R LOTTE BOYNTON

The state's proposal to take over the county jails was set to be the top item on the Lincoln/Sagadahoc Jail Authority's agenda Wednesday, October 3.

According to the Two Bridges Regional Jail Corrections Administrator Wayne Applebee, Maine Department of Corrections (MDOC) administration is visiting all 16 county jails to gather information on all expenses related to the cost of operating the jails. This is being done to develop a more formal plan to be presented to the legislature in January.

The state is already agreeing that their assumptions are changing and will continue to change as MDOC visits the county facilities and determines the cost of operating the jails, according to Applebee.

There are many issues that concern the jail authority with the state takeover. Sheriff Mark Westrum told the authority at their meeting in September, the plan is not a property tax relief program. "Property tax relief has never been addressed," Westrum said. "The proposal will cost the taxpayer more," he said.

According to Westrum, the plan takes away all community funding and diversion abilities. Although the state's plan is to hire more probation officers, the plan does not include buying the facility. Taxpayers in Lincoln and Sagadahoc counties would continue to pay for the cost of building the jail, but would not have a financial investment in the facility.

The transportation of inmates would be an added cost to the county. The counties would need to establish booking facilities, since the state facilities do not do booking. One of the concerns is how far the local sheriff's departments and police departments will have to travel to bring arrestees to jail.

These are just some of the many questions the jail authority has regarding the proposed takeover of the county jails.

The authority has requested a copy of the Corrections Alternatives Advisory Committee recommendations on improving the complete criminal justice system in Maine, not just the jails.

Created by the Maine legislature in the spring of 2005, the committee's purpose was to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the state's corrections system and to better manage costs. According to the enabling legislation the cost of the study was not to exceed $300,000.

Applebee said he is not aware of any recommendations by the committee to take over the county jails, and that it appears the recommendations of the study are being ignored.

The authority members are planning a breakfast meeting with the Maine legislators to talk about the committee's recommendations.

There are several points that have not been addressed by the Governor's plan, members of the authority say, including where the cost savings will come from; debt service; future increased operating costs; diversion and alternative programs; transportation; pre-arraigned inmates; over crowding; and the state's plan for staffing and training county employees to deal with the mental health population.