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| Change coming to jails |
| By MEGHAN V. MALLOY- Morning Sentinel |
| Published: 02/19/2009 |
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Maine's jails could close or become overcrowded given potential changes to the state budget, county corrections officials said. The changes hinge on a decision by the state to provide additional funding outside of the state property-tax cap for county jail operations starting July 1. On that date, state funding to Maine's 15 county jails will cease unless an agreement is reached between the Legislature and the State Board of Corrections, the nine-person group that oversees county jails in Maine. "Without funding, the system falls apart, and it falls apart fast," said Kennebec County Administrator Robert Devlin, who also serves as co-chairman of the Board of Corrections Budget Committee. The Legislature approved a consolidated jail and prison system in April 2008. The legislation's purpose was to save money and streamline a corrections system that includes county jails and state prisons. If county jails need additional funding for their operations outside their revenue and budgets, the State Board of Corrections must request it on the counties' behalf. The board also reviews corrections budgets and makes the decision if a jail remains full-service or not. A $1.5 million measure was passed by the Legislature to fund jails through June. In the state's biennial budget, however, funding for jails has been axed for the second half of 2009, Devlin said. "Some jails see the writing on the wall right now," Devlin said. "They know what's inevitable and are asking (the State Board of Corrections), 'How can we change our mission and what we do with our facility?'" Read more. If link has expired, check the website of the article's original news source. |
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