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Public urges diversion programs as commissioners discuss jail funding and intercounty outreach
Summary
At the Dec. 11 Penobscot County Commission meeting, a public commenter urged the board to pursue diversion programs instead of building a larger jail; commissioners discussed seeking relief from the governor and coordinating with other counties on jail funding concerns.
A Bangor resident on Thursday urged Penobscot County commissioners to prioritize diversion programs and alternatives to incarceration rather than expanding the county jail, prompting commissioners to discuss coordinated outreach to state leaders about jail funding pressures.
Larry Dansinger, who identified himself as a Bangor resident during the public-comment period, said the county should have built diversion projects earlier and criticized commissioners for not acknowledging responsibility for the county deficit. "Being in jail is only making things worse," Dansinger said, and he asked the board to shift people "out of the jail and into something that will help."
The comment came as commissioners were addressing county budget pressures and potential requests for relief. The chair said he plans to travel to advocate on jail funding as both a commissioner and as president of the County Commissioners Association (CCA). He proposed drafting a joint letter from Penobscot County and other affected counties to the governor and the legislative delegation describing county jail funding challenges and requesting consideration for relief.
The chair said the county had earlier success working with a criminal-justice and public-safety committee and proposed copying the county delegation on any letter to demonstrate broad support. Commissioners discussed coordinating through the CCA and reaching out to neighboring counties that face similar challenges.
No formal vote on policy changes or on building a jail was taken during the meeting. The only formal actions recorded in the meeting minutes were the approval of prior meeting minutes and warrants; the discussion on jail funding and diversion was recorded as part of public comment and administrative discussion. The chair said he would proceed with outreach and a letter campaign if the board concurred.
The board recessed later for executive sessions and did not adopt a new policy on jail construction or diversion during the open meeting.
