MONROE - Four people have walked away from the Green County Jail over the past 10 months while on work release.
"I don't have an answer as to why," Green County Sheriff Randy Roderick said.
The number of prisoners who have walked away from the Green County Jail is comparable to the number of inmates who have walked away from other county jails, according to information provided to Roderick from other departments.
Ten departments responded to an e-mail Green County Lt. Paul Weichbrod sent to inquire about walk away inmates and how other departments handle them. The counties are similar in size to Green County.
In each of the counties, the jail staff reported that three to four inmates walk away each year.
"It shows we're in the mainstream with other departments," Roderick said.
Still, he isn't taking the situation lightly.
"We're reviewing our policies and procedures and reaching out to other jails for information," he said.
Matthew D. Schupbach, 25, Brodhead, walked away after a job interview July 13. He hasn't returned to the Jail. He was charged with escape, a class H felony. He faces up to six years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines, if convicted.
Schupbach was the third person to walk away from custody this year and the fourth since October. Johnnie N. Phiffer, 41, walked away from the Monroe Clinic June 12 after a medical appointment. He turned himself in at the Dane County Sheriff's Department a few days later. In May, Luis Miranda walked away from custody after he went to the career center at Pleasant View. He was taken into custody in Minnesota in June. In October, Nichole Abaunza walked away from custody and returned five days later.
No prisoners walked away from the jail in the previous four years, Roderick added.
Prisoners at the Jail are granted work release privileges by the court, after they are sentenced, Green County District Attorney Gary Luhman said.
Luhman said work release allows people to pay restitution, support their families and pay child support.
It provides them with a set of rules, he said.
"Jail provides them with a structured environment," Luhman said. "That's important for a lot of people who come through the system. They have someone who will wake them up in the morning, make sure they get to work on time and help them stay away from friends who may be a bad influence."
A work release program allows some people to hold a steady job for the first time in their lives, he added.
"They may have one chance to change their lives," Luhman said.
That isn't to say some still don't make mistakes and their privileges are revoked if they break the Jail rules, Roderick said.
Privileges can be revoked if a person brings tobacco or other items they shouldn't, which could even include a pen, into the Jail or if they drink alcohol or use drugs while on release.
Work release prisoners are common at the Jail, Roderick said.
In June, 29 of the 53 inmates at the Jail had work release privileges.
All of the inmates granted work release can go to medical appointments, attend counseling sessions, go to work or leave the jail to seek employment, Roderick said.
Inmates aren't allowed to use computers to fill out application forms, Roderick said.
"We don't want them surfing the Web," he said.
"I don't have an answer as to why," Green County Sheriff Randy Roderick said.
The number of prisoners who have walked away from the Green County Jail is comparable to the number of inmates who have walked away from other county jails, according to information provided to Roderick from other departments.
Ten departments responded to an e-mail Green County Lt. Paul Weichbrod sent to inquire about walk away inmates and how other departments handle them. The counties are similar in size to Green County.
In each of the counties, the jail staff reported that three to four inmates walk away each year.
"It shows we're in the mainstream with other departments," Roderick said.
Still, he isn't taking the situation lightly.
"We're reviewing our policies and procedures and reaching out to other jails for information," he said.
Matthew D. Schupbach, 25, Brodhead, walked away after a job interview July 13. He hasn't returned to the Jail. He was charged with escape, a class H felony. He faces up to six years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines, if convicted.
Schupbach was the third person to walk away from custody this year and the fourth since October. Johnnie N. Phiffer, 41, walked away from the Monroe Clinic June 12 after a medical appointment. He turned himself in at the Dane County Sheriff's Department a few days later. In May, Luis Miranda walked away from custody after he went to the career center at Pleasant View. He was taken into custody in Minnesota in June. In October, Nichole Abaunza walked away from custody and returned five days later.
No prisoners walked away from the jail in the previous four years, Roderick added.
Prisoners at the Jail are granted work release privileges by the court, after they are sentenced, Green County District Attorney Gary Luhman said.
Luhman said work release allows people to pay restitution, support their families and pay child support.
It provides them with a set of rules, he said.
"Jail provides them with a structured environment," Luhman said. "That's important for a lot of people who come through the system. They have someone who will wake them up in the morning, make sure they get to work on time and help them stay away from friends who may be a bad influence."
A work release program allows some people to hold a steady job for the first time in their lives, he added.
"They may have one chance to change their lives," Luhman said.
That isn't to say some still don't make mistakes and their privileges are revoked if they break the Jail rules, Roderick said.
Privileges can be revoked if a person brings tobacco or other items they shouldn't, which could even include a pen, into the Jail or if they drink alcohol or use drugs while on release.
Work release prisoners are common at the Jail, Roderick said.
In June, 29 of the 53 inmates at the Jail had work release privileges.
All of the inmates granted work release can go to medical appointments, attend counseling sessions, go to work or leave the jail to seek employment, Roderick said.
Inmates aren't allowed to use computers to fill out application forms, Roderick said.
"We don't want them surfing the Web," he said.