Wis. Stat. § 302.12: Reward of merit.

(1) The department may provide by rule for the payment of money to inmates. The rate may vary for different prisoners in accordance with the pecuniary value of the work performed, willingness, and good behavior. The payment of money to inmates working in the prison industries shall be governed by s. 303.01 (4).

(2) Money accruing under this section remains under the control of the department, to be used for the crime victim and witness assistance surcharge under s. 973.045 (4), the deoxyribonucleic acid analysis surcharge under s. 973.046 (1r), the drug offender diversion surcharge under s. 973.043, and the benefit of the inmate or the inmate’s family or dependents, under rules promulgated by the department as to time, manner and amount of disbursements. The rules shall provide that the money be used for the reasonable support of the inmate’s family or dependents before it is allocated for the drug offender diversion surcharge.