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M-PAC Logo by Lil Ed

Maine Prisoner Advocacy Coalition
LD 1095 - "For-Profit Corporate (CCA) Prison Bill"
UPDATE: Bill was carried over to 2012 and then defeated!      See more


LD 690 - Inmates & Families Seek Change
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.com

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








Maine Department of Corrections Policy a Step in the
Right Direction  Maine ACLU

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  
(First section) (Second section)

-- 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.


LD 168 - Medical Exams: Prisoner deaths prompt
call for transparency Bangor Daily News 
UPDATE: Bill passed!  And it's working: Police say prisoner may have died of natural causes
More M-PAC  Bills - 2011-12 legislature
Blogs - Maine Inmates Speak
Blog: Voices from the CracksWhispers from our incarcerated,
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 has been temporarily blocked for inmate writers by MDOC policies. Watch for future restoration!

Bob Wire: Stories from Windham

The Political Prisoner Blog:
In Collaboration with Holistix Recovery Project, Maine
MSP Warden's Real Estate Deal

 
                 MSP Warden,                            Patricia Barnhart



Listen: Maine Finance Chief Takes Blame for Illegal Property Sale to Prison Warden A.J. Higgins, MPBN

Our View: Maine prison warden's land buy void, but how did it occur? 
Portland Press Herald

Bill Nemitz: What we have here, is a failure to communicate
Bill Nemitz, Portland Press Herald

Listen: Maine Lawmakers Dismayed over Sale of State Property to Prison Warden
A.J. Higgins, MPBN

Investigation Sought into State Land Sale
Thomas Bell, Portland Press







State buys back land from warden, lost $2,000 on the deal
Heather Steeves, BDN

Officials who approved
controversial sale retires
Tom Bell, Morning Sentinel
Coutesy of PPH/AP-MSP Warden Patricia Barnhart
MDOC Medical Care Changes

Privatized Prison Med Care is Sick
Lance Tapley, The Portand Phoenix





Report Finds Deficiencies in Health Care Services for Maine Inmates
Eric Russell, BDN

Listen: Prison Health Care Contractor Under Scrutiny  A.J. Higgins, MPBN

Important New Decision on Med Care
Zach Heiden, MCLU

U.S. Court of Appeals (Maine)
Leavitt v CMS et al

More Recent News
Women settle in Prison Guard Sex Case
Ann S.Kim, Portland Press Herald.
'Bath Salts' Hysteria Grips Lawmakers
Lance Tapley, The Portland Phoenx
Senator Collins Helps Derail Prison Reform
Lance Tapley, The Portland Phoenix
Prisoner's Death Inspires New Opera
Abigail Curtis, Bangor Daily News
George Swanson
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
Victor Valdez before he was sent to Maine State Prison, where he died in 2009. (Courtesy of: Olga Rivera)

Maine Prisoners Sue to End Use of Locker Padlocks AJ Higgins, MPBN


Stephen Betts, Knox Village Soup
Gang-buster bill gets dissed
Tattoos As A Criminal Act
Lance Tapley, The Portland Phoenix
Anti-gang bill dumped : State House Switcheroo  Lance Tapley, The Portland Phoenix
Skip Fraley
Skip Fraley will play the Washtub bass.
The Price of Prisons: Maine
What Incarceration Costs Taxpayers
Vera Institute of Justice
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

Listen: High Court Strip Search Ruling Brings Mixed Reaction
in Maine, MPBN

Jail officials told to heed state strip-search limits , Ann S. Kim, Portland Press Herald
Daniel Dunkle, Village Soup