Prison Closures in California and Wisconsin: A Step Forward, But Not the Finish Line
Keeping it simple, let’s break this down….
Recently, both California and Wisconsin announced prison closures amid decreased occupancy, increasing costs, and the need to balance their states’ budgets.
On the surface, this appears to be progress. For decades, The National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls has pushed for the closure of prisons nationwide, pointing to their enormous costs and devastating human impact. But as with all reforms in the carceral system, the real question remains: are these closures a step toward ending incarceration or just budget math dressed up as justice?
California: Closing Norco Prison
California, which is already in the process of closing five state prisons, has added another to the list. The Norco, California, Rehabilitation Center, housed in what was once an Art Deco hotel, will shut down. The city has lobbied for this for years, and now the state has agreed, citing declining occupancy and skyrocketing costs. California expects to save $150 million per year.
It is worth remembering that the state’s most high-profile prison closure, FCI Dublin, was not about fiscal prudence at all, but the horrific sexual abuse scandals so widespread that the Bureau of Prisons decided shuttering the facility was easier than submitting to a court-appointed Special Master. That closure was political and reactive. Norco’s closure, by contrast, appears to be a pragmatic decision.
Wisconsin: The Long Goodbye to Green Bay
Wisconsin has announced plans to close Green Bay Correctional Institution, an aging 1800s-era prison. The state estimates that it will save $40 million annually by eliminating the operating budget, as well as millions more in deferred maintenance and repairs. The problem? No firm closure date. For incarcerated people and their families, an indefinite promise means nothing. Advocates are right to demand an actual timeline.
The Case Against Prisons Is Not New
The National Council has long argued that prisons are too expensive, too cruel, and too ineffective. In both states, crime rates are down. California is reporting its lowest homicide rate since 1966. Wisconsin has seen declines across most categories over the last five years. Yet prison budgets continue to swell, even as populations shrink.
Staffing shortages make the situation worse. Despite raises, few people want to work in prisons. Vacancies mean mandatory overtime, cooks and teachers pulled into guard duty, and people locked in their cells for days on end. Required classes are canceled. Medical and mental health positions go unfilled. The result is unnecessary suffering, pain, and sometimes death.
If a state cannot ensure the safety and dignity of the people in its custody, it has forfeited the right to that custody altogether.
And it’s not only incarcerated people who suffer. COs face high rates of injury, trauma, and suicide. Prisons are toxic for everyone inside their walls.
The Abolitionist Truth Beneath the Budget Cuts
Yes, closing prisons is a fiscally responsible approach. However, focusing solely on costs overlooks the more profound issue: prisons inflict harm that money cannot justify. Communities, not cages, are where real rehabilitation and safety take place.
Wisconsin must commit to a closure date. California must resist pressure from correctional unions and local economies built on incarceration. Both states must redirect resources to housing, healthcare, education, job creation, and harm reduction.
Because while a budget crisis may have forced lawmakers’ hands, abolitionists know the truth: closing prisons isn’t just about saving dollars. It’s about saving lives.
This piece was submitted by TNC member S.M.
