The mission of the Department of Corrections is, "Making our Communities Safer by Reducing Harm through Supportive Intervention, Empowering Change, and Restoring Lives."
The Maine Department of Corrections (MDOC) begins identifying and addressing release planning and reentry as soon as the resident enters one of the facilities. The intake and assessment process involves several assessments to determine an resident’s areas of risk. Once the risk factors have been identified, facility Case Managers work with the resident to create an individualized case plan to address these factors. This includes a discussion related to release planning and the steps that must be taken prior to the resident’s release. It is important to encourage the resident to maintain relationships with pro-social family and friends throughout their sentence. These relationships provide a support system that is necessary for the successful reintegration into the community. These pro-social supports can include a range of individuals such as an AA sponsor, church member, family member, employer, landlord, case manager, counselor, or probation & parole officer, just to name a few.
While in the MDOC custody, residents are offered a variety of programs and services focused on reducing recidivism. Some of these include the Department of Education’s Work Ready curriculum, in which an individual is prepared to enter the workforce by working on resumes, interviewing skills, problem solving techniques and ethics, as well as building confidence and self-esteem. Research has shown that targeted programming aimed at addressing risk factors reduces recidivism.
Case Managers begin formalizing the reentry plan when the resident is within nine months of their earliest release date. Housing and employment are typically the primary focus throughout the process. It is the Department’s goal to have individuals release to safe and supportive environments. Those who want to obtain social security or other social services will have Case Manager assistance with filling out and submitting the required forms. Those with medical needs are released with two weeks of medication to cover the period between release and their first medical appointment in the community. The staff in the education division work with residents to make referral or recommendations to continue with their educational goals in the community and assist with financial aid applications. Veterans within the MDOC are referred to Veterans' Services, housing, and medical appointments. Each person is released with a comprehensive release plan that addresses their areas of need and supports their success.
For those released with community supervision (probation), facility case managers work directly with probation staff to ensure an effective transition of services and successful release. This helps both staff and residents as they share information, problem solve issues, and clarify the expectations of supervision.
For individuals releasing with a higher level of need, case management staff work with a facility assigned Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Intensive Case Manager (ICM). The ICM assists with coordinating more intensive community services required upon release, coordinating mental health services, community case management, as well as supportive housing. The ICMs also follow the individual for a period of time within the community to ensure that they maintain community connections and to assist in areas of need when they arise.
The Department of Corrections has a Re-entry Team consisting of three staff to provide another layer of assistance to residents releasing. Their roles include, but are not limited to:
- Collaborate with Case Managers and residents as needed regarding resources necessary for release.
- Collaborate with Probation Officers as needed regarding re-entry needs.
- Meet with individuals after release to ensure services and benefits are connected to and assisting with filling applications, finding housing and connecting to possible employment opportunities.
- Provide case management to those on probation as needed.
- Identify community resources in the northern, central and southern areas of Maine and maintain an up-to-date resource book in the MDOC data base.
- Educate the facility case managers, as well as Probation Officers of all new resources.
- Conduct phone outreach for those released to probation, to assist with any follow up services, needs, or community connections.
- Engage community providers and services and stay up to date with changes and how it effects the MDOC population.
- Attend community and state agency meetings to advocate for those coming out of corrections and needed services. Agency/Community meetings include:
- The Department of Labor, Vocational Rehab Quarterly meetings
- The Greater Portland Workforce Initiative
- Homeless Council meetings (Statewide & Regional)
- Community Coalitions through local hospitals and other agencies
- Various Community Reentry Boards/groups
2017 Release Data
| Location | Other | To Parole | To Probation | To SCCP | To Community | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bolduc | 0 | 0 | 99 | 18 | 94 | 211 |
| Down East | 0 | 0 | 46 | 8 | 38 | 92 |
| Maine Correctional Center | 18 | 1 | 198 | 31 | 181 | 429 |
| Maine State Prison | 14 | 1 | 151 | 3 | 156 | 325 |
| Mountain View | 1 | 1 | 147 | 25 | 112 | 286 |
| Total | 33 | 3 | 641 | 85 | 581 | 1343 |
Of the 1343 residents released, 199 of them were female.
| Location | Other | To Parole | To Probation | To SCCP | To Community | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maine Correctional Center | 2 | 0 | 88 | 28 | 81 | 199 |