External audit and corrective action plan prompt changes at Milwaukee County Jail amid continuing family concerns

A final report from Creative Corrections and a corrective action plan presented to the Milwaukee County Board’s Judiciary, Law Enforcement and General Services Committee on June 17 detailed a series of operational changes at the Milwaukee County Jail intended to reduce in‑custody harm and improve suicide prevention.

The report, delivered by Creative Corrections’ Steve Spalding and introduced by Milwaukee County Director of Audits Jennifer Folliard, summarized work that began after a request for proposals in February 2024 and an external correctional management review that began in October 2024. The county board authorized a contract with Creative Corrections in mid‑2024 and the vendor delivered an initial written audit in December 2024 and a follow‑up corrective action plan, or CAP, that auditors and jail leadership described to the committee on June 17.

The CAP targeted more than 40 specific deficiencies across suicide prevention, medical and mental health care, security, training and supervision. Creative Corrections highlighted several completed changes, including the elimination of restraint benches for people on suicide watch, placing those individuals in designated observation cells within an hour of booking, added mental‑health–led suicide prevention training for staff, weekly interdisciplinary case reviews, updated post orders for housing staff, increased supervisory rounds and a launched internal, perpetual audit program. “This CAP report is not just a checklist, it’s a roadmap for reform,” Spalding told the committee.

Milwaukee County Sheriff Denita Ball and jail leadership described the audit as a catalyst that helped restart stalled reforms.…