The Sconi

Restoration News reported that Microsoft has awarded a $40,000 grant to Legal Intervention for Transforming Wisconsin (LIFT) and Ex-Incarcerated People Organizing (EXPO) through its Catalyst Grant Program, which is administered by the Urban Institute.

Crime in Wisconsin has been a subject of significant debate, particularly concerning the balance between public safety and justice reform. According to the Wisconsin Uniform Crime Reporting Data Dashboard, the state provides detailed five-year trends on both violent and property offenses statewide. Analysts indicate that these data shed light on policy impacts across recent administrations and inform ongoing discussions about crime and reform.

Wisconsin’s recidivism rate stands at 38.1% over a three-year period, according to data from the Wisconsin Department of Corrections. This statistic highlights that more than one-third of individuals released from state prison are rearrested within three years, raising concerns about rehabilitation and public safety. The Wisconsin DOC’s recidivism dashboard offers interactive tools and reports that track these trends by release year, gender, age, and offense type.

Technical parole revocations in Wisconsin—incidents where individuals return to prison for violations rather than new crimes—accounted for over 13,800 admissions between January 2019 and May 2023. This figure represents about a third (34%) of all prison admissions during that time frame, illustrating how community supervision policies significantly influence incarceration rates. Policymakers and criminal justice reform advocates often discuss whether reducing technical revocations can decrease prison populations without compromising public safety.

Microsoft is a global technology company headquartered in Redmond, Washington. Founded in 1975, it develops various products and services—including the Windows operating system, Microsoft Office productivity suite, and Azure cloud computing platform—and is one of the largest corporations worldwide by both revenue and market capitalization. The company also operates philanthropic programs such as grants and social impact initiatives like the Catalyst Grant Program administered by the Urban Institute.