Wisconsin Community Service

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In 1901, the Society of the Friendless was started in Topeka, Kansas by a movement out of the Congregational Church. Their mission was to help the men and women released from prison start a new life that would command the respect of the community, as well as themselves, and to advocate for reform and changes related to criminal justice institutions and handling of prisoners. Their activities included finding temporary housing and employment for the released offenders and discussion the need for reform with state and federal politicians and government agencies. The Society began to spread to other states throughout the country, and in November 1912, Reverend A.C. Petrie resigned his position in the Minnesota Society to begin a similar organization in Wisconsin. The Society was based in Milwaukee and flourished until 1918. Mrs. Ruth Baker, the daughter of Reverend James Parsons (one of the founders for the national Society) replaced Reverend Petrie in 1924 and became actively involved in the "Wisconsin Division of the Society for the Friendless". Mrs. Baker was the sole staff person and the Superintendent of the Wisconsin Division, concerning herself with raising funds and visiting inmates at the House of Correction and the State Prison. These activities continued for the next few years. The Wisconsin Division merged with a similar agency, "Bethlehem Star", in 1927 at the urging of funding sources and became the "Wisconsin Society for the Friendless". The Superintendent position, which was in charge of fundraising, was given to Mr. Shepard and Mrs. Baker was responsible for providing casework activities and services from 1924 to 1935. In 1935, Mr. Reese, a caseworker, was hired as the State Representative. He was the first person hired who actually had training in the social work field. This was a turning point for the agency in the direction of greater professional competence. On May 16, 1941, the agency became "Wisconsin Service Association" (WSA) and incorporated under the laws of Wisconsin as a nonprofit corporation. It elected Board of Directors and hired an Executive Director (formerly known as Superintendent). WSA joined the Community Chest, the precursor to the United Way, upon incorporation. In 1959, the agency realized that the services being offered to paroled offenders were duplicating services of the Division of Corrections. In response to this, WSA divided their services into two categories, direct client services, and indirect client services (research, demonstration projects, public information, etc.). This structure allowed the agency to grow. During these years, the WSA was a strong voice for correctional reform and advocacy for the reintegration of offenders in the community. These efforts were funded by the United Ways throughout the state. In 1966, the Wisconsin Service Agency changed its name once again to its current name of Wisconsin Correctional Service (WCS). In 1970, WCS had an annual budget of $75, 000 and less than 10 employees. These numbers increased rapidly throughout the 1970's and 1980's. The growth was caused by a need for a wider range of services in the community, the availability of funds through the government to finance new correctional reform projects (LEAA), and the increasing public concern about crime. Many of the programs that were developed during this time still exist today as parts of much larger programs. By 1990, the number of staff increased to approximately 200 full and part time employees, with an annual budget of 7.3 million dollars. WCS is in its ninetieth year of annually providing services to more than 30, 000 individuals and their families who are involved with the criminal justice system. WCS has more than 240 full and part time employees to operate 36 programs with a budget over 11 million dollars. WCS remains on the edge of developing innovative programs, advocating for