CHANGE IS POSSIBLE: SOLITARY CONFINEMENT REFORM IN MAINE
Over the past four decades, prisons across the country have increasingly relied on solitary confinement—isolating prisoners in small poorly-lit cells for 23-24 hours per day—as a disciplinary tool for prisoners who are difficult to manage in the general population. But research has shown that these conditions cause serious mental deterioration and illness. When these prisoners are eventually released from solitary confinement, they have difficulties integrating into the general prison population into life on the outside.
Maine Voices: Alternative confinement should be expanded for aging, ailing prisoners
With proper supervision, nursing homes, hospices and assisted living can be humane and cost-effective.
Prisoner dies at Maine Correctional Center
WINDHAM, Maine —
An investigation is underway into the death of an inmate at the Maine Correction Center in Windham.
Wayne Patrick King, 36, died late Sunday morning, according to prison officials.
Maine Voices: Contact with media is helpful for inmates who want to rejoin society
A policy change allowing prisoners to submit writing for publication upholds First Amendment rights.
Why Maine prisoners kept the right to publish their writings
In the absence of strong reasons to restrict prisoner communications, the Department of Corrections has dropped rule changes that would have barred inmates from having pen pals and publishing materials under their own names. This is the right decision. Such restrictions likely would have violated inmates’ constitutional rights, opening up the state to court challenges.
Authorities investigate death of inmate at Maine State Prison
The Department of Corrections says only that Donald Riley, 67, died around 2:15 p.m. Thursday.
Outspoken Maine prisoner told to ‘cease and desist’
A convicted murderer and advocate for prison reforms is ordered to curb his frequent newspaper submissions.
Get out of jail free? Task force eyes changes to bail laws
AUGUSTA, Maine — In an effort to help eliminate overcrowding in the county jails, a task force has recommended changes to the state’s bail laws and a study that could lead to the elimination of bail in most cases.
Maine Voices: Criminal justice system needs fix
Sen. Susan Collins should join the bipartisan effort to pass the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act.
Violent Riverview patient to be treated at South Carolina facility
Maine's forensic hospital is not equipped to deal with Anthony Reed's level of dangerousness, the medical director testified Monday.
Maine Voices: Allow inmates the power of a pen
BELFAST — The Maine Department of Corrections is seeking public comments through Nov. 6 on a revised disciplinary policy that includes, among other violations, prohibitions against writing: writing to a pen pal, writing via a blog that a friend on the outside helps maintain or writing through any other media outlet. I hope my fellow Mainers will join me in opposing this revision.
Maine needs a reason to restrict prisoner communications. So far, there isn’t any.
The most pressing question surrounding proposed prisoner discipline rule changes from the Maine Department of Corrections comes down to one word: Why? Why are they needed? Why is the department proposing them now? The questions are especially relevant to restrictions on prisoner communications, which are protected by the First Amendment.
Call for state forensic hospital triggers partisan finger-pointing
AUGUSTA, Maine — A legal dispute over where a severely mentally ill patient who twice attacked staff members at Riverview Psychiatric Center belongs has reignited a long-standing debate about whether Maine needs to open a new high-security psychiatric hospital and if so, who should run it.
DOC may prohibit several forms of prisoner communication
AUGUSTA, Maine —
Maine’s Department of Corrections wants to prohibit certain forms of communication between prison inmates and outsiders.
Opponents voice objections to proposed rules that could restrict Maine inmates’ speech
Many at Monday's hearing on the Maine Department of Corrections proposal said the proposal is too vague, would cause discipline problems at state prisons, and would damage efforts to rehabilitate prisoners.
Our View: Proposed inmate contact rules speak poorly of Maine corrections system
The communications limits violate free-speech rights and contradict practices shown to reduce the risk of recidivism.
Proposed rules for Maine prison inmates may restrict outside communication
The new rules are vaguely written, and the Department of Corrections has explained little about the draft discipline policy that it intends to air at a public hearing Monday.
Kennebec County Sheriff Randall Liberty named warden of Maine State Prison
Liberty has worked in law enforcement for 33 years and has served in the military.
Current, former York County corrections officers indicted
ALFRED, Maine —
Seven current and former corrections officers at the York County Jail have been indicted, according to Sheriff Maurice Ouellette.