Jail Fact Sheet
Fact Sheet—Penobscot County Jail (PCJ) and Its Population
Learn why community members oppose jail expansion in Penobscot County, how pretrial detention, court delays, and rising property taxes factor into the debate, and what alternatives to incarceration are being proposed.
Funding
PCJ is currently funded primarily (over 2/3) by property taxes paid by county residents and property owners. The jail costs the county over $12 million per year.
Current Capacity
157 Individuals. In recent years, the number in the jail has varied from about 160 persons, with an additional number being boarded out to other jails, averaging about 75. During the height of the pandemic, the jail population was as low as 115-120 people.
Pre-Trial Status vs. Convicted
About 2/3 to 3/4 of those incarcerated are usually in pre-trial status—they have not been convicted of any crime and are considered “innocent until proven guilty.” But the percentage is approaching 90 percent because of court delays. The remainder of those in the jail have been convicted and are serving sentences of 364 days or less.
Bail Status and Bail Amounts
About half of those in pre-trial status were being held without bail; the remainder had bail amounts from $500 to $150,000, depending on the charge(s).
Population Demographics: Gender & Race
A demographic of individuals incarcerated in the jail from several years ago: 18% female and 82% male, 81% White, 11% Black, 3% Native, 4% other.
Proposed Expansion to 300 Beds
County commissioners have said they want a major expansion of the jail to at least 250-300 beds through a county-wide bond issue, tentatively to be voted on in June, 2026. No price tag has yet been put on the bond, but it is expected to be $75-100 million for initial construction.
Tax Concerns
A recent rise in county property taxes of about 16% have led to serious concerns about the cost of the jail, since jail costs have been blamed for the tax increase.
County Leadership
The public can contact county commissioners/officials: County commissioners are David Marshall (dmarshall@penobscot-county.net), Andre Cushing (andrec@penobscot-county.net), and Dan Tremble (dtremble@penobscot-county.net), and the county administrator, admin@penoscot-county.net or call (207) 942-8535.
Also, individuals can contact Troy Morton, Penobscot County Sheriff, at tmorton@penobscot-sheriff.net or call (207) 947-4585.
Our Position
No Penobscot County Jail (PCJ) Expansion was organized because we believe that many of those incarcerated experience poverty, substance use disorder, and mental health issues and should not be locked up.
We want to substantially reduce the number of people jailed by investing in community-based solutions to the underlying reasons for most incarcerations.
We want far better care for those in custody and to get them released as soon as possible. And we adamantly oppose adding even one more metal bunk to the Penobscot County Jail.
We believe jail expansion is an unwise and harmful plan that will cost taxpayers tens of millions and will not make communities safer.
Excessive incarceration has failed.
No PCJ Expansion meets weekly on Sundays at 4 PM.
Contact us to join our email list for meeting links and other information: nopenobscotjailexpanson@gmail.com
(207) 262-3706 (Larry)
Our Solution
No PCJ Expansion is proposing a diversion program with the Maine Judicial System that will remove enough of those charged with a crime so that no one will need to be boarded out and all those charged will be held in PCJ.
This program will cost just about $3 million per year, with the goal of reducing the jail population so no additional costs to taxpayers will be needed. More information on this program is available from No PCJ Expansion (above).