A couple of days after Governor Tony Evers announced the release of $50 million in ARAP funds for law enforcement, he put his pen where his mouth is and signed legislation.
The law, written by 1st District State Senator Andre Jacque, was one of several bills penned by the De Pere legislator which were a part of his Public Safety Package.
The law, which was co-authored by Representative Michael Schraa, penalizes intentional harm and threats to Department of Corrections (DOC) agents and their families, as well as Wisconsin’s equivalent tribal officials.
Jacque told us that he wrote this bill after hearing from current and former probation and parole agents like Amanda Holz, whose family was threatened by an incarcerated individual on a probation hold.
Currently sitting on the Governor’s desk are bills that would fund the police and exclude all violent crimes – such as child trafficking and abuse, arson, and armed burglar – from eligibility for early release.
Jacque said in a news release, “I hope Gov. Evers will sign these additional measures into law soon to protect our families at a time when crime is on the rise.”
