Madison's State Street - Wasting over $3 Million a Year

This week's Isthmus features an article, Chronic pains detailing the problems of a few dozen offenders who accounted for almost 400 police contacts in the State Street area during a five month period.

The two men were no ordinary criminals...Each person on the list of 24 had 10 or more contacts with police in the first five months of 2008. Lindsey, 41, was one of the worst: From January to June, he had 42 recorded police contacts, including being sent to Dane County's detox center 16 times...

The study group found that 98 people were responsible for nearly 800 police contacts downtown during this brief period.

An examination of the repeaters shows that almost all of them were either homeless, suffered from mental illness, or had a drug-alcohol dependency problems.

What is so shocking is that a similar study was done over ten years ago.

In the intervening years I  repeatedly told anyone who would listen that a computerized list of the individuals who showed up most frequently with Police or Fire department contacts is the key to reducing problems downtown.

It is real simple.

Read the entire Isthmus article. The last half details solutions critical to a solution.

These individuals need help. They need help, that by law, the state of Wisconsin and Dane County are required to provide. They need treatment or in some cases institutionalization, especially if they refuse to stay on a treatment program.

The study just completed only covered police contacts. They should include fire and paramedic contacts as well. The top twenty offenders are probably good for close to 3000 contacts in a year. At an average cost of $1000 a contact that comes to $3 million annually.*

All of this points to the fact that the city is chasing its tail and the wrong culprits when it comes to liquor-fueled downtown problems including violence.

State Street's problems emanate from two sources associated with frequent liquor and drug abuse. The first group is already identified - older men with severe health problems.

The second are violent thugs who were not found in the area ten or twenty years ago. They too can treated. Remove the older men, free up law enforcement to deal with the young thugs, thus setting a higher standard for State Street behavior, and the problem is solved without draconian measures affecting the sale of alcohol to reasonable people.

Then all that is left is to close the over the top private alcohol fueled parties, and get the youngsters back in the taverns where they belong.

An effective Madison Neighborhood Resource Team (NRT) fro State Street is a start. If we look at it on a cost effective basis, the county's Joining Forces For Families (JFF) should make an appearance.

After those problems are solved, imagine what could be done with the money to work with low income households.

It might also result in fewer murders and violent assaults.

*This number ($3 million) is probably low. While some contacts may be nothing more than instruction to cease offensive behavior, if the contact includes a conveyance, a booking, and subsequent prosecution which will include multiple police officers, the cost is at least $1000. A fire conveyance and detox is probably a minimum of $2000.

Comments

[The Critical Badger]

Could not agree more on the private parties remark. During the ALDP debate, students and Ald. Eli Judge described in quite extensive details the unsafe atmosphere of college parties in the downtown area, compared to the regulated bar atmosphere.

Too bad Mayor Dave, Joel Plant, and Noble Wray seem to believe they'll actually solve both the alcohol and "party problem" downtown with bar and house party raids.

Yeah, right.

[Irwin Fletcher]

This is the direct result of good ole liberal policies. These folks need help, they need to be in a facility that will provide them the medical\psychological\substance treatment they so desperately need. BUT because WI allows these folks to walk out of any facility and family members cannot have them held against their wishes, these sick people end up on the streets, drunk and causing harm to themselves and others. So feel good about yourselves that people who are very sick have the freedom to not get the help they need. If these folks could be held in a treatment facility madison would have $3M to help other people.

Liberal policies have a price.

[John]

The ALDP has nothing to do with underage drinking, the prime source of house parties. The City can't change the drinking age and the neo-prohibitionists don't want to. Until that changes house parties and the problems that come with them will continue to plaque the downtown. Some of the "thugs" are predators, but a lot of them are college students with a sense of entitlement. But, I agree, the that the County needs to be more aggressive about commitment with the chronic abusers--I just don't think that will change the City's "boys will be boys" attitude towards the college kids.