Director’s Update: August 2022
Operations: July operations are on track.
MPAC currently has a staff size of 14 individuals. Joseph Jackson, Jan Collins, Peter Lehman, Whitney Parrish, Joelle Jackson, Cheryl Mills, Bobby Payzant, Daniel Fortune, Brandon Brown, Wendy Allen, Andre Hicks, Antonio Jackson, Linda Dolloff and Kathy Elliot
MPAC - hired Linda Dolloff as a community coordinator.
MPAC has 4 volunteer Coordinators leading projects. Doug Dunbar, Jon Courtney, Jamie Peloquin & Leslie Manning.
MPAC staff has co-created a new Mission. Value, and Purpose statements
Our Mission is to support and advocate for Maine’s incarcerated citizens, their families and friends.
Our Purpose is to reduce Maine’s use of incarceration by advocating for a criminal legal system that is ethical, humane and restorative.
Our Vision is of a justice system that is restorative. It supports humanity in every person, and reflects and creates transformation and accountability.
MPAC Staff and Volunteer Coordinators meet as a full team weekly to update and resolve tensions.
MPAC staff members are in regular communications with incarcerated residents and formerly incarcerated individuals.
MPAC staff meeting in-person with incarcerated residents at MSP, Bolduc, MCC, SMWRC.
MPAC our 501c3 application is approved. WE Are Officially a 501c3.
MPAC Administrative Assistant responds and directs incoming correspondence to staff. MPAC responded to 10 requests for support via written correspondence.
MPAC Strategy Meeting is usually held the second Saturday of each month. We didn't hold a meeting last month because of our staff and board retreat.
MPAC - Legislative Strategy Meeting every Tuesday at 6pm.Weekly meetings are held to discuss legislative strategy.
MPAC- Held a staff and board retreat. Our workshop was facilitated by Samaa Abdurraqib who was kind enough to donate her usual fee to the organization.
Stop Killing Us - Sept 10 rally focusing on decrim, community resources, MAT in jail(All Jails are required to have MAT available to anyone who requests it by July of next year if they receive state funds(all jails receive 20% of their operating funds from the state).
On-going: Advocacy, correspondence, and Direct Dialogue.
MPAC Strategy Meeting - July 11, 2022! MPAC Strategy Meeting July 11, 2022
MPAC - next strategy meeting this Saturday August 13, 2022!
MDOC - MPAC Director met with Roy King about Deputy Warden Richardson's Facebook post. MDOC'S lawyer determined the post fell under the constitutional protection of free speech.
MDOC - Complaints about Maine's good time law being inconsistently applied between facilities. They name those taking education classes at MSP are not being rewarded with extra 2 days of good time per month as those at MCC.
Penobscot county jail- The county has decided to not hold a referendum this year on their jail expansion proposal.
Androscoggin County jail: incarcerated residents report black mold being present in the showers and bathroom. Staff removed the shower curtains and residents replaced them with towels. The towels also began to grow black mold. Residents filed grievances. Families are being advised to contact the Sheriff.
MCC Reentry Center- meetings happening once a month.
MPAC staff are supporting formerly incarcerated individuals in reentry, with transport, peer to peer support. One on one and in group settings.
MCC Longtimers - meeting with Longtimers twice a month. A number of women have medical complaints. MPAC Director contacted the medical provider and MDOC Administrators and superintendents to address their concerns.
MSP - a person was released on Community Confinement from the 500 building to community confinement for the first time.
BOLDUC - The person passed away at Bolduc unit is reported to have had underlying health issues. His death raised questions about MDOC'S use of its Compassionate Release. Last check no one is reported to be in the community on Compassionate Release.
ACJ- Brandon and Jeremy Hitlz are planning a strategy for advocating for incarcerated residents. MPAC connected incarcerated residents raising complaints to reporters Evan Pop, and Callie Ferguson.
MPRN- continues to support reentry transition.
Projects:
MCC Reentry Center- MPAC is planning a Film series this fall at both women’s facilities, followed by artist workshops. Jon Courtney leading!
Gallery Exhibit Project - Jan Collins/ Olivia Hochstadt lead, along with our new MECA & D intern Sophie Craven.
Gallery Art Exhibit Bangor Library Monday, August 15, 5:30pm -8pm for the opening of INSIDE VISION: An Outside Exhibition of Inside Art, featuring the art of youth and adult residents of Maine's correctional facilities.
Gallery hours, until September 6, will be M-Th 10:00 - 7:00pm, Friday 10-5:00pm.
Pros and Cons - peer support group has a softball team. They play Monday night. 80 percent of the group are engaged in community activities. They had a Barbecue at the Rest Center. Paco and Brandon played music.
Conversations - Monday night peer support groups in Portland. Discussions have been about everyday challenges, substance use, custody, and relationship tensions.
Charles Jordan House - we had a setback on this project. Our grant proposal to the Maine Housing Authority was denied due to our lack of experience in housing. Currently looking for other sources of funding.
MPAC- supported a Vigil for Nicole Turner, the woman who died in York County Jail. Daria Cullen did great work with the press and family to pull it all together. Craig and Daria met with Sheriff King who provided podium, chairs, microphone, water, chaplain, and rescue. News stations present. WCSH, WGBH, WMTW,.
Library books in Maine's prisons and jails. Jon Courtney leads! MPAC Library Book proposal for MDOC
MCC Reentry Center- Leslie attended the BOV meeting for MCC. The BOV spent a lot of time talking about staffing levels. MCC is not as worried about staffing levels as other facilities. The New facility in Windham is delayed. The new facility will be able to function with fewer staff.
MCC Longtimers - met with the Women on Thursday. No BOV member met with the women on the hill. MPAC shared the medical concerns women raised in our meeting with admin. Amanda met with the women to investigate their medical complaints.
Reentry Support - MPAC Coordinator Peter Lehman attended 18 post-release meetings over the past month and assisted with transport of a released individual.
Higher Education In Prison - Joseph Jackson leads. Found funding to hire Linda Dolloff to identify supports and resources for returning students.
Longcreek- Brandon going into Longcreek and working with youth. We are partnering with Opportunity Scholars who have a program to pay kids to pursue educational goals. Half of the 18 kids in Longcreek are enrolled.
Justice Scholar Strategy - Joseph Jackson leads. Meeting monthly with system impacted students and former students to develop strategies to improve access to education for incarcerated students
Freedom And Captivity - Catherine Besteman leads. Freedom and Captivity had a retreat in Raymond Maine where each group updated on their process of creating the curriculum.
Research Project: Death's in Maine's prisons and jails since 2012.
Communications:
Comms decided to only post links to our social media when sharing information about a death in prisons or jails. We find mugshots offensive.
MPAC'S brochure.
Public engagement is On-track.
Article on Olivia Hochstadt project! https://maineartsjournal.com/olivia-hochstadt-becoming-an-artist-in-prison/
MPAC Director Stonecoast Interview
Janet Drew's Letter to the Editor
Donors/ funders:
UMA - 3,600
UMA - 4,600
Maine Initiatives- $1,900
BTS Ctr - $1,000
We submitted an application to the Davis Foundation
Legislative:
Assistant Director Jan Collins is leading a project to survey all candidates running for Maine’s Legislature.
MPAC Survey for Legislative Candidates
Solitary confinement
Parole
Vigils for County Jail deaths.
Rally at Statehouse August 18th!
