NCJ Number
60002
Date Published
1978
Length
110 pages
Annotation
THE ADEQUACY AND CAPACITY OF MAINE'S CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM IS ASSESSED, BASED ON INFORMATION ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE STATE CRIMINAL CODE ON THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM, IN THIS 1978 MASTER PLAN.
Abstract
THE EXISTING CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM IN MAINE ENCOMPASSES NINE ELEMENTS: FACILITY CAPACITY AND TYPE; PROBATION AND PAROLE; SYSTEM FLOW; SOURCE OF INMATES (FACILITY AND PROGRAM LOCATION); OFFENDER PROFILES; WOMEN OFFENDERS; COSTS; CRIMINAL CODE AND BUREAU OF CORRECTIONS STATUTES; AND INMATE POPULATION FORECASTS. THE PLAN PRESENTS A BALANCED APPROACH TO MAINE'S CORRECTIONAL NEEDS. NO ONE IDEOLOGICAL FOCUS GUIDES THE PLAN. RATHER, AN ATTEMPT IS MADE TO DEVELOP A CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM THAT IS RESPONSIVE TO DIVERSE FORMS OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. IN THIS RESPECT, THE PLAN IS DESIGNED TO ADDRESS TWO CONCERNS, VARIETY AND FLEXIBILITY. VARIETY IN THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM IS NECESSARY TO MEET DIVERSE NEEDS. THE ERRATIC NATURE OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM UNDERSCORES THE NEED TO MAINTAIN A FLEXIBLE POSTURE WITH REGARD TO CONSTANTLY CHANGING CONDITIONS, MANY OF WHICH ARE BEYOND THE CONTROL OF CORRECTIONAL ADMINISTRATORS. THE FOCUS OF THE PLAN IS ON PROBATION AND PAROLE PROGRAM TYPES AND ADEQUACY, AND THE FLOW OF OFFENDERS INTO AND OUT OF THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM. WITHIN THE DIVISION OF PROBATION AND PAROLE, IT IS NECESSARY TO STANDARDIZE THE PRESENTENCE INVESTIGATION AND REPORTING PROCESS TO COURTS. IN ADDITION, THE SUPERVISION OF OFFENDERS NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED USING AN EFFICIENT CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. AT THE MAINE STATE PRISON AND THE MAINE CORRECTIONAL CENTER, IMPROVEMENTS ARE NECESSARY IN PROGRAMS AND LIVING CONDITIONS. THE BUREAU OF CORRECTIONS PLANS TO EXPAND ITS PRERELEASE CAPABILITY BY ADDING TWO ADDITIONAL PRERELEASE CENTERS ON A REGIONAL BASIS. THE FLOW OF OFFENDERS THROUGH THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM IS TO BE FORMALIZED INTO A PROGRESSIVE SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS OFFENDERS TO BE REINTEGRATED INTO THE COMMUNITY ON A GRADUAL BASIS. THIS PROCESS IS TO INCLUDE PRERELEASE AND, IN MANY CASES, SUPERVISED COMMUNITY RELEASE. TWO OTHER AREAS DESERVING ATTENTION ARE PROGRAMS AND FACILITIES FOR WOMEN OFFENDERS AND DETERIORATING COUNTY JAILS. APPENDIXES CONTAIN INMATE PROFILE, POPULATION FORECAST, AND CRIME DATA; ELEMENTS OF THE CRIMINAL CODE AND BUREAU OF CORRECTIONS STATUTES; AND A CHRONOLOGY OF REPORTS AND STUDIES AND A LITERATURE REVIEW. (AUTHOR'S ABSTRACT MODIFIED--DEP)