Healthcare in the Dane County Jail

February 17, 2022
Elise Schaffer, PIO, (608) 284-6142
Sheriff's Office

In recent days, the Dane County Sheriff’s Office has received multiple inquiries regarding the level of healthcare provided inside the Dane County Jail. Due to state and federal privacy laws, we do not share specific information regarding an individual’s medical or mental health condition. In addition, for jail staff to have access to someone’s medical records, a medical release form must be signed by the resident.

Dane County contracts with Wellpath, a private organization specializing in providing medical services to correctional facilities. Wellpath is grounded in providing excellent patient care and operates in accordance with national standards in order to build a culture of safety and quality healthcare services.

When an in-custody individual is hospitalized, the decision to discharge that person from the hospital is entirely a medical decision reached by the staff of that particular hospital, and is in no way influenced by the Dane County Sheriff’s Office. Wellpath staff communicate with the local hospitals after discharge to ensure effective continuity of care. When jail medical staff feel any resident’s medical condition requires hospitalization, that resident is transported to a local hospital for evaluation. The decision to admit that resident to the hospital or return them to jail, once again, becomes the decision of the medical professionals at that hospital.

The proposed Jail Consolidation Project includes a dedicated medical unit in the design to help facilitate quality care. The current facilities do not allow for dedicated medical beds.