Maine Governor Introduces Proposal to Consolidate State and County Corrections

BANGOR, Maine — Describing the current separation of state and county corrections as inefficient and unsustainable, Gov. John Baldacci proposed consolidating Maine’s correctional systems under state control.

Designed to tackle overcrowding, reduce costs and enhance consistency, the governor’s plan would close four of the state’s 15 county jails and combine the remaining 11 jails with six state prisons to create a unified system managed by the Department of Corrections.

Following the example of six other states — Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Rhode Island and Vermont — consolidating Maine’s 15 county jails and state correctional facilities into a unified, state-managed system would yield costs savings of up to $10 million in the first year and free up about 300 beds, officials say.

Neighboring Vermont, which has operated a consolidated system managed by the state, is providing a template for Maine. The two states have similar population densities and incarceration rates, although the total area of Maine is about three times larger than that of Vermont .

Vermont began its consolidation in the 1960s by converting four county jails into regional correctional centers and closing several others. The remaining county jails, which were used as short-term lockups in the newly unified system, were gradually phased out of operation.

The state now operates nine state-managed correctional facilities. Each facility is designed to serve a specific purpose within the system, tailoring programs and functions to different inmate populations. The state has built one new facility in the last 20 years and consolidation has delivered significant cost savings, operational efficiencies and system standardization, officials say.

In 2006, Vermont ‘s budget for corrections was about $130 million, compared to $145 million in Maine, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. However, both had among the highest per-inmate spending rates — Maine ($37,000), Vermont ($42,000) — in the United States.

Officials say operational costs are high in the two states because most facilities are smaller than other state prisons. Vermont ‘s extensive programming, intended to increase rehabilitation and reduce recidivism, also raises operating costs.

All but two of the facilities operating in Maine have capacities ranging from about 60 beds to 150 beds — Maine Correctional Center in Windham has about 725 beds and Maine State Prison in Warren has a capacity of 916 inmates.

Officials released figures that show operational costs at small county facilities are increasing at twice the rate of those at the larger state facilities.

Several working groups have convened to investigate the governor’s proposal with a master plan due to be completed by the start of 2008, officials say.