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Maine prison agency to propose housing female inmates at youth prison

The female prison population has risen while the youth center sits empty

By Corrections1 Staff

AUGUSTA, Maine — The Maine Department of Corrections has proposed to move female inmates to empty parts of its youth center.

According to The Bangor Daily News, Corrections Commissioner Randy Liberty and Deputy Commissioner Ryan Thornell said moving the inmates will fill empty spaces at the youth prison and better serve female inmates.

The adult female prison population has risen to roughly 225, causing overcrowding issues at the facilities they share with male inmates. Meanwhile, Maine’s youth development center has a capacity for 163 but currently houses 45 youth.

A committee is set to re-examine the center’s future and make recommendations. There are also plans to move a handful of the teens into a secure residential facility on the prison’s property.

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