FOX BANGOR — Opponents of building a new Penobscot County Jail are urging residents to vote no on the upcoming referendum to move it.
Maine voters will head to the polls November 3rd, and residents of Penobscot County will have an additional choice to make. They will vote on a referendum regarding the relocation of the county jail out of Bangor.
Members of 'No Penobscot County Jail Expansion' gathered outside of the current jail to express their opposition to the relocation and construction of a new jail.
"Send a message to the county commissioners that we don't want a new jail, we want fewer people in the jail, and we want money to be used instead for diversion," said Larry Dansinger.
Instead of building a larger jail, the group proposes implementing diversion programs throughout the county, which it says will combat the root cause of prison overpopulation.
"This building is chronically overcrowded, and why is that? Well its because we don't do enough to move people out of this building, and into the treatment that will actually make difference in their lives," said Doug Dunbar.
The referendum does not approve location, funding, or construction of a new jail, but would allow county commissioners to begin the process of relocating the jail outside of the county seat in Bangor.
County Commissioner David Marshall said that the jail, which was built in 1869 and houses 157 inmates, is beyond its lifespan and wouldn't be able to support diversion programs.
"It does not meet any of the standards really we need today for a modern correctional facility, including those that service mental health and substance abuse. There are no facilitates in the jail that are designed for that," Marshall said.
Marshall said the plans for a new jail include dedicated spaces to provide those services to inmates.
Local group urges Penobscot County voters to reject jail referendum | Maine Public
Members of the local group No Penobscot County jail Expansion gather outside the Penobscot County Jail at 85 Hammond St. Wednesday, Oct. 21, to urge residents to vote down a referendum that would allow the county to build a new jail in Hampden.
Members of the No Penobscot County Jail Expansion group are asking local voters to reject a ballot measure that would allow a new county jail to be built in Hampden, outside the county seat.
Group member Larry Dansinger said the county should be spending its money on diversion programs instead of building a new facility to house more inmates.
"Vote no. Send a message to the county commissioners: we don't want a new jail. We want fewer people in the jail, and we want money to be used instead for diversion, and not another high bill for county taxpayers," he said.
County officials have argued that the population of the current jail is well over capacity and the number of inmates boarded out to other jails has skyrocketed in recent years.
Penobscot County Sheriff Troy Morton said the existing jail in Bangor only has 157 beds but the population averages about 230 inmates a day.
Speaking at a news conference Thursday, opponent Doug Dunbar said the county should expand diversion programs to reduce the number of people held at the jail.
“What helps people is treatment for mental health issues, for substance use disorder, help to get connected with housing resources, and that doesn't happen in a building like this," he said.
Dunbar was incarcerated at Penobscot County jail in 2017 for charges related to drunk driving. While there he participated in a diversion program that has helped him stay sober.
He said he wants to see that opportunity extended to many more inmates.
The November referendum addresses the location of the jail but does not include additional funding.
By Calvin White
