Madison and Dane County are adopting a public health approach to violence that's based on data, science and the voices of those most affected in the community.
Dean Mosiman
- Bio
Dean Mosiman covers Madison city government for the Wisconsin State Journal.
Mayor Paul Soglin and Dane County Executive Joe Parisi are vowing additional funding in their 2019 budgets to build on recent initiatives.
Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Oakland have suffered jumps in gun violence, employing hospital-based and public health initiatives in an attempt to stop it.
Incarcerated, he pursued every educational opportunity available, treatment programs, faith-based offerings and a course of independent learning to expand his world view.
After release from prison, he began offering informal peer support to others who were incarcerated and reentering the community.
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Peer support specialists have experience in recovering from mental health problems or substance abuse, and in this case, have been incarcerated.
The program, reserved for the city's most prolific violent offenders, offers help from service providers or swift and stern punishment if they commit new crimes.
Necessary in many cases, incarceration nevertheless can compound the effect of childhood trauma, make some problems worse and separate families.
"We do have some happy times, but we do go to a lot of funerals," Dane County Jail teacher Deb Anderson said. "It's a heartbreaking place, but it's a hopeful place."
A diagram outlining elements of Milwaukee's Blueprint for Peace at the city's Office of Violence Prevention. The city adopted its plan, a pote…