Bus tickets for released inmates. How do they get home once they are released and does the state help them?
The issue came up in the governor's race when Democratic state Senator Kathleen Vinehout criticized how Wisconsin treats prison inmates on the day they are released. PolitiFact Wisconsin checked it out.
Vinehout is seeking her party's nomination for governor.
"Her claim was that in Wisconsin we don't so much as give those inmates who are being released a bus ticket home when they are released from the prison system," said Greg Borowski with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
PolitiFact Wisconsin checked with state corrections to chase down this claim. It turns out they do have a protocol that includes planning with social workers and conversing about transportation from prison.
"They explained that the system in place is that there is some extensive discussions that go on with a person's probation officer if they're going to be released on probation with prison officials about what is needed," said Borowski.
PolitiFact Wisconsin also talked with nonprofit groups that help people who are being released from prison. They said on occasion some inmates do ask for a bus ticket.
Vinehout did not provide any evidence to back her claim.
"So it's not that this has never occurred," said Borowski. "It's just certainly not the practice as Senator Vinehout made it appear."
PolitiFact Wisconsin rated this claim: Mostly False.
