07/09/2018
Sheriffs of Maine to Attend Legislative Veto Hearing Tomorrow, July 9, 2018
Over the past two weeks, Governor Paul LePage has vetoed two jail funding bills, in addition to numerous other bills.
LD 1490 and LD 924 provided a combined $18.3 million for jail funding throughout the State of Maine. This equates to approximately 20% of each jails budget, which began on July 1st.
Throughout the legislative process, both bills were unanimously supported by the Criminal Justice and Public Safety committees and re-affirmed through a 12-1 vote in the Appropriations and Financial Affairs committee.
Two weeks ago, the legislature supported the funding.
On Monday, July 9, 2018, veto day, Sheriff’s from throughout the State will be converging on the statehouse in hopes of convincing legislators to overturn the vetoes.
If the vetoes are not overturned, this will create a huge impact on all of the county jails throughout Maine. Some of the jails may have to close as they will not be able to raise enough funding through property taxes to sustain a complete year. Others are already understaffed but would be forced to reduce precariously low staffing numbers to a dangerous level.
The very programs that we have implemented to provide education and training to inmates, to reduce recidivism, will be slashed or eliminated. Larger jails will likely be unable to take boarders from county jails that could not fund them. Some Sheriffs have dealt with the prospect of releasing prisoners early in order to close pods.
This is a critical public safety issue as well as a taxpayer issue.
Sheriff Kevin Joyce, Cumberland County, and MSA President
