Wisconsin's Department of Corrections (DOC) officially calls solitary confinement "restrictive housing." The system has two main types: disciplinary separation (a defined-term punishment after a hearing) and administrative confinement (non-punitive, safety-based, open-ended). Wisconsin has no statute limiting the use or duration of adult solitary confinement.
In November 2025, Wisconsin DOC released a major independent review of its adult prison system conducted by Falcon, Inc. -- the same consulting firm that worked on Washington state's solitary confinement project. Wisconsin paid approximately $500,000 for the year-long review. The Falcon report identified severe overcrowding, high staff turnover, and serious problems with how solitary confinement intersects with mental illness. Among its most striking findings: 69% of people in solitary confinement for more than 120 days were on the DOC's mental health caseload -- compared to 46% of the general prison population. And most observation cells for people on suicide watch are located inside restrictive housing units, meaning Wisconsin is placing its most at-risk people into the most isolating conditions.
Wisconsin also experienced major facility lockdowns in 2024 at Green Bay, Waupun, and Stanley prisons, which restricted movement, recreation, and visitation for extended periods -- conditions that for many people were functionally indistinguishable from solitary confinement.
What Solitary Confinement Is Called in Wisconsin
Wisconsin DOC uses "restrictive housing" as its official term. The two primary types:
Disciplinary Separation (DS): Post-hearing placement as punishment for a specific rule violation. The sanction term is defined at the disciplinary hearing. Most common reasons (November 2019-November 2024 data): disobeying orders, disruptive conduct, disrespect, threats, and assault.
Administrative Confinement (AC): Non-punitive placement for safety, security, or investigative reasons. Open-ended with periodic reviews. This includes protective confinement and pre-hearing separation.
Observation Status: A separate category for people on suicide watch. In Wisconsin, most observation cells are located inside restrictive housing units -- a practice the Falcon report called "problematic" and recommended ending.
The November 2025 Falcon Inc. Report
Wisconsin DOC commissioned Falcon, Inc. -- a corrections consulting firm -- to conduct a year-long independent review of its adult prison system, paying approximately $500,000. The report was released in November 2025. Key findings on solitary confinement:
Mental illness concentration: 101 people in solitary confinement on the day measured in March 2025 were classified as having a serious mental illness (SMI). People in solitary for more than 120 days were disproportionately on the DOC's mental health caseload: 69% vs. 46% for the general prison population.
Suicide watch in solitary: Most observation cells for people on suicide watch are located in restrictive housing units. The report warned this is likely making the situation worse. "Observation cells are typically in restrictive housing units, which is problematic," the report states. The report urged DOC to move observation areas to "more appropriate environments that support therapeutic care and patient safety."
SMI diversion: The report urged DOC to create "alternative" units for people with serious mental illness so they can be automatically diverted from solitary confinement.
DOC response: DOC Secretary Jared Hoy said the report shows the system is "moving in the right direction." The report did commend DOC for its May 2024 policy on extended stays.
What the report commended: DOC's May 2024 policy requiring a higher-up to approve solitary stays longer than 120 days.
The May 2024 Extended Solitary Policy
In May 2024, Wisconsin DOC adopted a policy requiring supervisory/senior approval for solitary confinement placements that extend beyond 120 days. This is an administrative policy, not a statute. The Falcon report specifically commended this as a positive step while urging further reform.
The 2024 Prison Lockdowns
In 2024, Wisconsin DOC implemented "modified movement" orders at three facilities -- Green Bay Correctional Institution, Waupun Correctional Institution, and Stanley Correctional Institution -- citing safety concerns and understaffing. These orders restricted:
- General movement within the facility.
- Recreational activity.
- Visitation rights.
The lockdowns continued for months. Modified movement at Stanley was lifted in November 2024. Restrictions at Waupun and Green Bay gradually eased through 2024-2025. For people already in restrictive housing, lockdowns compound isolation. For people in general population, prolonged modified movement conditions approximate solitary conditions in practical terms.
System Context: Overcrowding and Staffing
The Falcon report also identified severe overcrowding and high staff turnover as systemic problems in Wisconsin prisons. Wisconsin's Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has said he wants to decrease the prison population, but the reduction has not occurred in practice. Republican members of the GOP-controlled Legislature have said they oppose his goals.
The overcrowding and staffing context matters for solitary confinement: in understaffed, overcrowded facilities, people in restrictive housing may receive less out-of-cell time, fewer mental health contacts, and fewer opportunities for programming than policy requires.
Wisconsin's Advocacy Landscape
WISDOM: A Wisconsin faith-based criminal justice reform organization that co-hosted a State Capitol day of action on solitary confinement in April 2024. Active in legislative advocacy.
Ex-Incarcerated People Organizing of Wisconsin (EXPO): A formerly incarcerated advocacy organization that participated in the April 2024 Capitol action and other reform efforts.
Disability Rights Wisconsin (DRW): The federally mandated protection and advocacy organization for Wisconsin, monitors conditions for people with disabilities in DOC facilities.
What Families Can Do
If your person is in restrictive housing at a Wisconsin state prison:
Find where your person is housed. Wisconsin DOC provides an offender search at doc.wi.gov. This confirms current facility and housing status. Note whether the facility is under any active modified movement order.
Contact the facility. Contact the specific facility's administrative staff to confirm your person's housing type (disciplinary separation vs. administrative confinement), the reason for placement, the sanction term (if disciplinary), the start date, and the review schedule (if administrative confinement).
Know the 120-day policy. Wisconsin's May 2024 policy requires supervisory approval for solitary stays beyond 120 days. If your person has been in restrictive housing for more than 120 days, ask whether that approval was obtained and documented. File a grievance if no review occurred at that threshold.
Know the SMI problem. The Falcon report found that 69% of people in solitary for more than 120 days are on the DOC's mental health caseload. If your person has a mental illness and is in solitary confinement, document this and ask whether they have been referred for or are receiving mental health services. Ask whether an alternative housing evaluation has been done.
Know the suicide watch situation. If your person is or has been on suicide watch, know that Wisconsin currently places most suicide watch observation cells inside restrictive housing units. If your person is on observation status, note that DOC policy states they are not permitted therapeutic items, visits, phone calls, or recreation. The Falcon report urged DOC to change this. File a grievance if mental health care is being withheld.
File a grievance. Wisconsin DOC has an administrative grievance process. Help your person file formal grievances for mental health service denial, failure to review administrative confinement, failure to apply the May 2024 120-day approval policy, or conditions violations.
Contact Disability Rights Wisconsin. DRW (drwi.org) is the federally mandated protection and advocacy organization for Wisconsin and may be able to provide referrals and advocacy support for people with disabilities.
Contact WISDOM or EXPO. WISDOM (wisdomwisconsin.org) and EXPO are active Wisconsin advocacy organizations focused on criminal justice reform including solitary confinement.
Seek legal help. If your person has a serious mental illness and is in solitary confinement without appropriate mental health services, or if solitary has continued beyond 120 days without the required supervisory approval, consult a prisoner rights attorney familiar with Wisconsin federal courts.
Frequently asked questions
What is solitary confinement called in Wisconsin prisons?
Wisconsin DOC calls it "restrictive housing." Types: disciplinary separation (DS) -- post-hearing, defined sanction term; and administrative confinement (AC) -- non-punitive, safety-based, open-ended with periodic review. Observation status (suicide watch) is a separate category but is currently housed primarily inside restrictive housing units.
What did the 2025 Falcon report find about WI solitary?
The Falcon Inc. independent review (released November 2025, paid for by Wisconsin DOC at approximately $500,000 after a year-long review) found: 101 people in solitary on one March 2025 day had serious mental illness; 69% of people in solitary for more than 120 days were on the DOC mental health caseload (vs. 46% of general population); suicide observation cells are problematically located inside restrictive housing units; DOC should create alternative units to divert people with serious mental illness from solitary. The report commended DOC's May 2024 policy on extended solitary stays.
How many people in WI solitary have mental illness?
On one day in March 2025, 101 people in Wisconsin solitary confinement were classified as having a serious mental illness (SMI). Among people in solitary confinement for more than 120 days, 69% were on the DOC's mental health caseload -- significantly higher than the 46% of the general prison population on that caseload.
What is the May 2024 WI policy on extended solitary stays?
In May 2024, Wisconsin DOC adopted a policy requiring supervisory/senior approval before a solitary confinement placement can extend beyond 120 days. This is an administrative policy, not a statute. The November 2025 Falcon report specifically commended this policy as a positive step. If your person has been in solitary more than 120 days, ask whether this approval was obtained and documented.
Why are suicidal prisoners placed in solitary in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin's observation cells for people on suicide watch are mostly located inside restrictive housing units. A DOC spokesperson confirmed there is no specific policy requiring them to be there, but that is where they currently are. When a prisoner is placed on observation status, DOC policy states they are not allowed therapeutic items, visits, phone calls, or recreation. The Falcon report warned this is likely worsening the situation and urged DOC to move observation areas to "more appropriate environments that support therapeutic care and patient safety."
What were the 2024 prison lockdowns in Wisconsin?
In 2024, Wisconsin DOC implemented "modified movement" orders at Green Bay Correctional Institution, Waupun Correctional Institution, and Stanley Correctional Institution, citing safety concerns and understaffing. The orders restricted general movement, recreation, and visitation for months. Modified movement at Stanley was lifted in November 2024; restrictions at Waupun and Green Bay gradually eased. People already in restrictive housing were especially affected, and general population prisoners experienced conditions approximating solitary confinement.
How long can someone stay in solitary in Wisconsin?
Disciplinary separation has a defined term set at the hearing. Administrative confinement is open-ended with periodic reviews. There is no statutory maximum duration. Wisconsin's May 2024 policy requires supervisory approval for placements beyond 120 days, but this is an administrative policy, not a cap. The Falcon report found 69% of people in solitary for more than 120 days had mental health caseload involvement.
Does Wisconsin have a law limiting solitary confinement?
No. Wisconsin has no statute limiting the use or duration of adult solitary confinement, setting minimum out-of-cell time, prohibiting vulnerable population placements, or mandating public reporting. Wisconsin is not among the 12 states identified by the Unlock the Box Campaign as having passed solitary confinement legislation between July 2024 and July 2025.
Can families visit someone in Wisconsin solitary?
Visiting is typically restricted during restrictive housing placements. Contact the specific Wisconsin DOC facility before traveling. During the 2024 modified movement lockdowns at Green Bay, Waupun, and Stanley, visitation was additionally restricted for general population. Wisconsin DOC facility contact information is at doc.wi.gov.
What can families do if someone is in WI solitary?
Use Wisconsin DOC's offender search at doc.wi.gov to find your person. Contact the facility to confirm housing type, reason, and review schedule. If your person has been in solitary more than 120 days, confirm supervisory approval was obtained under the May 2024 policy. If your person has a mental illness, ask about mental health services and alternative housing evaluation. File grievances for mental health service denial, 120-day review failure, or observation-status conditions. Contact Disability Rights Wisconsin (drwi.org) or WISDOM (wisdomwisconsin.org) for advocacy support. ---