Born, Klomberg Seek Criminal Justice Reforms In State Budget

(Madison) State Representative Mark Born and Dodge County District Attorney Kurt Klomberg called on Governor Tony Evers to include criminal justice initiatives in his upcoming budget. Lawmakers throughout the state outlined their wants for the state budget on Monday. Included in their priorities were measures to ensure quicker access to a fair trial, funding to provide additional assistant district attorney positions across the state and increase pay for state public defenders.

While speaking at the State Capitol, Born also called for an expansion of programs that help offenders who suffer from alcohol and drug abuse. The Beaver Dam Republican also supported initiatives that promote the successful transition back into society through expanded worker training and reentry programs.

Born said Evers’ campaigned on the goal to cut the state’s prison population in half but with nearly 66-percent of the population being violent offenders he calls it unrealistic and unsafe. He added that this is why Assembly Republicans are proposing these initiatives to improve the system without releasing violent offenders.

Klomberg said he is deeply grateful for the work and commitment of Speaker Robin Vos, Born and the entire State Assembly in supporting the criminal justice needs of Wisconsin. The proposal carries a 50 million dollar price tag. A spokeswoman for Governor Tony Evers said he has already planned to include some of the Assembly GOP proposals in his budget next week.