WAUPUN — Wisconsin corrections officials are closing part of the Waupun prison and transferring inmates to other facilities as they deal with long-standing staffing shortages.
The Department of Corrections said Tuesday it is closing a cell hall at the maximum-security Waupun Correctional Institution and sending its 220 inmates to other prisons.
Corrections officials say the transfers will reduce the prison’s overall population by 20% and help address staff vacancies.
The state prison system has historically struggled with staffing vacancies.
Correction: The Associated Press originally reported that the staffing shortages were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. DOC said in an update Wednesday that the department is dealing with "long-standing staff vacancy issues" that are not tied to the pandemic.
