“This area rallied in support of the Downeast Correctional Facility (DCF) since day one of its closure back in 2018, and I am very thankful that all of that work and perseverance is paying off after such a long and troubled road," says Maine State Rep. Will Tuell.
     With the new Downeast Pre Release Center in Bucks Harbor, formerly DCF, close to completion, Tuell and others in both the legislature and Governor Mills' administration, along with local residents and businesses are finally breathing a sigh of relief.
     Noting recent supply challenges due to the pandemic, Department of Corrections (DOC) Operations Director Gary LaPlante is confident in the new timeline. "King Construction was recently given a construction completion extension," says LaPlante. "As a result, the DOC continues to support the governor's commitment to Washington County by opening the DCF facility in November 2021."
     According to LaPlante, the pre release center will house 50 inmates and employ 15 people in full time positions. Positions will be offered by way of seniority with former employees of DCF and will be under the authority of Charleston Correctional Facility Superintendent Jeffrey Morrin. LaPlante indicates there would be an on site unit manger hired to oversee day to day operations.
     This comes after a long on-again, off-again process that began on a cold morning in early February 2018. Life changed for 38 employees and 63 inmates that morning when members of the Special Operations Group of DOC roused sleeping inmates and removed others working at local businesses and ferried them away to another facility. The employees on duty were taken to a holding area, and those arriving to work were handed pink slips. The facility was then closed.
     At one time the minimum security prison held 150 inmates and employed 50 people in the area. That abrupt closure in 2018 by the LePage administration caused an uproar from local residents and businesses due to its long term impact to the area infrastructure as well as to the immediate loss of jobs in a community already stretched thin when it comes to job opportunities.
     In 2019 Governor Janet Mills sought to reevaluate the DCF situation and the state's need for additional correctional facilities. DOC Commissioner Randall Liberty concluded after an extensive search for available property, analysis of costs and budget and continued pressure by local representatives that DCF would be retrofitted into a pre release center to accommodate their needs.
     The 10,000-square-foot building, funded by a $10 million bond passed back in 2016 for DCF repairs, is a self contained dormitory style structure with eight inmates per room. The facility contains separate individual areas for privacy, a sloped metal roof, composite siding and solar panels to provide additional electricity. "The only challenge has been managing a project during a pandemic, which has impacted the delivery of some aspects of the project," says LaPlante.
     One key piece of programming that many in the business community will be happy to hear returning is the work release training program DCF was heralded for by both inmates and local businesses. "The DOC plans to have an active work release program as we previously did in support of local communities and looks forward to building upon our strong education and training partnership with Washington County Community College," says LaPlante.
     This is great news, according to Rep. Tuell. "Having the work release program back will not only help the area but will help those incarcerated gain the skills they need to get back on their feet and again become productive members of the community."
     LaPlante says a ribbon cutting ceremony is in the works.