I am pleased to endorse state Sen. Eric Brakey’s proposal to reform Maine’s pre-trial system. Brakey proposes an evaluation system for those people suitable for pre-trial release. This is a common sense idea to help Maine control costs and protect civil liberties in the state jail system, which has been an issue of great concern in recent months.
Nearly 70 percent of Maine’s jail population are pre-trial. That means they have not been convicted of any crime, and they sit there — day after day — waiting for trial at a cost of more than $100 a day to Maine’s taxpayers. In many cases, those individuals are completely harmless and not a flight risk.
If the people are completely harmless, not a flight risk, and have not been convicted of any crime, why is taxpayer money being spent to keep them in jail?
Sen. Brakey’s legislation would focus limited resources on keeping the truly dangerous behind bars. If they don’t need to be there and they haven’t been convicted of anything, I certainly don’t want to be paying for them; and I know many of my friends and neighbors could use that $100 back in their pockets.
It is good to know that there is someone like Sen. Brakey in the Legislature who is standing up and speaking up to bring common sense and efficiency to Maine’s government.
Dave Adams, Minot
Send questions/comments to the editors.
