While the states looks beyond Riverview Psychiatric Center in Augusta for places to house the mentally ill, the Lincoln and Sagadahoc Regional Jail Authority doesn't want Two Bridges to be on the list.

During the January 8 meeting, the jail authority voted unanimously against changing its mission to accommodate a mentally ill pod.

The proposal came from a state senator after a year in which Maine's psychiatric facilities faced scrutiny and upheaval.

“This is another deal where if we think we'll get a free ride we ought to have ourselves committed to Riverview.”Lincoln County Commissioner William Blodgett

In 2013, the Federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services cited Riverview for staffing issues, employee safety and patient treatment, which resulted in the federal government cutting all federal funding.

Senator Stan Gerzofsky, D-Brunswick, is chairman of a committee that was formed to solve those issues. One such measure was the passage of LD 1515, which will open 32 beds for the mentally ill at the state prison in Warren. Beyond that, Gerzofsky wanted to find a solution within 60 miles of Augusta, said Mark Westrum, board of corrections chairman.

What would that mean at Two Bridges?

“They would ask for 55 to 65 beds,” Westrum said. “For us that means a pod. If we have to close one of the pods (to prisoners) it would mean a significant shift in the way we manage our facility.”

If space was needed, Two Bridges would likely have to return a significant number of Waldo County prisoners and make other sacrifices when it comes to the female pod, Westrum said.

Had the jail authority gone for the plan, it would have paid between $84 to $104 a day per patient.

There would be costs associated with switching how the jail is operated, including staff training programming. The loss of out-of-county inmates, who generate money for the jail, would also effect the bottom line.

There was also no guarantee that the $85 to $104 would ever show up, Lincoln County Commissioner William Blodgett said.

“This will cost more than $105 a day,” he said. “This is another deal where if we think we'll get a free ride we ought to have ourselves committed to Riverview.”

Peter Lepari, jail authority treasurer, said the jail's incomes would go down significantly if one pod, or jail unit, went from 65 inmates to 20.

“If we go through with this, we should say yes only if they pay us for all 65 beds,” he said.

Lincoln County Sheriff Todd Brackett was opposed to the proposal.

“The way the county jail is set up now ... this would represent a significant change of mission,” he said. “It would significantly disrupt our day-to-day operations. Where would we put the 65 (displaced prisoners)? We have jails that are already over capacity.”

Brackett put forth the motion to say the jail authority was not in favor of changing its mission to become a partial facility for the mentally ill.

“Jails are not the place for the mentally ill,” he said. “I'd like to know if any other county goes forward with this, but I feel like it's the wrong direction.”

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