NCJ Number
28926
Journal
Corrections Magazine Volume: 1 Issue: 6 Dated: (JULY/AUGUST 1975) Pages: 13-26
Date Published
1975
Length
14 pages
Annotation
AN OVERVIEW OF THE POLICIES AND OPERATIONS OF THE MAINE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM IS PRESENTED, WITH ATTENTION TO COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS, FURLOUGHS, PRISON INDUSTRIES, PROBATION AND PAROLE, AND JUVENILE CORRECTIONS.
Abstract
THE STATE OF MAINE, WITH NO LARGE URBAN AREAS AND A HIGH DEGREE OF RACIAL HOMOGENEITY, HAS BEEN ABLE TO MAKE GREAT INNOVATIONS IN ITS PRISON SYSTEM. IN JUNE 1975, IT BECAME THE FIRST STATE IN THE COUNTRY TO ABOLISH MINIMUM-MAXIMUM SENTENCES AND INDETERMINATE SENTENCES IN FAVOR OF RELATIVELY SHORT, FLAT TERMS. IN ADDITION, THE STATE'S REVISED CRIMINAL CODE HAS ABOLISHED PAROLE AND SPELLED OUT THE PURPOSES OF SENTENCING FOR THE FIRST TIME. SINCE WARD MURPHY, THE FIRST WOMAN TO HEAD A STATE PRISON SYSTEM, BECAME DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU OF CORRECTIONS IN 1970, THE SYSTEM HAS SEEN FURLOUGH PROGRAMS THAT ALLOW 75 PERCENT OF ELIGIBLE INMATES TO VISIT THEIR HOMES, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF HALFWAY HOUSES AND PRERELEASE CENTERS, AND A SIGNIFICANT DECLINE IN THE INMATE POPULATION. THE SYSTEM'S PRIMARY EMPHASIS IS NOW ON COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS, A CONCEPT WHICH HAS EVOKED MIXED RESPONSES FROM THE PUBLIC. A NUMBER OF INNOVATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE BY THE WARDEN OF THE STATE PRISON, WHO WAS 28 YEARS OLD WHEN HE TOOK OFFICE IN 1972. HE OPENED A MINIMUM-SECURITY RESIDENTIAL CENTER FOR INMATES IN TRAINING PROGRAMS AND BEGAN A FURLOUGH PROGRAM AT THE PRISON. A 1971 PROTEST BY INMATES LED TO A NUMBER OF IMPROVEMENTS IN INMATES' RIGHTS, SUCH AS THE FORMATION OF AN ELECTED INMATE COUNCIL, AND SEVERAL PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENTS. THE PRISON FURNITURE SHOP IS ITS MAIN INDUSTRY; INMATES ARE ALLOWED TO USE SHOP TOOLS TO CARVE NOVELTIES, WHICH ARE SOLD AND THE MONEY CREDITED TO THE MAKER'S ACCOUNT. THE PRISON OFFERS EVENING CLASSES IN CRAFTS AND IN ACADEMIC SUBJECTS; IT ALSO TRAINS SOME INMATES TO WORK WITH MENTALLY AND EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED PERSONS. THE WOMEN'S CORRECTIONAL CENTER WAS MOVED IN 1970 TO THE GROUNDS OF THE STATE'S RESIDENCE FOR FEMALE JUVENILES. THE WOMEN'S INSTITUTION IS AMONG THE MOST PROGRESSIVE IN THE STATE; A LACK OF FUNDING HAS FORCED THE ADMINISTRATORS TO FIND PROGRAMS AND SERVICES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. THE STATE'S EXISTING PAROLE BOARD HAS BEEN RELEASING APPROXIMATELY 97 PERCENT OF ALL INMATES ASKING FOR PAROLE ON THEIR FIRST HEARING. AFTER THE NEW LAW ABOLISHING PAROLE GOES INTO EFFECT IN MARCH 1976, INMATES WILL HAVE SET SENTENCES, BUT WILL HAVE THE OPTION OF PETITIONING THE COURT FOR A REVIEW OF SENTENCE. THE STATE'S TWO INSTITUTIONS FOR JUVENILES HAVE DECLINED IN POPULATION CONSIDERABLY SINCE 1973 WHEN THE LEGISLATURE ELIMINATED INCARCERATION FOR STATUS OFFENDERS. JUVENILE OFFENDERS ARE SENTENCED TO INDEFINITE PERIODS OF RESIDENCE. BOTH FACILITIES OFFER ACADEMIC COURSES AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING, AND THE SCHOOL AT THE GIRLS' INSTITUTION HAS SUCH A GOOD REPUTATION THAT PARENTS FROM THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY OFTEN SEND THEIR OWN CHILDREN TO ATTEND.