HANCOCK COUNTY, Maine — As Maine deals with a backlog of criminal cases, one county is struggling to house those awaiting trial. The Hancock County Jail is over capacity.
The facility was built to accommodate 57 people, but Sheriff Scott Kane counted 72 inmates as of last week. The overcrowding has caused him to take extraordinary measures.
“I send out emails to the chiefs in the county saying, 'If you possibly can issue a summons, please do. Only arrest if it’s a warrant, or if it’s a really serious offense,” Kane said from his office in Ellsworth.
“I’m a firm believer in, 'Let’s keep as many people out of the facility as we possibly can,'” he said.
Most of the people in the jail are waiting for trial but are unable to make bail. Few, including the sheriff, think they need behind bars.
For Hancock County Administrator Michael Crooker, their time in custody means money lost.
According to his office’s projections, the county is planning to spend almost $1 million dollars more than the $2.1 million cap the state places on the county. To make up that money, Crooker says a tax hike may be necessary.
“Those costs have to be made up in some fashion, and usually that’s the next step…that it does come from taxes, unfortunately,” Crooker said.
But not everyone is sold on the idea of raising more money to cover jail costs.
Jan Collins is the assistant director of Maine Prison Advocacy Coalition. She believes funds should go towards efforts that prevent incarceration.
“Anytime you take a dollar towards putting people in jail, you’ve just put off the problem because solving the problem is a much bigger issue," she said.