WASHINGTON COUNTY OF BOARD OF VISITORS 2009 ANNUAL REPORT January 2009- December 2009

WASHINGTON COUNTY OF BOARD OF VISITORS

2009 ANNUAL REPORT

January 2009- December 2009


The Purpose of the Washington County Jail is to detain both pre-trial and sentenced individuals as ordered by the courts.

The courthouse was built in 1853- capacity 30 cells/beds

The Jail was renovated in 1988 – capacity 36 beds

Double-bunking occurred in 1992 – capacity 42 beds

Classroom was renovated in 2005- capacity 48 beds

The Purpose of the Washington County Board of Visitors (WCJBOV) is to visit and inspect the Jail and to make recommendations to the Sheriff with respect to inmates (See Statute Title 30-A)

Inmates assigned to the Washington County Jail (WCJ) have either been convicted of a class B or C felony or a misdemeanor, and they can be held for 364 days before being remanded to the Department of Corrections.

The WCJ also holds inmates awaiting pre-trail, or between conviction and sentencing. Inmates who are awaiting trial may be housed at the Jail until their trial has been completed regardless of whether it exceeds 364 days.

Twenty-one (21) full and part time corrections officers maintain the Jail around the clock (24/7). These officers are also charged with guarding inmates, and accompanying them on work release assignments, and district court proceedings.

In 2009 the Washington County Board of Visitors held nine (9) meetings. Each of the nine (9) members volunteered their time and contributed to the discussions by bringing to the table their expertise, experience, recommendations and community questions. Many of the meetings were also attended by a reporter who wrote articles for the Down East Coastal Press.

The Annual Meeting was held on April 30, 2009. The Board elected Sandra K. Prescott as the 2009 Chair of the Washington County Board of Visitors.

2009 WCBOV Members included:



Denise Altvater 3/ Year Term 2008-2011

Denise is the Director of the Maine Wabanaki Program, and the American Friends Service Committee.

The Maine Wabanaki Program has become a vital hub of activity for the rights of all indigenous people. Denise works across vast geographic distances with Wabanaki Child Welfare Workers, Maine DHHS Leaders. The Muskie School of Public Service developed a training on the 1978 federal law designed to reduce the high number of Native children sent to live with non-Native families and has trained more than 500 DHHS workers. She has provided anti-racism and cultural training for County jail guards, University System and community groups. Denise is currently a member of the Maine Indian Tribal State Commission and the Pleasant Point Tribal Council. She also chairs the Wabanaki Criminal Justice Commission, which works with the Department of Corrections to address issues relating to Native Americans in Maine State Prisons. In 2007 she was appointed by Governor Baldacci to serve on the Maine State Prison Board of Visitors. Her experience and knowledge contributes significantly to the WCBOV.

Dennis Higgins 2/ Year Term 2009- 2011

Dennis is now retired after working many different jobs inside and outside of Washington County including but not limited to serving in the USAF as a medic and veterinary technician. He was stationed at Dow AFB

He also drove tractor trailer trucks on long hauls and he built 100 homes in 10 years. He worked 19 years at Bath Iron Works before retiring to Jonesport. He suggests that his best contribution is making referrals to the Sheriff and serving as a community member who is interested in having as many inmates as possible participating in community service to help defray the cost of their keep to the tax payers. He referred a local complaint about a stolen outboard motor to the Sheriff and the department acted promptly to recover the motor and nabbed the crook. He brings his experience and a community perspective to the WCBOV meetings.

Betsy K. Jaegerman 1/Year Term 2009-2010

Betsy has been a probation officer for nearly 34 years. Starting out as started out as a juvenile officer in Bangor but in a few years she switched from juvenile to adult supervision and have been doing that in Washington County ever since. She is now supervising people who’s grandparent’s she once supervised. She has seen the role of the probation officer change as society cycles around changing correctional ideologies. However she believes that Washington County has been ahead of the curve in many areas because we already incorporate best practices of community network, support and involvement. The sheriff’s department and jail are a big part of that network. She brings her background in corrections and her familiarity with the jail and criminal justice system and relationship with law enforcement and prosecutors and defense attorneys and those convicted of crimes to the WCBOV to inform their discussions.

Scott Jones 1/ Year Term 2009- 2012

Scott was hired as a Guard at the Maine State Prison in October 1976. and progressed through the ranks (Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, and Major) and was appointed as Chief of Prison Security at the Supermax when it opened in 1991. He served in that position until 1995. During those years he had additional responsibilities as the Criminal Investigations Officer as well as the Tactical Team Commander. He was appointed to the position of Chief of Security at the Downeast Correctional Facility in September 1996 and assumed the position of Director in September of 2008. He is currently the Commander of the Department of Corrections SitCon Team. (Crisis Negotiations Unit). His expertise is in corrections, which regardless of the level (State or County), the issues and challenges are very similar. His vast experience is very beneficial to the WCBOV. Downeast Correctional Facility will soon be marking its 25th year Anniversary. The facility values the respected history in the community of Machiasport.



Ann O’Brien 1/Year Term 2009-2011

Ann is a Psychiatric Nurse Practioner nationally certified with a Master's Degree in Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing. She has worked in rural community mental health settings for many years. Five years ago she was transferred by CHCS to Washington County where she plans to stay. Her 25 years working in delivery of MH care for the chronically mentally ill in rural settings. She is most aware that co-occurring mental illness/substance dependence is a common problem. Many of her clients are incarcerated once or repeatedly. She has worked with them before, during and after jail and prison stays and has a strong interest in decreasing the rate of recidivism. Her access to MH treatment including psychiatry in corrections is limited locally and statewide. She seeks to improve access by visiting the WCJ frequently and volunteering her time. She serves as a consultant to the medical staff and by raising awareness of MH needs to the Sheriff, Board of Visitors and to the larger community she helps fulfill the purpose of the WCBOV.






Dale McGee 3/ Year Term 2008 – 2011

Dale is employed by the Bangor Veterans Center as a readjustment counselor. He started in the field of Substance Abuse TX in 1973, and received his Masters in Clinical Social Work in 1985. His specialties include trauma, dual diagnosis, Veterans and corrections. He was employed in various capacities within the Dept of Corrections for over 20 years covering Maximum to Minimum Security prisons. In addition he also worked at Bates College for 16 years so he has covered both ends of the spectrum. He estimates that 90% of inmates have a substance abuse problem, mental health problem or both, and a large majority of those have been traumatized, probably long before they started criminal activity. Dale’s connections in all of these realms inform the Sheriff, Jail Administrator and the WCBOV.

Liz Mercer 2/ Year Term 2009- 2011

Liz is currently the Washington County Case Manager for the Down East AIDS Network. She has 40 plus years in the area of social work, working with various state agencies of Department of Child and Family Services. She has worked with law enforcement and the local court systems in the capacity of child abuse investigations, removing abused and neglected children from their homes and helping parents to improve their skills in order for their children to be returned to them. Because these parents were often battling drug and alcohol abuse, I have the front line exposure to these problem areas and have served on numerous local and state committees in efforts to deal with such issues. Inmates are informed that they can visit the local office of Downeast AIDS Network when they are released to get further substance abuse referrals, free condoms and ongoing testing every six (6) months. As she has worked with this particular segment of our population for many years, she brings a good perceptive and understanding of this population to the WCBOV.

Sandra K. Prescott, Chair 2/year Term 2008- 2010

Sandra served as the Executive Director at the Washington Hancock Community Agency for 24 years, and retired to Bucks Harbor in 2007. She was appointed by Governor Angus King to serve on the University Of Maine Board Of Trustees, and served for 6 years. She served three terms in the Maine Legislature as a legislator from Hampden, where she chaired the Health and Institutional Services Committee who had the responsibility to confirm the Commissioner of Corrections. She sponsored legislation to separate the Department of Mental Health from the Department of Corrections. Governor Joseph Brennan appointed her to serve on a Committee to Oversee the 1980 Lock Down at the Maine State Prison. She also served on the Hampden Town Council. When she returned home to Washington County she Co-Chaired the Committee to Renovate Washington County Jail, and the Board of Visitors at the Downeast Correctional Facility. She also served on the Machiasport Board of Selectmen, School Board Member, Planning Board and volunteered as the Towns CDBG Grants Administrator., she currently chairs the WCBOV.

Bob Gross, 1/year Term 2009-2010

Bob Gross was hired as the Washington County Jail Administrator in November 1995.. He was first hired to work for the County in 1987 as a part -time deputy. In 1988 he was hired as a full -time Court Security Officer Supervisor. He attended the Basic Correctional School at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy in Waterville, and with the help of David Brown and Lt. Judy Worcester he has learning ever since. His professional development has been extensive including attending the Administering the Small Jail at the National Institute of Correction in Longmont, Colorado sponsored by the US Department of Justice, Myers Briggs for Criminal Justice Administrators, Staffing & Scheduling for Corrections, 1st Line Supervisor for Corrections, Executive Development for Corrections, Workplace Violence Prevention, and Legal Issues for Corrections. He became a member of the American Jail Association in 2007. He attended the 2008 and 2009. Bob brings a wealth of experience to the operations of the jail and WCBOV.

Sheriff, Donnie Smith

Donnie serves as the Chief Law Enforcement Officer and Chief Jailer, he is a 1979 graduate of the Maine Criminal Justice Academy, and was elected Sheriff in 2006. After the election he created the Blue Ribbon Committee Advisory Committee to be his s eyes and ears in the community. The Committee consists of individuals from all over Washington County and meets monthly to discuss issues involving the Sheriff's Office and the County Jail. The Committee became the Washington County Board of Visitors in January 2009. As the Chief Jailer the Sheriff’s Statutory responsibilities, include but are not limited to, attending State Supreme Court and Superior Court sessions, receiving and committing prisoners to county jail to service all criminal and civil processes, including warrants and summons, and to enforce the criminal laws. At this time, Donnie is most proud of the Resource Sharing Agreement with the Maine State Police, his record for the highest clearance rate of crimes responded to and solved by any Sheriff’s Office in the entire state, and the formation of the Washington County Board of Visitor’s.

Honorary Member: K-9 Ginger Smith

Ginger is a 7 ½ year old rescue dog out of Missouri. She was trained in narcotic detection and search and rescue by La Follette K-9 Training Center in Straford Missouri. Ginger participates in the “Kid’s Cop’s and K-9’s”- Mostly Ginger Program. Ginger attends all of the WCBOV meetings and provides a warm and welcome greeting for each member of the WCBOV. She has no plans to retire as the “official WCJBOV Greeter”.




List of 2009 WCBOV Meetings and Major Topic areas:

January 2009 Sheriff’s Blue Ribbon Committee changes to WCBOV

March 19, 2009 Discussion of Policy, Restorative Justice

April 30, 2009 Annual Meeting/Election Officers

May 21, 2009 Report on NIH Assessment of Jail Report

June 18, 2009 Representative, David Burn, Legislative Update, Speaker Christine

Mouton, Nurse Practioner, “Difficulty Dealing with Pain Medications in

Washington County”

July 16, 2009 Joint Facility and Budget Discussions

August 20, 2009 Review of Board of Corrections and Working Group Activities

September 17, 2009 Joint Facility Report Pending Certificate of Need (CON)

November 2009 Site Visit from Board of Corrections, State Senator, Kevin Raye and

Representative, David Burns

December 16, 2009 Current Events and Printed Articles

Ongoing WCBOV Agenda items include:

* Questions from Board Members
* Site Visits & Interviews with Inmates & Staff
* Review of Current events and printed articles
* Sheriff’s Report
* Jail Administrators Report
* Downeast Correctional Facility Report
* NIH Facility Assessment
* Discussion of Policy
* Review of Board of Correction/Working Group Activities
* Board of Corrections Visit
* Special Guest Speakers
* Sex Offender Registry
* Video Conferencing
* Restorative Justice Project- Possible expansion to Washington County



Washington County Board of Visitors (WCBOV) Site Visit to Jail:

The WCBOV conducted a site visit to the Jail and following the visit ate lunch at the jail while we discussed the results of the site visit. Members interviewed staff, inmates, and trustees and visited all areas of the Jail. In preparation for the site visit the Board reviewed the 2008 NIH Facility Assessment. During the site visit the Board observed the security system, classification system, physical facility including the old and new sections of the jail, intake, visiting area, showers, storage, ventilation, installation of doors (on backwards) kitchen, indoor recreation area, library, and discussed good time, and community service for sentenced inmates.

All inmates were interviewed and were asked what recommendations they would make for improvement of the facility or programs. The concerns they noted were: limited access to books, magazines and newspapers, telephone access when someone was not willing to pre-pay, outdated books in the library, daily access to outdoor recreation due to staffing, and access to pain medication for injuries sustained on the outside. Inmates are also provided with an opportunity to participate in a trustee program to ensure that laundry; kitchen, grounds and custodial needs are met provided with inmate labor. We observed several trustees on work release on the day of our visit.

We met many staff during our site visit, both men and women who took their job serious. Some had been there for many years, one was new. Those we spoke to were professionally trained and well versed on Policy. The Corrections Staff did not present any specific concerns, however they did agree that the storage space was inadequate, the ventilation could be improved, and the meeting space was very limited and often unavailable for multiple use such as for Health Professionals and attorney visits. The Board noticed that there was only one small dedicated staff toilet and no support space for use by the corrections staff.

The Board of Visitors is proud of high standards that the Sheriff has set for his Jail and his Office. The Sheriff is held accountable to the citizens and is working hard to run a safe and security facility.

Washington County citizens observed the Community Corrections Program in action throughout the year. This Program allows the inmates to “give back” by cleaning roadsides, shoveling snow, painting buildings and performing other tasks for towns and non-profit agencies. We observed this program in action on the day of our visit.

One WCBOV Board member described the work she performed as a volunteer at the Jail. She volunteers 2 hours a month and she reviews the medication charts with recommendations on psychotropic drugs for consideration by the Jail’s Physician. The Jail Administrator expressed great appreciation and support for the work and the time she spends at the Jail.

We learned that another member of the WCBOV also visits the Jail to provide health information about HIV and AIDS to the inmates She offers the inmates Oral Rapid HIV testing, with results being given to the inmates within twenty (20) minutes of their session with her.

We were also briefed during the visit by WCBOV member who also works as a Probation and Parole Officer. She explained how she works with many families in the county, and has been in many homes. She is now supervising people who’s grandparent’s she once supervised. Her background in corrections and familiarity with the jail and criminal justice system and relationship with law enforcement and prosecutors and defense attorneys and those convicted of crimes probably best inform what I bring to the Board of Visitors for the jail.

During our site visit we learned that a few years ago the Probation and Parole Officer had a client who was briefly an inmate at the jail. This person had boat building skills, and he built molds for boats. He spoke with the Jail Administrator about how to improve the jail cots and maintain the Correction standards. He fabricated a mold for stackable fiberglass and was eventually commissioned to make ten stackable cots for the Washington County Jail at a cost of $250 each. He was hoping to line up a contract with other county jail. The Probation and Parole Officer had not seen the new stackable fiberglass cots until the WCJBOV recent visit and was very impressed with the product.

Report from the Jail Administrators Report (as of January 2010):

* 45 (42 are WC residents) inmates and 3 available beds
* 7 females
* 7 transferred but returned
* 3 types of Classifications Minimum 14 inmates, Medium 29 inmates, 1 Maximum)
* 12 sentenced inmates, 33 pre-trial inmates
* Reasons for incarceration include assault, probation violation, burglary, criminal threatening, robbery, and domestic violence
* 21 employees (5 officers per shift)



The Board of Visitors is very appreciative of the service the Jail Administrator provides to the WCBOV. He provides data and conducts the site visits.

Annual Report from the Sheriff:



* During 2009, his department responded to 4,325 calls for service
* Washington County Sheriff’s Office received the highest clearance rate of crimes reported and solved by any sheriff’s office for the entire State of Maine
* Grants were obtained from Department of Safety to assist the Department. These special funds to provide additional effort and services in the following areas: Underage Drinking, Operating under the influence, high visibility, speed enforcement and seat belt safety
* Three full time patrol deputies have full academy qualifications and two had several years of experience and numerous specialty certifications
* Two officers were assigned to the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency
* Numerous awards honored staff this year
* Continued achievements and improvements accomplished by all members of the patrol, corrections and administrative divisions of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office
* Received a monetary gift for a Safe Driving Award for the previous calendar year
* Several officers received specialty trainings and certifications in the areas of K9 Tracking/Trailing, School Violence.
* Numerous arrests for non-compliant sex offenders with our county.
* Pre-trial inmates are “clogging the system” ( waiting for sentencing can be as long as 1 ½ years- longer than the sentence might be)
* Judges are not using the video arraignment (this use is controlled by the courts) resulting in additional transportation expenses
* 101 sex offenders in the county are being monitored



The Sheriff keeps the Board informed on all aspects of his job including the budget.

WCJ Budget (Determined by the Board of Corrections):

* No increase – except for contractual services
* No new positions – exception is to meet standards
* Pre-trial ended without Notice
* Appears may be paying for other counties debts
* No contingency account Note: $13,000 was saved by using the Transportation HUB, however the State does not permit the County to keep more than 10,000. and the State Department of Corrections does not use the Transportation HUB


Note: The Maine Sheriff’s Association has proposed that a Surplus Fund Protection Plan (Trust Fund) be set up to protect the surplus jail funds when savings occur in a particular county. Up to 1% of the budget- or 25% of a fund balance could be retained by a county for repairs such as for the roof, saving the taxpayers money) The Sheriff is advocating for this Plan and for a position on this Board of Deciders.

Washington County Jail (WCJ) Budget Comparisons:

2010 JAIL BUDGET is $2,161,008.

2011 DRAFT JAIL BUDGET is $2,193,432. (a small increase of 1.5%)

May 2008 National Institute of Corrections Assessment Summary:

The Sheriff requested that a Facility Assessment be conducted by the National Institute of Corrections Jails Division, Washington D.C. This Assessment was conducted on May 27, 2008. This Report has guided the WCJBOV and Jail visits. The National Assessment is a method used to move Washington County towards a long term solution for a useful life of the jail before a crisis occurs.

Facility Issues noted in the NIH Report include but are not limited to:

* Interview room converted to commissary area
* Public side of non-contact visiting area also used for juvenile holding
* Kitchen predates the 1988 facility
* Medical unit used only for exams and interviews
* Original multipurpose room used to house protective custody
* Mobile library cart used to distribute reading materials
* Interview room on second floor now used for classification staff
* 6 female beds
* Court access is through the public lobby
* Dedicated housing for medical inmates not provided
* Support and storage space is at a premium

Recommendations noted in the National Institute of Corrections Report include but are not limited to:

* Establishing current capacity requirements and program of inmate capacity – next 20 years
* Establish different long term and current space allocation
* Establish true cost-per-day of housing inmates
* Establish transportation cost-per-day
* Establish a Capital Plan



For a copy of the NIH Report contact Sheriff Donnie Smith.
The Chair of the Board of Visitors, Sandra K. Prescott and the Sheriff, Donnie Smith has been invited to speak at the May 18, 2010 meeting of the Machias Rotary Club.

The Washington County Board of Visitors Meetings is held at 9:00 am at the Sheriff’s office on the 3rd Thursday of each month. The public is always welcome to attend. The Minutes and Agendas are on file at the Sheriff’s Office and are available for public review.

Respectfully Submitted,
Sandra K. Prescott, Chair
for the Washington County Board of Visitors

May 13, 2010