While researching jail costs, I read this story at Maine Public, which mentions the Maine County Corrections Professional Standards Council. So I went to their website. It looks like the Council is going to meet at 11:00 today. I think I'll try to watch through zoom.
Well the zoom meeting mentioned above lasted only one half hour. I had other questions...maybe next time. So here's a summary of what I took away from today's meeting of the Maine County Corrections Professional Standards Council.
There were only a handful of individuals present, but a quorum. There might be some 4% increase to some budget or item. A report indicating specific mandates must be into the legislature by January 15. For 2025 I believe, about 26,000 people taken in, and 25,500 released.
There was some discussion regarding that physicals are required to be made within 14 days of intake. It wasn't clear to me exactly what the issue was but I think doctor pay, maybe how to reduce hours, or the number of hours which should be like alloted to each physical. At this point, I enabled my video, then audio, and asked how individuals who arrive with obvious drug addiction are treated. Sent to the hospital within the first 8 hours, I think that's sort of what someone replied.
I asked if the Council has taken a position on LD 1962 regarding the Ombudsman position. They haven't submitted testimony, and didn't really indicate either for or against. I told them there was still time to put in testimony, and that I had submitted testimony in favor of the bill but that I would like the county jails included; one who spoke in favor thought MDOC employees might need protection from or need to file a complaint regarding a prisoner/s, and that they could benefit from such an Ombudsman position.
I did insert this comment into the chat room: So too many hours might be being spent by jail employees on processing an individual who is being released. And that was after it was suggested by one of the Council that perhaps there are too many hours being spent, or too many individuals involved in the process. There was not much activity in the chat except for that; and once it was determined there were no questions, the meeting was adjourned.
