Agreement with Somerset jail
Lincoln County Administrator John O’Connell, left, and Somerset Jail Administrator David Allen discuss the new budget for Somerset County approved by the Board of Corrections in Augusta July 31. CHARLOTTE BOYNTON/Wiscasset Newspaper
Lincoln County Administrator John O’Connell, left, and Somerset Jail Administrator David Allen discuss the new budget for Somerset County approved by the Board of Corrections in Augusta July 31. CHARLOTTE BOYNTON/Wiscasset Newspaper
The State Board of Corrections held an emergency meeting in Augusta July 31 to approve a plan that puts out-of-county inmates back in Somerset County Jail.
Through negotiations with Somerset County Sheriff Barry Delong, Commissioner of Corrections Joseph Ponte and board members, the Somerset Jail will begin to take county inmates immediately, beginning with Franklin County inmates first.
Since this past May Somerset County has refused to take inmates from other counties, as well as state inmates. The Somerset County Jail stopped accepting inmates from other counties because of an ongoing battle with the state over the cost of housing their inmates at a reduced rate of $22 per day, while county residents are paying premium rates for their own inmates.
The Board of Corrections approved a reduction in the number of inmates at Somerset County from 192 down to 165, at Somerset County's request. The board approved a flat budget for 2012 of $6.9 billion for Somerset County, a decrease from $9 million.
In a previous motion the board approved giving Somerset County their fourth quarter payment, even though Somerset County had refused to take inmates six of the 12 weeks in the quarter. This came after Jail Administrator David Allen pointed out that last year the jail had the inmates and was not given their fourth quarter payment.
The action opens up 65 beds at Somerset County Jail for out-of-county inmates.
Other business
Representatives from RHR Smith – a company that recently studied the state jail system – discussed the development of a funding policy that would address how the fourth quarter payments would be distributed. A draft copy of the policy will be ready for the board’s review at their August meeting.
Lincoln County Administrator and member of the board’s working group John O’Connell asked when the board was going to decide on the recommendations of RHR Smith and the National Institute of Corrections study.
According to Board of Corrections Chairman Mark Westrum, there will be a workshop in the morning of the August meeting, with action taken in the afternoon.
The meeting date will be announced. It is expected to be late this month.
For more information, see related stories:
Board reviews auditor's recommendation
Address
United States
