A new facility will replace the New Era House for housing recently released offenders in the community.
The state Department of Corrections has contracted with ATTIC Correctional Services for an eight-bed facility at 227 E. Richmond St. in Shawano, just a block away from the New Era House at 105 E. Richmond St.
New Era’s contract expires at the end of June. The new contract goes into effect July 1.
The DOC opened the service up for bids with the pending expiration of New Era’s contract, said Joe Sumner, DOC program and policy analyst.
The two-year contract is renewable for another four to five years, up to seven years, when the DOC will have to go out for bids again.
Sumner said New Era House had the contract for the last six or seven years.
The facility will provide transitional housing services for convicted felons that are under the DOC’s supervision, including recently released sex offenders.
In December, the city revised its ordinance covering where convicted sex offenders can reside in Shawano. The change adopted by the Common Council removed the specific reference to the New Era House and the address.
Former Police Chief Ed Whealon said at the time that the New Era House contract with the DOC was set to expire soon and the city wanted the placement facility reference to be generic in the event the contract was ever terminated.
Madison-Based ATTIC Correctional Services operates 16 facilities in the state, including Milwaukee, Madison, Appleton and Green Bay.