Penobscot County considers new jail in Hampden as aging Bangor facility strains capacity
WABI - Penobscot County’s jail is aging, with parts of the building dating back decades and upgrades last made in the 1980s, according to county officials.
Sheriff Troy Morton and county leaders are proposing a new jail, with a potential site on a parcel of land in Hampden at the Ammo Industrial Park.
Morton said state law requires a public vote if the county builds a facility outside the county seat. Penobscot County’s county seat is Bangor.
Supporters of a new facility point to structural repair needs and space constraints at the current 157-bed jail. Morton said those issues have contributed to higher costs for the county, including paying to house some inmates in other jails.
A local group opposing expansion, No Penobscot County Jail Expansion, has been holding public discussions—such as a recent talk at the Bangor Rotary Club—encouraging people to reconsider incarceration and focus on services that address the issues that lead to arrests.
“Help people in the jail with the problems that got them into jail and keep them from getting back into jail,” said Aaron Pyle, who spoke during the Rotary Club discussion.
Opponents have also raised concerns about the project’s price tag. The county estimates the new jail would cost between $72 million and $84 million. Critics say investing more in treatment, services, and diversion programs could reduce the jail population enough to avoid building a larger facility.
“That would solve the overcrowding issues and if we got the population under 50, wouldn’t that mean that we don’t need a new jail?” Pyle said.
Morton said he supports funding programs aimed at keeping people out of jail and said those efforts are already underway. Still, he argues the county needs a modern facility and says a more efficient design could ultimately lower costs—especially since the county budgets more than $2 million to board inmates at other correctional facilities.
Morton said current jail design trends favor a single-floor facility on an undeveloped site, which he believes would be more cost-effective than previous estimates.
While debate continues over cost and approach, county officials say one thing is clear: the existing jail building is showing its age.
To view the plan and costs for the project follow the link.
