By Brian Fraley, A Dairyland Sentinel Perspective
In a redundant, bureaucratic move, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers has signed an Executive Order to establish yet another Office of Violence Prevention, even though the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) already is supposed to handle many of the responsibilities outlined within the document. It is fair to wonder whether this is more of a political condemnation of Attorney General Josh Kaul than a sincere effort to curb violence.
With an initial $10 million price tag, this new office is ostensibly going to collaborate with schools, law enforcement, and community organizations to tackle violence, with a particular emphasis on gun-related incidents.
Governor Evers insists on the necessity of this office, claiming it will address root causes and coordinate strategies across law enforcement agencies and other governmental bodies throughout Wisconsin. Here’s what the office is supposedly tasked with:
- Partnership and Coordination
- Research and Analysis
- Program Development:
- Gun Safety Reforms
The first three fall under the purview of the Department of Justice. The fourth is a legislative matter.
This Executive Order is meant to appease those who clamor for government to “do something,” in the wake of recent violent killings.
A fair minded examination of this move, however, sees it less about actually preventing violence and more about critiquing the Attorney General’s handling of public safety. After all, why create an entirely new office when the DOJ has been tasked with these very duties?
This move comes on the heels of multiple violent incidents, including the Abundant Life Christian School murders. But this new office is just another layer of bureaucracy that will grab headlines in the short term, but accomplish little over the long haul.
There is a mental health crisis in this country. Yes, we need to devote more attention and resources to getting troubled individuals the help they need, but courts also need to protect society from those who are obviously at risk of harming themselves and others.
We also have a plethora of gun laws. Oftentimes, gun charges are the first ones to be tossed during plea negotiations. Look at Milwaukee, for example. Felons illegally in possession of firearms see those charges dropped as prosecutors make deals and plead down charges.
As we head into another legislative session, the effectiveness and necessity of this Evers’ new office will be under scrutiny.
But will any intrepid reporter see this as Evers’ signaling his dissatisfaction with Attorney General Kaul?
If Evers is in his last term, it sure seems clear to me he doesn’t favor Kaul as his replacement.
Moreover, if he were serious about improving public safety, Evers would quit tiptoeing around this issue and publicly chastise Kaul. He needs to fix the backlogs and delays at the Crime Labs, that are having trickle down effects in courtrooms across the state.
Evers could also devote more money to prosecutors.
He could fund the construction of a new prison in Green Bay, and extensive repairs and rebuilding at Waupun.
He could speed up the incredibly slow efforts to close Lincoln Hills and replace them with several more modern facilities for juvenile offenders.
But holding a press conference and signing an Executive Order is so much easier.
