ALFRED, Maine — Ever wondered how your county jail operates – how many people are housed there, how residents occupy their time, how long they stay, who cooks the meals, and how many people work there?
And what is the difference between a county jail and a state prison facility?
York County Sheriff William L. King, in cooperation with Massabesic Adult and Community Education, will host a free, one-evening course at the jail, located on Layman Way off Jordan Springs Road (Route 4) in Alfred on Oct. 28. Folks interested in the course offering, which commences at 4 p.m. that day, must agree to a prior background check and register with Massabesic Adult and Community Education by Oct. 23.
The course billed as “Behind the Walls at York County Jail” will allow folks to see how the facility operates, said King.
“The jail is the biggest cost driver within York County government,” said King, adding he believes it is important the wider community sees and understands what happens there.
York County Jail can hold 296 residents. The current number housed daily is about 240, he said.
York County Jail offers several programs for residents, from high school education classes to painting to physical fitness. King said a number of community members volunteer to help inmates with rehabilitation and reentry into society.
About 120 jail residents receive medically assisted treatment for substance use – believed to be the largest such jail program of its kind in Maine.
And, there is a Board of Visitors – an oversight and advisory group of citizens who meet to inspect the facility and provide recommendations for jail conditions in the areas of security, staff safety, and inmate health, safety, and rehabilitation.
King noted most residents – 90 percent, are pretrial and haven’t been convicted of anything – they are in jail because they can’t post bail, or because the charges for which they were arrested do not allow for bail.
The remaining 10 percent of inmates are people convicted of crimes, for which jail is the punishment, said King.
Folks who attend the class will see and learn about central control, see some security measures, the booking area where residents first enter the facility, the kitchen where meals are prepared, programming areas, a housing unit, and the non-tangibles - like the efforts to create an atmosphere of mutual respect between residents and staff.
The idea for Behind the Walls at York County Jail came from King, said Massabesic Adult and Community Education’s student advisor and program support specialist Eleanor Chow. The class is among 78 classes offered this fall - where typically 1,000 residents of the six-town school district take classes.
Massabesic Adult and Community Education and York County Jail have had a partnership for many years.
“We have been able to offer high school equivalency and life skills and workforce training classes to residents at the jail, as well as enrichment programs including art, physical education, and a library,” said Chow. “Through this, we have been able to develop a close relationship with staff at the jail, and Sheriff King has suggested classes based on community need and interest.”
One of those classes is Identifying Scams which she said has been “hugely popular and informative.”
Chow said there have been a number of registrations for Behind the Walls at York County Jail – and reminded folks interested that they must sign up by Oct. 23. Online registry for Behind the Walls at the York County Jail is at coursestorm.com.
King said folks will enjoy the class and learn how the jail operates at the same time.
“It should be interesting and fun,” he said.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: 'Behind the Walls': Free class takes you inside York County Jail
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