MADISON, Wis. – Attorney General Brad Schimel continued his 72-county statewide tour to meet with local law enforcement and elected officials this week with stops in Sheboygan and Kewaunee counties on Friday, January 19.

“Multi-disciplinary meetings, like the ones that took place in Kewaunee and Sheboygan counties today, make DOJ a better ally in the fight to make our communities safer and stronger,” said Attorney General Schimel. “Our partnership in and support of key programs like alcohol and drug treatment courts in Sheboygan and Kewaunee Counties makes sense because they save taxpayers money and improve outcomes for those involved in the criminal justice system.”

“I think this initiative by Attorney General Schimel to reach out to communities throughout the state speaks volumes about his sincere desire to find effective solutions to challenges we face at the local level in issues from drug addiction to mental health needs, from justice programs to correctional program delivery systems,” said Kewaunee County Sheriff Matt Joski. “We are grateful for his dedication and steadfast support.”

“Sheboygan County was excited to host Attorney General Schimel and appreciates him taking the time to address our county leaders in a roundtable discussion,” said Sheboygan County Sheriff Cory Roeseler.

Attorney General Schimel and the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) leadership team is meeting with law enforcement and local officials in every county to discuss public safety concerns specific to each county. The challenges faced by law enforcement leaders and the criminal justice system differ from county to county, even in neighboring communities, making it critical for DOJ to be responsive to public safety needs at the local level. DOJ is local communities’ partner in safety, and these meetings aim to discover what resources and efforts DOJ can provide to make Wisconsin safer and stronger.

DOJ financially supports a number of programs to help public safety officials keep the counties safe.

This year, Sheboygan County will receive more than $93,000 to enhance the county’s alcohol and drug courts, which provide an alternative to incarceration for those struggling with addiction.

Kewaunee and Sheboygan counties have also received $24,400 and $54,600, respectively, since 2015 to fight heroin and methamphetamine. These funds will be available through 2018.

In 2017, Sheboygan Police Department received more than $121,000 to fund beat patrol programs that support outreach activities that build relationships, form partnerships, identify and solve problems within neighborhoods that have been identified as having high violent crime rates. Also this year, Sheboygan County law enforcement will receive more than $24,000 to enhance interagency coordination and intelligence sharing targeting gangs, drugs, firearms, and associated criminal investigations.

DOJ also financially supports Kewaunee and Sheboygan counties’ crime victim services organizations, ensuring that crime victims are given guidance and counseling as they participate in the criminal justice system. Since 2015, DOJ has distributed nearly $534,000, through U.S. DOJ Victims of Crime Act grants, to Safe Harbor of Sheboygan, which provides support to victims of domestic and sexual violence. Also through these grants, DOJ has provided nearly $332,000 to the Violence Intervention Project in Kewaunee County.

In 2017, DOJ announced that Sheboygan County would serve as a pilot site and grant recipient to strengthen and improve the county’s response to sexual assault. These pilot counties will receive extensive cross training for multiple involved disciplines; assistance in developing local policies and protocols for SART teams; and guidance through the creation of a continual sexual assault case review process.

To see what other counties the Attorney General has visited, and where he will going next, go to: https://www.doj.state.wi.us/ag-roundtable-map

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