Wisconsin’s OWI Crisis Deepens | Green Bay News

Wisconsin’s prison system is buckling under a surprising surge in drunk driving arrests—especially among older adults—despite a statewide drop in OWI arrests since 2007. With overcrowding and healthcare costs soaring, the state even added an assisted living wing to a prison last year. While first-timers often get light sentences, repeat offenders face some of the harshest penalties in the nation. Alarmingly, Black and Indigenous Wisconsinites are disproportionately jailed for OWI, and women’s arrests are climbing sharply. Yet fatal crashes tied to drunk driving remain stubbornly high—nearly a third last year. Experts urge smarter prevention: raise the beer tax, cap liquor licenses, and rethink how we tackle this crisis before it worsens. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/14d7d93bd4a9d21f