Overview of Maine's Correctional System

The Jail System

Maine has 16 counties and 15 jail facilities with a rated capacity of 1,387 beds. The DOC conducts inspections and enforces jail standards.

The Prison System

The Dept. of Corrections operates 6 with an inmate population of 1,997. There are approximately 1,369 employees in the Department.

The Community Corrections System

The DOC's Div. of Adult Community Corrections supervises 7,919 probationers and 31 parolees. Maine abolished parole in 1976.

2006 Crime Rate for Maine

The crime rate in Maine is about 28% lower than the national average rate. Property crimes account for around 95.6% of the crime rate in Maine which is 22% lower than the national rate. The remaining 3.2% are violent crimes and are about 72% lower than other states. The following table shows how Maine compared to the rest of the states.

  Maine National Avg.
Crime Rates (2006) 2,635 3,654
Violent Crimes 116 410
Property Crimes 2,519 3,244

State Crime Rates (Per 100,000 People)

2004 Corrections Population

Maine has 13,400 adults under correctional supervision (prisons, jails, probation, and parole). The supervision rate (number of offenders per 100,000 people) is about 48% lower than the national rate.

  Maine National Avg.
Population Rate (2004) 1,341 2,572

State Population Rates (Per 100,000 People)

2006 Incarceration Information

Maine has a rate 63% lower than the national average of incarcerated adults per 100,000.

  Maine National Avg.
Incarceration Rate (2006) 151 405

Incarceration Rate (Per 100,000 People)

2006 Probationers

Maine has a rate 55% lower than the national average number of probationers per 100,000 people.

  Maine National Avg.
Probationer Rate (2006) 760 1,695

Probationers (Per 100,000 People)

2006 Parolees

Maine has a rate 99% lower than the national average number of parolees per 100,000 people.

  Maine National Avg.
Parolee Rate (2006) 3 252

Parolees (Per 100,000 People)

2001 Taxpayer Cost

Taxpayers paid 46% higher than the other states per inmate in 2001.

  Maine National Avg.
Cost Per Inmate (2001) $44,379 $24,052

Cost Per Inmate

Sources

  1. Federal Bureau of Investigation
  2. U.S. Dept. of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics
  3. U.S. Dept. of Justice
  4. American Jail Assoc.
  5. American Correctional Assoc.
  6. State Government Websites