GRGB pro bono effort secures restitution payment percentage.

• Author: Teske, Ali
• Position: Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown on Victor Ortiz, Jr.'s prison wages

Byline: Ali Teske

The Wisconsin Court of Appeals has agreed to cut in half the amount of prison wages the state was withholding from a prisoner convicted of robbery following a successful pro bono intervention by Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown.

Victor Ortiz, Jr. was convicted in 2010 of first-degree reckless injury and armed robbery with the use of force. Milwaukee County Circuit Court sentenced him to confinement in state prison and extended supervision, ordering him to pay $43,777 in restitution.

In April 2016, the Wisconsin Department of Corrections circulated a memo to all inmates stating that a new policy, Division of Adult Institutions Policy No. 309.45.02, would soon increase the rate of deduction for inmate funds used for restitution, statutory surcharges and court costs. The new maximum would be set at 50% of their prison wages.

Ortiz responded by requesting an amended judgment of conviction stating only 25% restitution could be paid from his prison...