NCJ Number
61914
Date Published
1979
Length
218 pages
Annotation
PROPOSALS OFFERED BY THE MAINE SHERIFFS' ASSOCIATION IN RESPONSE TO DETENTION AND CORRECTIONAL ISSUES ARE CONTAINED IN THIS PLAN.
Abstract
MAINE'S 16 SHERIFFS PARTICIPATED IN PLAN DEVELOPMENT OVER A 9-MONTH PERIOD. ALSO INVOLVED WERE THE STATE LEGISLATURE, THE STATE GOVERNOR, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, THE MAINE BUREAU OF CORRECTIONS, THE MAINE CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION, THE MAINE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PLANNING AND ASSISTANCE AGENCY, CONSULTANTS, INTERESTED OFFICIALS, AND CITIZENS. IN THE PLAN DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, CONSIDERATION WAS GIVEN TO THE NEED FOR INCREASED COMMUNICATION AND COOPERATION BETWEEN VARIOUS GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED OR INTERESTED IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND SPECIFICALLY IN DETENTION AND CORRECTIONS. SPECIFIC ISSUES WERE THE LARGE NUMBER OF PRETRIAL DETAINEES, INADEQUATE SEPARATION OF INMATES, FIRE SAFETY, HEALTH, INMATE AND STAFF SAFETY, MEDICAL SERVICES, RECREATION, LIGHT AND NOISE LEVELS, SMALL CELLS, AND HEATING AND VENTILATION SYSTEMS. THE MAINE SHERIFFS' ASSOCIATION FORMULATED A STATEMENT OF GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR DETENTION AND CORRECTIONS, THE MAJOR THRUST OF WHICH WAS PUBLIC SAFETY. CRITERIA FOR THE DELIVERY OF DETENTION AND CORRECTIONAL SERVICES INCLUDE COST EFFICIENCY, A SYSTEMS APPROACH, FLEXIBILITY, UNIFORMITY, OFFERING SERVICES AS CLOSE TO HOMES OF INMATES AS POSSIBLE, COMPLYING WITH STATE STANDARDS, USE OF EXISTING FACILITIES WHEN POSSIBLE, USE OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES, IMPROVED CLASSIFICATION, HIRING AND RETAINING QUALIFIED STAFF, USING DETENTION AS A LAST RESORT, AND INCREASING SENTENCING ALTERNATIVES FOR COURTS. AFTER EVALUATING VARIOUS ALTERNATIVES, THE ASSOCIATION PROPOSED A FLEXIBLE COUNTY-LEVEL DETENTION AND CORRECTIONS SYSTEM WITH AN EMPHASIS ON INDIVIDUAL DETAINEES AND OFFENDERS. IMPROVEMENTS TO BE MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROPOSED SYSTEM ARE DESCRIBED. AN EVALUATION OF THE PLAN AND AN IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE ARE PROVIDED. SUPPORTING DATA ARE INCLUDED. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON PLAN DEVELOPMENT IS APPENDED. (DEP)