Maine legislators continue probe into prison mismgmt; state's exile policy assailed.

Maine's prison system mismanagement is under a refreshingly detailed probe by the state legislature's investigative unit OPEGA, which Tuesday aired its interim report to the legislature

Listen to coverage by Maine Public Radio News of two state prison-related stories that unfolded at the state capital June 6th (5 minute mp3) Read the text of their coverage

At the same time, an arrogant response by the Department of Corrections that the state's exiling policy and history is "confidential" sparked a press conference in the Hall of Flags by Ron Huber, community radio news producer for now-exiled Maine inmate Deane Brown, a convicted burglar-turned gadfly inmate news correspondent, who was sent from Maine State Prison south at the beginning of Governor Baldacci's second term to a series of prisons in Maryland. The link above also includes coverage of Huber's press conference.

(1) Legislature today discussed and heard testimony on the interim report on management of Maine state prisons by OPEGA the legislature's office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability.

The report is called Maine State Prison Management issues- Organizational Culture and Weaknesses in Reporting Avenues Are Likely Inhibiting Reporting and Action on Employee Concerns. (Link to report at opega website doesn't work Will scan a paper copy. Stay tuned.)

(2) In his press conference, Huber called on Governor Baldacci to open up the state's inmate exile program to public scrutiny, and review all the cases. The agency insists that its exile policy and decisions are confidential.

However, exile is a severe punishment to both the incarcerated and to his or her family and community. Maine Department of Corrections must lose its power to permanently strip Native Mainers of their citizenship. Such a drastic decision must not take place behind a smokescreen of bogus "confidentiality".

PodCast: Maine Corrections Watch radio 6/27/09

Weekend Roundtable July 27, 2009 Listen to this week's podcast
Topics: Maine's ghost inmates....ending punitive inmate exile...Russians tour Maine prison.
On this fifty minute show we discuss the push to end Maine Department of Corrections' practice of exiling "troublemaker" inmates to prisons in distant states. We also look at the ghost gerrymandering of non existent inmates in the federal census and what it means for School administration Districts. Then a report on a tour of Maines juvenile incarceration facilities by a group of Russian judicial court officials. All interspersed with Jimi Hendrix's music, including Up from the Skies, Bellybutton Window, Third Stone from the Sun, and Night Bird Flying (Jimi's country song).

Maine Prison head defies Legislature over exile policy

Maine Speaker of the House Snubbed By Corrections Boss

Corrections Commissioner Martin Magnusson has rejected requests by a Maine legislative leader and other legislators for information about the state's punitive exile policy.

Speaker of House Hannah Pingree, Senator Chris Rector and others have been refused by Commissioner Magnusson, when they requested an explanation of his punitive exile policy.

Commissioner Magnusson says his department's exile policies and the identities of exiled Maine prisoners are "confidential"; he will not explain them.

This is a slap in the face to the Maine Legislature," said Ron Huber, radio producer for an exiled inmate Deane Brown of Rockland. "The Department of Corrections is grown arrogant in its power and secrecy. Its time for the Commissioner and this deputies to be brought down a peg or two."

Under the Baldacci Administration, the state has adopted forced relocation as a solution for "troublemaker" inmates. 10s of cases may exist of Mainers spirited off to distant states' prisons, for rocking the boat on poor prison conditions or institutional corruption.