Waukesha County confirms plans to close Huber facility used for work-release jail inmates

WAUKESHA - Waukesha County's Huber program, a minimum-security jail where inmates are granted work-release privileges, will no longer house inmates in a facility within the county's Northview Road building.

The prospect of its closure had loomed since 2022, but Sheriff Eric Severson confirmed Friday that the Huber facility at 1400 Northview Road in Waukesha, just west of the county fairgrounds, will soon shut its doors. Law enforcement officials will instead depend on wearable electronic GPS devices to monitor those who have been convicted of crimes but are still allowed to work in conjunction with their sentences.

It's part of an effort to cut overtime costs attributed to staffing shortages over the last several years and the need to maintain the presence of law enforcement personnel out in the community despite those staffing challenges.

"Over the past few years, this has become increasingly difficult due to many factors, which include limited funding sources, a difficult job market driving elevated personnel costs and significant inflation," Severson said in a statement emailed to news media Friday afternoon. "As we work through 2024, it has become clear that we cannot conduct our corrections operations efficiently without making changes to the way we do business."

He added: "I have chosen a path that has the least impact on our service levels and that is to close the Huber facility."

Waukesha County officials confident in use of GPS monitoring

Severson said the decision was made with input from County Executive Paul Farrow, Administration Department Director Andrew Thelke and County Board supervisors to consider long-term solutions.

"It is my intent to utilize electronic monitoring technologies for all inmates assigned to the Huber program," Severson said. "This allows for GPS and alcohol monitoring, both of which are not utilized within the current program. This closure also allows for the staff currently assigned to that building to be utilized in the main jail operations — reducing the need for overtime to fill positions."

In a separate emailed statement, Jacob LaFontain, chairman of the county board's Judiciary and Law Enforcement Committee, supported Severson for his "a tough but necessary decision" to close the facility, given current business conditions.

"The JLE Committee has been closely monitoring the Huber program and toured the facility last year where we saw firsthand the challenges of staffing an antiquated building," LaFontain said, noting that the County Board has previous approved an electronic-monitoring plan as an alternative.

"Utilizing electronic monitoring is more efficient and will free up staff for essential duties within the main jail, and thanks to 24/7 GPS monitoring and alcohol detection, it will allow participants in the work release program to be more closely monitored keeping our communities safer," he added.

Northview Road building itself isn't closing

Severson said the condition of the building that houses the Huber facility was also a factor, saying it was "in disrepair."

However, Hillary Mintz, a public information officer for the county executive's office, stressed in a phone interview that the Northview building itself is not closing. It is used for other county purposes, including storage, and for now at least will remain.

Whether the county might eventually sell the building or land isn't certain. In a 2022 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article, Waukesha County Board District 18 Supervisor Larry Nelson hinted about developer interest in the property, which is in a high-traffic area. Northview Road aligns with Delafield Street, providing a direct connection from downtown Waukesha to the West Waukesha Bypass, which in turns connects with Interstate 94.

The actual closing date was not included in Severson's statement, and staffers in both the sheriff's department and county administration said they were unaware as of Friday what the timeline is for the Huber facility to be fully shuttered.

According to figures released in 2022, only about 100 people sentenced to serve their time in the facility would be affected.

Contact reporter Jim Riccioli atjames.riccioli@jrn.com.