Wisconsin Senate Considers Keeping Youth Prison Open Longer

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- The state Senate is poised to pass a bill extending the deadline for closing Wisconsin's troubled youth prison.

The prison near Irma has been plagued by allegations of guard-on-prisoner abuse. Legislators passed a law last year forcing the Department of Corrections to close the prison by Jan. 1, 2021 and create smaller facilities for juvenile offenders.

But Gov. Tony Evers says that timetable is too aggressive and it will take longer to get the smaller facilities built.

The Senate is set to vote Tuesday on a bill that would keep the prison open until mid-2021. The Assembly approved the measure last week. Senate passage would send the bill on to Evers.

Evers' spokeswoman didn't immediately respond to an email asking whether Evers will sign or veto the bill.

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