Alternatives to jail must be more fully considered

To the Editor;

Residents of Penobscot County will be asked to cast a vote next month on an issue of critical importance: whether to locate a proposed new county jail outside the city of Bangor. But this is about much more than where a building should be located.

Before the taxpayers of Penobscot County are asked to shoulder more financial burden, I believe there needs to be a vigorous, open conversation about continued commitment to an incarceration system that fails all of us.

A majority of those in Penobscot County jail have not yet been convicted of a crime. Many lack adequate money for bail. Large majorities have substance use/addiction and/or mental health issues and are low income. Many suffered trauma as children. Some may wait as long as six months for a trial. While they wait they may lose jobs, housing and access to needed healthcare. Their families are adversely affected.  

The costs to provide basic healthcare to inmates are shouldered by county taxpayers. That’s in addition to the custodial costs of incarceration. Why aren’t we using those dollars more wisely?

There’s little evidence that jailing people actually keeps our communities safer. 

Diversion programs that would link those arrested with the services they could actually benefit from are one alternative to incarceration that has been employed successfully here and elsewhere.  

The current system is of questionable value. Let’s pause and plan a more humane, efficient, cost-effective way forward. 

Deb Leon

Holden