Lincoln County Sheriff Todd Brackett is all for reforming the criminal justice system, but he’s against a couple of proposals working their way through the Maine Legislature.

Brackett updated the Lincoln County commissioners March 3 about two proposals he described as detrimental to the county jails. One proposal is based on a recent criminal justice survey. The Criminal Justice Committee is working a bill based on survey results studying Maine’s county jails. Initial language in the bill would create a 21-person committee for administrating outside jail programs and shift one fourth of the county jail budget to the committee. Brackett explained the survey had support from the Council of State Governments. 

Brackett reported the The Maine Sheriff’s Association and Maine County Commission Association oppose the proposal as currently written. Both groups are working with legislative leaders in finding a compromise to reach a shared goal of criminal justice reform, according to Brackett. The 12-page document would result in across the board changes in criminal justice procedures such as how felony drug charges are treated and bail reform.

“There’s an overarching philosophy the criminal justice system is broken,” Bracket said. “I think there is some validity to that, but looking at the entire proposal, it doesn’t make sense.”

On March 3, Brackett discussed possible changes to the proposal with legislative leaders. He hoped a compromise could be reached on the bill’s language prior to a March 4 Criminal Justice Committee public hearing. 

A second bill relating to county jails has also captured Brackett’s attention. The commissioners questioned him about a bill which would have an impact on inmates’ health care options. Brackett described the bill as dealing with reproductive options for incarerated female inmates. He described the bill as requiring far more resources than currently provided in county jails.

“Does this mean we are responsible for birth control for extended periods of time? And fertility tests can be expensive, too. It’s like the county is becoming like a clinic or defacto hospital which could become expensive for taxpayers,” he said. 

Brackett will update commissioners on these bills’ progress during future commissioners’ meetings.