MILWAUKEE, Wis. (WTAQ) - Crime in Wisconsin’s largest city went down by over 7 percent last year, and almost 12 percent in the last 2 years. Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn said total crimes have gone down for 8 quarters in a row. But he said crime could go up again as the result of the weak economy, and the state’s decision to release certain non-violent offenders before their prison sentences are done. Flynn said everyone’s concerned about what the economy has done to state revenues – but the state’s decisions are having a largely negative impact on Milwaukee.

The chief said there are not enough state parole and probation officers to keep tabs on the inmates who get released. Flynn said the state might think it’s saving money but it’s not, because higher crime means higher costs for insurance, medical care, and the assumption that a neighborhood can be unsafe to do business in. Flynn, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, and Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm all met recently with state Corrections’ Secretary Rick Raemisch about the issue. And all 3 said more needs to be spent on helping released prisoners re-adjust to society.