JUST DIAL SEVEN. ONE OF WISCONSIN’S MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISONS HAS BEEN UNDER WHAT INMATES CALL A LOCKDOWN FOR MONTHS. INMATES IN WAUPUN CORRECTIONAL SAY THEY’RE NOT GETTING PROPER MEDICAL CARE, SOMETHING THE STATE HAS DENIED. NOW THE FAMILY OF ONE INMATE FOUND DEAD IN HIS CELL SAYS HE NEVER RECEIVED THE PROPER MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT HERE IS INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER JAMES STRATTON. DEAN HOFFMAN SPENT 80 DAYS INSIDE WEAPON CORRECTIONAL INSIDE WHAT INMATES CALL A LOCKDOWN. HE’S NOW ONE OF THREE INMATES TO DIE SINCE THAT LOCKDOWN STARTED IN WEAPON RECORDS OBTAINED BY HIS FAMILY APPEAR TO SHOW HOFFMAN DID NOT RECEIVE A PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION BECAUSE OF WHAT DOC CALLS RESTRICTED MOVEMENT. HE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN HELP HAD HE BEEN ABLE TO, AND HE WAS UNABLE TO, AND HE WAS CALLING OUT FOR HELP. AND THEY WERE NOT HELPING HIM. THOSE SAME RECORDS SHOW HOFFMAN WAS RECEIVING MEDICATION FOR BEING BIPOLAR AND DID NOT SHOW SIGNS OF SELF HARM. JUST DAYS BEFORE HIS DEATH, HE WAS SENT TO A POD AFTER GETTING CONVICTED OF SERIOUS DOMESTIC ABUSE CHARGES. HOFFMAN PLACED IN RESTRICTED HOUSING SIMILAR TO SOLITARY CONFINEMENT FOR NINE DAYS BEFORE HE DIED, HE WAS THERE, RECORDS SHOW, BECAUSE HE TOLD OFFICERS HE WAS THREATENED BY OTHER INMATES. THE FAMILY PROTESTING WITH OTHERS IN MADISON IN RECENT WEEKS, WANTS ANSWERS FOR THEM AND OTHER INMATES. WE’VE HAD THREE DEATHS IN THAT PRISON, A DECLARATION THAT THEY’RE GOING TO MAKE CHANGES, BUT NOTHING’S DONE YET. HOW MANY MORE ARE TO COME? THAT’S WHAT I’M AFRAID OF. WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS STAFF AND THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE HAVE ANNOUNCED CHANGES TO BOTH WEAPON AND GREEN BAY CORRECTIONAL THAT THEY SAY WILL WORK TO EASE THESE RESTRICTIONS. THOSE CHANGES INCLUDE REDUCING THE USE OF SOLITARY CONFINEMENT AND CHANGING WEAPON TO SINGLE CELL HOUSING, HOPING TO HELP AN UNDERSTAFFED PRISON. IN THE NEWSROOM, I’M JAMES STRATTON TO OTHER INMATES HAVE ALSO DIED IN WEAPON SINCE THE RESTRICTED MOVEMENT BEGAN. TYSHAWN LEMMONS DIED ON OCTOBER SECOND. CAMERON WILLIAMS DIED ON OCTOBER 30TH. THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS SPOKESPERSON HAS REPEATEDLY SAID INMATES ARE GETTING MEDICAL MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT IN MULTIPLE STATEMENTS TO 12 NEWS. NOW WE HAVE CONTACTED THEM FOR THIS STO
3 inmates have died during Waupun 'lockdown'; Families push for answers
Tyshun Lemons, Dean Hoffmann and Cameron Williams have all died in Waupun Correctional during lockdown
![WISN logo]()
Updated: 6:25 PM CST Dec 3, 2023
Dean Hoffmann spent 80 days inside Waupun Correctional Institution, inside what inmates and their families call a lockdown. His family says he was found dead, hanging in his cell, on June 29. Two other inmates, Tyshun Lemons and Cameron Williams, also died in the prison in October.Records obtained by Hoffmann's family appear to show Hoffmann did not have a psychological evaluation because of what the Department of Corrections calls "restricted movement." In May, he did not receive that treatment due to movement restrictions, despite receiving other medical evaluation. Records show he was receiving medication, Hoffmann was bipolar and was in prison for serious domestic abuse charges. However, in the final days, records show he refused some of his medication."He would have gotten help, had he been able to, and he was unable to," said Megan Kolb, Hoffmann's daughter. "He was calling out for help and they were not helping him."Hoffmann was placed in restrictive housing, often called solitary confinement, for nine days before his death, his family says. Records show he was placed in the restrictive housing unit because he wanted to leave his cell due to being threatened by other inmates. Records also show officers would not grant the movement, and Hoffmann refused to go back to his cell. Records also show Hoffmann was seen by a psychological services unit worker on June 26, while in restrictive housing, but a report about the visit wasn't written until after he died. The report states he did not have any indication of self harm and denied having any concerns.Hoffmann's family has protested with others in Madison in recent weeks, wanting answers for them and others."We've had three deaths in that prison, and declaration they're going to make changes, but nothing is done yet," said Deb Hoffmann, Dean's ex-wife and best friend. "How many more are to come? That's what I'm afraid of."The lockdown at Waupun and Green Bay Correctional facilities are working to be lifted, Gov. Tony Evers announced changes less than a month after a federal lawsuit was filed alleging conditions in Waupun were cruel and unusual punishment.The changes to those prisons include reducing the use of solitary confinement, and transitioning Waupun to single-cell housing, aiming to take the pressure off of an understaffed prison.At Waupun, visitors are restricted from visiting inmates, and recreation time and and "personal hygiene frequency" are suspended because the prison is short-staffed.Inmates inside Waupun have described conditions that they say violate their human rights.Wisconsin DOC has repeatedly told WISN 12 News that inmates are receiving medical care inside the prison. DOC did not immediately respond to a request for comment Sunday.
WAUPUN, Wis. — Dean Hoffmann spent 80 days inside Waupun Correctional Institution, inside what inmates and their families call a lockdown. His family says he was found dead, hanging in his cell, on June 29.
Two other inmates, Tyshun Lemons and Cameron Williams, also died in the prison in October.
Records obtained by Hoffmann's family appear to show Hoffmann did not have a psychological evaluation because of what the Department of Corrections calls "restricted movement." In May, he did not receive that treatment due to movement restrictions, despite receiving other medical evaluation. Records show he was receiving medication, Hoffmann was bipolar and was in prison for serious domestic abuse charges. However, in the final days, records show he refused some of his medication.
"He would have gotten help, had he been able to, and he was unable to," said Megan Kolb, Hoffmann's daughter. "He was calling out for help and they were not helping him."
Hoffmann was placed in restrictive housing, often called solitary confinement, for nine days before his death, his family says. Records show he was placed in the restrictive housing unit because he wanted to leave his cell due to being threatened by other inmates. Records also show officers would not grant the movement, and Hoffmann refused to go back to his cell. Records also show Hoffmann was seen by a psychological services unit worker on June 26, while in restrictive housing, but a report about the visit wasn't written until after he died. The report states he did not have any indication of self harm and denied having any concerns.
Hoffmann's family has protested with others in Madison in recent weeks, wanting answers for them and others.
"We've had three deaths in that prison, and declaration they're going to make changes, but nothing is done yet," said Deb Hoffmann, Dean's ex-wife and best friend. "How many more are to come? That's what I'm afraid of."
The lockdown at Waupun and Green Bay Correctional facilities are working to be lifted, Gov. Tony Evers announced changes less than a month after a federal lawsuit was filed alleging conditions in Waupun were cruel and unusual punishment.
The changes to those prisons include reducing the use of solitary confinement, and transitioning Waupun to single-cell housing, aiming to take the pressure off of an understaffed prison.
At Waupun, visitors are restricted from visiting inmates, and recreation time and and "personal hygiene frequency" are suspended because the prison is short-staffed.
Inmates inside Waupun have described conditions that they say violate their human rights.
Wisconsin DOC has repeatedly told WISN 12 News that inmates are receiving medical care inside the prison. DOC did not immediately respond to a request for comment Sunday.
