Maine Jail Law May Be Repealed

AUGUSTA, Maine — The future of a law aimed at easing prison overcrowding is uncertain after members of the Legislature’s Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee were asked recently to repeal or change the legislation it endorsed two years ago.
 
The law, which consolidated county jails throughout the state, has not reduced costs and kept tax rates down as it promised, prompting calls for its repeal.
 
Under the law counties pay a capped amount to run their jails and the state pays the rest of the cost, but jail and

Read more

Maine Could Save $19M With Corrections Consolidation

AUGUSTA, Maine — Efforts to reduce state prison costs under a jail consolidation law will save taxpayers more than $19.2 million between 2009 and 2013, according to offic

Read more

Cooperative Corrections

Funding and space deficiencies are commonplace in the correctional industry. Jurisdictions across the United States deal with overcrowded conditions, which often leads to the absorption of programming space to accommodate inmate housing. The lack of programming space leads to a lack of inmate services and rehabilitation, which helps contribute to higher recidivism rates. It’s a downward spiral that hasn’t stopped for years in many communities.

Read more