Outcomes of 2 Maine prisoner death cases raise questions as a third inmate murder case gets ready for trial
ROCKLAND, Maine — Three Maine State Prisoners have been beaten to death in less than five years but the outcomes of the first two cases have had mixed results.
York County jail inmate killed himself, police say
Jeffrey Noonan, 49, who was on suicide watch, caused his own death by removing a shunt used for kidney dialysis, officials say.
Brewer man pleads no contest to assaulting prisoner who later died
ROCKLAND, Maine — A former Maine State Prison inmate could serve nine more months behind bars for his role in the April 2009 beating death of another prisoner.
When commencement is a second chance for 13 Maine State Prison inmates
The following is adapted from a commencement address delivered to 13 University of Maine at Augusta graduates who earned bachelor’s and associate’s degrees while incarcerated at the Maine State Prison in Warren. The commencement ceremony took place Nov. 4, 2013. The inmates’ education costs were paid for by the Sunshine Lady Foundation, run by Doris Buffett.
Maine prisoner files claim over pepper-spray incident
The prison controversy led to policy changes and a ‘teachable moment’ for prison personnel.
‘Overdue’ overhaul of Maine criminal laws could be delayed by price tag
AUGUSTA, Maine — The monumental and, as some say, overdue task of overhauling the laws around crime in Maine began to unfold Wednesday around the central question of “how monumental should the task be?”
2nd Knox County jail guard accused of sex assaults against female inmate
ROCKLAND, Maine — A second Knox County Jail guard has been accused of sexually assaulting a female inmate.
Maine’s spending on prisoner health drops but remains among highest in country
Maine has slowed its spending on health care for prisoners over the past decade but remains one of the highest spenders in the country, according to a study conducted by two national nonprofit organizations.
Probationers, photos, nature of crimes removed from publicly accessible Maine prisoner database
WARREN, Maine — A recent change that eliminates some information from the Maine Department of Corrections’ online prisoner-probationer databasehas been greeted with relief by the state’s prisoner advocates.
Prison education program offers new beginnings for Maine inmates
WARREN, Maine — Sergio Hairston played varsity football for Lewiston High School, but the running back had spotty attendance and left school in October 2006, his senior year.
Experts: Number of women in Maine prisons has grown sixfold since 2002
PORTLAND, Maine — The number of women held in the Maine state prison system has grown nearly sixfold since 2002, a stark increase that experts say is sparking new conversations about the best way to rehabilitate female criminals.
Inmate manslaughter trial postponed due to late filing of evidence by state
ROCKLAND, Maine — The jury trial of a former Maine State Prison inmate accused of beating another prisoner to death more than four years ago has been postponed until at least January after the defense said it was provided with a “mind-boggling” amount of evidence at the 11th hour.
Former Knox County Jail guard charged with sexually assaulting inmate
ROCKLAND, Maine — A former Knox County Jail guard was arrested Tuesday and charged with sexually assaulting a former inmate at least three times while she was incarcerated last year.
Increased violence at Maine’s psych hospital prompts reform
AUGUSTA, Maine — Of the 92 people in state custody who were found “not criminally responsible” for crimes, 18 have been charged with at least one count of murder.
Maine’s mentally ill more likely to be in prison than hospital
Maine lawmakers last week signed off on a plan that will allow the state to transfer certain patients from Riverview Psychiatric Center in Augusta, one of Maine’s two state-run psychiatric hospitals, to an expanded, 32-bed mental health unit at Maine State Prison in Warren.
Judge: Brewer man charged in prison death will be held without bail — if he’s found
OCKLAND, Maine — A state judge has ordered that when police track down a Brewer area man, who is charged with manslaughter in the 2009 beating deathof a Maine State Prison inmate, he be held without bail.
Another View: State prison wrong setting for Riverview forensic patients
We are troubled by the assertion that patients who have been found too mentally ill to be held responsible for a crime still belong in prison (“Our View: Forensic patients swamp state mental hospital,” Aug. 25).
Planned $100 million prison in Windham controversial
WINDHAM, Maine — Inside this fenced-in, fortresslike prison building, guards never stop watching from behind tinted windows.
Maine curbing per-prisoner health care costs
A study also shows huge increases elsewhere, including a 300 percent rise in New Hampshire.