An act of the legislature was approved establishing the House of Refuge for Juvenile Delinquents (later the State Reform School, then the Wisconsin Industrial School for Boys).

The evidence

• “The second reformatory State institution established in Wisconsin, was, by an act of the legislature, approved March 7, 1857, denominated a House of Refuge for Juvenile Delinquents, afterward called the State Reform School, now known as the Wisconsin Industrial School for Boys, and is located at Waukesha, the county seat of Waukesha county. The courts and several magistrates in any county in Wisconsin may, in their discretion, sentence to this school any male child between the ages of ten and sixteen years, convicted of vagrancy, petit larceny, or any misdemeanor ; also of any offense which would otherwise be punishable by imprisonment in the State prison ; or, of incorrigible or vicious conduct in certain cases.”

  1879-history-of-rock-county/02-wisconsin-as-a-state.md, PDF p. 62

  Butterfield, C. W., et al. The History of Rock County, Wisconsin: its early settlement, growth, development, resources, etc. Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1879. Cornell University Library via the Internet Archive, archive.org/details/cu31924028871585.

  Grade A: Found on a page of one of our sources