Activists urge Penobscot County to consider diversion efforts over jail expansion
BANGOR, Maine (WABI) - While Penobscot County works on plans to relocate the jail from Bangor to Hampden, a local group has formed to offer an alternative.
Hoping to keep folks out of jail rather than expand the number of beds, local activists have created the Penobscot County Diversion and Problem-Solving Pilot Initiative.
Instead of booking and sending those arrested for crimes to jail, they propose certain demographics should instead be connected to resources that can better address the root cause.
Divided into nine tracks, this includes those committing poverty-driven crimes like petty theft to crimes committed by veterans, juveniles, and first-time offenders.
Organizers say diverting some people in these categories from jail to support resources will not only lead to better personal outcomes, but decreases the need for a new jail that houses more inmates.
“This proposal would reduce the number of people who need to be in here, and it would reduce the number of people who go back in here through a revolving door,” said Doug Dunbar, who is a part of No Penobscot County Jail Expansion, at the jail Thursday. “We know this works because it works with our Treatment and Recovery Courts. We need to expand that.“
