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Penobscot County leaders and sheriff cite rising jail-boarding costs while public urges alternatives
Summary
Public commenter Janet Drew urged the county to invest in diversion programs and housing instead of a new jail; Sheriff told commissioners one hospital-guarding case has cost the county about $22,000 and said the state lacks capacity to accept the person. Commissioners agreed to press the county delegation and seek further action.
Janet Drew, a retired nurse from York, used the public comment period to urge Penobscot County commissioners to pursue diversion programs, housing and living-wage strategies instead of building a new jail, saying, "It's time to try something else." She cited a high statewide rate of prior incarceration and said Penobscot County accounts for a disproportionate share of people jailed.
The sheriff told commissioners the county has been guarding a court-ordered patient in a hospital for more than three weeks because state facilities have no capacity to accept the person. "We're at we're at 22,000," the sheriff said when asked about the cost to date; elsewhere in discussion he said the figure was approaching $25,000 and that the $22,000 is only overtime and does not include the hospital health-care bill. He said staff overtime and reassigning patrol personnel to cover the watch are burning out personnel.
Commissioners and the sheriff differed with how to press state agencies but agreed on the urgency. The sheriff said he has contacted the governor's office, the Department of Corrections and other officials and urged commissioners to ask the county's legislative delegation to intervene. Chair said the commission would seek to convene Penobscot County legislators "either in person or remotely" and consider an informational meeting with the delegation when the new legislative session begins.
The discussion recalled recent work by the Maine County Commissioners Association (MCCA) and the Local Policy Council (LPC). Commissioners noted a prior bill that would have provided $4 million per budget year for jails passed some committees but failed in the Appropriations Committee. Several commissioners urged combining county advocacy to present a united case on jail funding needs.
The sheriff framed the issue as broader than Penobscot County, noting similar challenges across the state when hospitals cannot transfer people in need of state forensic or DHHS placements. Commissioners said they will prepare outreach to legislators and consider data presentations for towns to clarify budget impacts.
The commission did not take a formal vote on policy changes during the meeting. Commissioners asked staff to place follow-up items on upcoming agendas and to organize outreach to the legislative delegation.
