Prosecutor finds systemic failures, declines charges in GBCI incidents | News

GREEN BAY (WKOW) — Shortly after a comprehensive criminal investigation into inmate deaths at Waupun Correctional Institution, a special prosecutor declined to file charges in similar incidents that occurred years ago at Green Bay Correctional Institution.

Our partner in Green Bay shares two incident reports from the Brown County Sheriff’s Office where criminal charges were filed but no prosecution was ever initiated.

The first case investigated concerns the death of an inmate in May 2021.

According to the 81-page incident report, he was found unconscious in his cell in the restricted housing unit.

Records show that Brown County investigators charged two GBCI employees – a correctional officer and a nurse – with “mistreatment of correctional residents” for denying him a wheelchair after he asked for one.

A special prosecutor assigned to the case found deficiencies in the records and “neglect of the prisoner,” but declined to press charges.

Attorney David Weber writes that he was unable to find “sufficient evidence of facts justifying an indictment” that could be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

The second case investigated by the Brown County Sheriff’s Office involved an inmate’s suicide attempt in February 2022. In an interview, the inmate told investigators he was ignored by staff when he repeatedly told them he was having suicidal thoughts.

The investigation revealed that a GBCI employee had used pepper spray on the inmate to prevent him from harming himself or preventing a possible attack on staff.

A special prosecutor assigned to the case, David Weber, again declined to file charges. While he says there was negligence on the part of GBCI, given the number of other failures that contributed to this incident, a jury would be unlikely to convict.