Does David Crowley support releasing half of Wisconsin's prison population?

No.

Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, the Democratic nominee for governor, has supported reducing Wisconsin’s prison population through crime prevention and reducing recidivism.

Crowley has supported rehabilitative services for nonviolent offenders and commutations; decriminalizing cannabis; and expanding drug courts. He has backed education programs aimed at diverting youths from committing crimes.

Crowley also has backed job training and other efforts aimed at reducing recidivism and prevention measures such as “violence interruption programs.”

Democratic Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers set a goal of eventually reducing the prison population by half, though it recently hit a new record.

The campaign of Republican gubernatorial candidate U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany cited Crowley’s 2019 support for Evers’ goal as support for Tiffany’s claim that Crowley “wants to let half the prison population out in Wisconsin.”

Tiffany said he’s open to adding prison capacity to address the record number of inmates without releasing those in custody.

This Fact Brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

Sources

• Wisconsin Watch: Republican Tom Tiffany backs expanding Wisconsin prisons as population hits record high
• Wisconsin Examiner: Democratic gubernatorial hopefuls address criminal justice, inequality
• Milwaukee Courier: David Crowley on the state of Wisconsin governor’s race, Madison police shooting, ‘Dirt McGirk,’ Muslim voters and more
• Milwaukee County Executive: Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley Calls on Transforming Criminal Justice System Through Racial Equity Lens
• Milwaukee County Executive: County Executive David Crowley Budget Address to County Board
• Froedtert Medical College of Wisconsin: Hospital-Based Violence Interruption Program
• Wisconsin Watch: Has Gov. Tony Evers expressed that he wants to cut Wisconsin’s prison population in half?
• Wisconsin State Journal: New leadership has black lawmakers eager to tackle Wisconsin's nation-leading racial disparities
• Wisconsin Watch: Wisconsin prisons population tracker

Originally published by Wisconsin Watch.