said Katherine Loving, UHS civic engagement coordinator.

“The prison system has a profound social and economic impact on our communities. It’s important for our student volunteers to understand that the influence of the system extends beyond prison walls.”

Leading the discussion will be representatives from campus and community organizations, including:

  • JoAnn Griffin: director of Project Bootstrap
  • Linda Hoskins: NAACP Prison Committee chair and Operation Straighten Up activist
  • Sheila Hoskins: Bridge-Lakepoint Neighborhood Association president and probation and parole agent
  • Ed Steichen: Money, Education and Prisons (MEP) community organizer
  • A student from People for Justice, Not Prisons (PJNP)

The Service in Action series offers educational, training, and reflection opportunities for students engaged in community service and service learning. “Hot Topics” are issue-focused discussion sessions led by faculty, student, and community experts and activists, designed to promote learning and critical thinking about social issues, root causes of problems, and possible solutions.