Prison reform targeted in church opera Ellsworth American
Ann S.Kim, Portland Press Herald.
Listen: Women Settle with State in Prison Sexual Assault Case, Jay Field, MPBN
Lance Tapley, The Portland Phoenx
Lance Tapley, The Portland Phoenix
Listen: Maine Bill Targeting Gangs Raises Civil Liberties Concerns Tom Porter, MPBN
LD 1095 - "For-Profit Corporate (CCA) Prison Bill"
in Out-of-State Transfers Bangor Daily News
UPDATE: With M-PAC in agreement, this Bill did not pass. In its place -- a Policy between M-PAC and DOC to facilitate a way to bring Exiles home! To date two exiles have returned under the policy, while two have been turned down and told to reapply after a year. M-PAC volunteers, led by Ron Huber, have worked tirelessly on behalf of these transferred inmates and their Maine families. They are presently planning needed revisions to the policy. If you're interested in assisting, please email maineprisoneradvocacy@yahoo.co
Deane Brown Photo Courtesy Lance Tapley
Lance Tapley, Portland Phoenix
Brown, ailing, to return soon Lance Tapley, Portland Phoenix
Whistleblower Asks to come home Lance Tapley,
Portland Phoenix
Prisoners find their way back to Maine after transfers out-of-state Heather Steeves, BDN - Sun Journal
Arty and Pam Belanger stood on either
side of their son, Arthur Belanger, at
Maine State Prison on Thanksgiving
2011.
Photo courtesy of Pam and Arty Belanger
Anti-gang bill dumped : State House Switcheroo Lance Tapley, The Portland Phoenix
Ongoing News
Keep yourself up to date right here on
"Ongoing News"
Maine Prisoner Advocacy Coalition
L.D. 1500:
-- Listen: MPBN: Maine Lawmaker Proposes Restoring State's Parole System Criminal Justice Committee voted against Parole. Please write to your reps to ask for parole in the next legislative session
-- Listen: LD 1500 - Parole Bill Hearing
-- Maine Voices - Parole, Jeff Libby, Bangor Daily News : Maine should restore parole, home confinement to cut crowding, recidivism: These programs work well in other states, yet Maine doesn't take advantage of them. Why?
LD 1163 - A Resolve to Reform the Treatment of Prisoners in Solitary Confinement
Resolve did not pass. In its place, a Committee, including M-PAC members, is working with MDOC on policy changes in the SMU (supermax) MHU (mental health unit) and general prisoner policies). M-PAC is monitoring progress closely. See more at Solitary Confinement.
call for transparency Bangor Daily News
M-PAC Lobbying - Maine Legislature
Blogs - Maine Inmates Speak
Sophie Inchains (From Henry, MSP): "Please encourage friends, family, and the public to become interested in what happens here at the prison. It's possible with all your support and sense of direction we can end this counterproductive giant that oppresses and destroys people's lives into an effective process that inspires and encourages them to overcome their shortfalls. We believe with the right guidance amazing change can happen that will produce fruitful lives for all, including society." NB: This wonderful blog was blocked for inmate writers by MDOC policies. It has now been partially restored.
Luke Rioux, Esq
Police brutality civil case [Hancock County] settled out of court for $725,000 Bill Trotter, Bangor Daily News
MSP WARDEN FIRED
Maine State Prison warden fired Bangor Daily News,
Stephen Betts and Alex Barber
Stephen Betts, Bangor Daily News
Listen: Commissioner Defends Firing of Maine State Prison Warden, Reported by Susan Sharon, MPBN
But the Maine Prisoner Advocacy Coalition has a different perspective on the situation.
Lance Tapley, Portland Phoenix
Dismissed Maine State Prison warden remains on state payroll, Stephen Betts, Bangor Daily
Plan to close Maine prison center draws concern Eric Russell, Portland Press Herald
Two Years Later Lance Tapley, The Portland Phoenix
Listen: Maine Finance Chief Takes Blame for Illegal Property Sale to Prison Warden A.J. Higgins, MPBN
Portland Press Herald
Bill Nemitz, Portland Press Herald
A.J. Higgins, MPBN
Thomas Bell, Portland Press
Heather Steeves, BDN
Tom Bell, Morning Sentinel
Maine's Jail Problems
Bill Trotter, Bangor Daily News
Board recommends suspension for Hancock County prosecutor Bill Trotter, Bangor Daily News
Bar to hold disciplinary hearing on Hancock County prosecutor Bill Trotter, Bangor Daily News
Man acquitted of rape testifies against prosecutor at misconduct hearing Bill Trotter, Bangor Daily News
____________
AG’s office takes on Washington County jail fund investigation Jay Walsh, Bangor Daily News
Jail clerk fired for alleged misappropriation of Washington County inmate funds Tom Walsh, Bangor Daily News
Report: Lingerie, cookbooks, cell phone bills paid for with Washington County inmates’ benefit fund, Tom Walsh, Bangor Daily News
2 Washington County Jail officials suspended while authorities probe possible misuse of funds Tom Walsh, Bangor Daily News
Moving prisoners back to Somerset not positive, Kevin J. Collins, Maine State Prison, Warren
Jay Field, MPBN
Doug Harlow, Kennebeck Journal
Jennifer Osborn, Fenceviewer, EA
Listen: Cumberland County Corrections Officer's Arrest Raises Hiring and Training Questions Josie Huang, MPBN
David Hench, Portland Press Herald
Judy Harrison, Bangor Daily News
Ann Kim, Portland Press Herald
Ann S. Kim, Portland Press Herald
Watch: 4 York County Officers Indicted WMTW TV
Bill Trotter, Bangor Daily News
Former Hancock County Jail officer serving 60 days for $10,000 theft Bill Trotter, Bangor Daily News
MDOC Medical Care Changes
Lance Tapley, The Portand Phoenix
Eric Russell, BDN
Listen: Prison Health Care Contractor Under Scrutiny A.J. Higgins, MPBN
Zach Heiden, MCLU
Leavitt v CMS et al
More Recent News
Abigail Curtis, Bangor Daily News
George Swanson — a musician, priest and prison advocate who lives in Southwest Harbor — has written a folk opera called “Natural Causes Killed Victor” that is based on reports and letters from inmates that surround the death of inmate Victor Valdez.
Victor Valdez before he was sent to Maine State Prison, where he died in 2009. (Courtesy of: Olga Rivera)
George Swanson
Skip Fraley
will play the
Washtub
bass.
Supreme Court
"Strip Searches"
Maine's strip search standard the right one The U.S. Supreme Court's ruling wrongly calls these humiliating searches constitutional, Portland Press Herald Editorial
in Maine, MPBN
Jail officials told to heed state strip-search limits , Ann S. Kim, Portland Press Herald
Daniel Dunkle, Village Soup
Reentry center for women inmates is a coup for county Journal Tribune
Patty Wight, MPBN
Listen: Maine Prisons to Plan Expansions
MPBN by Tom Porter
Report: Sexual assaults in Maine prisons more than double national average, By Tom Groening, Bangor Daily News
Hancock County Assistant DA,
Mary Kellett
Drug use remains prevalent inside Maine State Prison Stephen Betts, Bangor Daily News
Earlier News
MSP Warden,
Patricia Barnhart
Plan to close Maine prison center draws concern Eric Russell, Portland Press Herald
Natural Causes Killed Victor August 16-17, 2013
The folk opera premieres
August 16th and 17th, 2013.
All proceeds donated to food pantries on MDI.
Info: George Swanson
Stephen Betts, Bangor Daily News
