Maine State Prison
Encyclopedia
The Maine State Prison was erected in Thomaston, Maine
in 1824 and relocated to Warren
in 2002. This maximum-security prison has a capacity of 916 adult male inmates with an average daily population of 900.
and became its own state, the state legislature established the Maine State Prison in Thomaston (44.077°N 69.193 °W). The original layout of the prison "had underground cells – deep holes into which prisoners were lowered each night and brought up in the daytime to labor in the stone quarry on the prison property." In 1923 the prison was destroyed by a fire in which many inmates died. The old prison was replaced by a facility with two cellblocks. The cells were modeled on the Auburn System
. There were long narrow hallways with very small cells — 7 foot each. The 1923 prison was very modern for the time and most things were performed by technology, like the locking and unlocking of doors.
The Maine State Prison had a farm several miles away where select prisoners worked. Most produce was used by the prison and not for sale. Other prisoners worked in carriage shops, harness shops, and in maintenance. In the summer of 1927 there was 197 white prisoners, three African American prisoners, and one prisoner of another race. The Maine state prison housed few females, who worked sewing and patching clothing. The women were relocated to the Women’s Correctional Center in Skowhegan, Maine
in 1935.
. They receive one hour a day exercise in a recreation yard and most services, such as meals and medication, are brought to them in their cells. Prisoners who behave in such a way as to constitute a danger to themselves or others can be restrained with force, including use of chemical restraints (mace), placed in security smock/bedding, and put on a constant observation status until mental health staff determines that the prisoner is safe. If extremely agitated, they can be placed for short periods of time in a restraint chair only until they regain control of their behavior and are assessed by mental health staff.
, science, and college prep math.” College courses are also available for prisoners. Prisoners placed in the
SMU have access to educational, mental health, and other programs in-cell.
Thomaston, Maine
Thomaston, Maine is a town on the coast of Maine the United States. The name may also refer to:*Thomaston , Maine, a census-designated place comprising the center of the town*South Thomaston, Maine, an adjacent town...
in 1824 and relocated to Warren
Warren, Maine
Warren is a town in Knox County, Maine, United States. The population was 3,794 at the 2000 census. It includes the villages of East Warren, Warren and South Warren, the latter home to the Maine State Prison and minimum security Bolduc Correctional Facility....
in 2002. This maximum-security prison has a capacity of 916 adult male inmates with an average daily population of 900.
History
In 1824, only four years after Maine broke off from MassachusettsMassachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
and became its own state, the state legislature established the Maine State Prison in Thomaston (44.077°N 69.193 °W). The original layout of the prison "had underground cells – deep holes into which prisoners were lowered each night and brought up in the daytime to labor in the stone quarry on the prison property." In 1923 the prison was destroyed by a fire in which many inmates died. The old prison was replaced by a facility with two cellblocks. The cells were modeled on the Auburn System
Auburn system
The Auburn system is a penal method of the 19th century in which persons worked during the day in groups and were kept in solitary confinement at night, with enforced silence at all times...
. There were long narrow hallways with very small cells — 7 foot each. The 1923 prison was very modern for the time and most things were performed by technology, like the locking and unlocking of doors.
The Maine State Prison had a farm several miles away where select prisoners worked. Most produce was used by the prison and not for sale. Other prisoners worked in carriage shops, harness shops, and in maintenance. In the summer of 1927 there was 197 white prisoners, three African American prisoners, and one prisoner of another race. The Maine state prison housed few females, who worked sewing and patching clothing. The women were relocated to the Women’s Correctional Center in Skowhegan, Maine
Skowhegan, Maine
Skowhegan is the county seat of Somerset County, Maine, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 8,824. Every August, Skowhegan hosts the annual Skowhegan State Fair, the oldest continuous state fair in the United States...
in 1935.
New location
The old Maine State Prison in Thomaston was moved to a new, larger prison in Warren in February 2002 because of the growing prisoner population. Some residents in Thomaston objected to the relocation of the prison because it was a part of their history and local economy. The prison that was founded 178 years ago was torn down in the summer of 2002. The area in Thomaston where the prison used to be is now a field.Incidents
- In 1998, Michael Chasse was arrested for breaking into the home of Robert CohenRobert CohenRobert Cohen is a Canadian comedy writer. He was raised in Calgary, Alberta and has written for The Simpsons , The Wonder Years, The Ben Stiller Show, MADtv, Just Shoot Me!, Father of the Pride, and American Dad!...
, the brother of former Maine Senator William CohenWilliam CohenWilliam Sebastian Cohen is an author and American politician from the U.S. state of Maine. A Republican, Cohen served as Secretary of Defense under Democratic President Bill Clinton.-Early life and education:...
. As Chasse was being escorted to his trial for the break-in, he threw a white powdery substance into the guards’ faces and ran off, but was caught five hours later .
- On November 11, 2005, Portland Phoenix newspaper began an expose series detailing the prison's alleged misuse of forcible extraction techniques and restraint chairs. Following a wave of public criticism, Corrections Commissioner Warren Magnusson promised to "de-escalate" use of the restraint chair, and asked the US Department of Justice's National Institute of Corrections to review the management of Maine Supermax.
- On June 30, 2008, Chasse, by then a prisoner of the Maine State Prison, took another prisoner and a staff member hostage. Chasse had what appeared to be a knife taped to his hand. After a seven-hour stand off, the two hostages were released with minor cuts
- Gary Watland, a prisoner at the Maine State Prison serving a 25-year sentence for murder, devised a plan to have his wife, Susan Watland, bring a gun into the prison with the intent of taking hostages. Another prisoner alerted staff. On October 24, 2006 Susan Watland entered the prison with a loaded pistol but was apprehended by officials before any shots were fired . She was arrested and later sentenced to 3 years in prison with credit for time served, probation and a fine. She is currently housed at the Maine Correctional Center.
SMU
The Special Management Unit (SMU) is a small unit that houses prisoners who are threats to themselves or others, are escape risks, or violate institutional rules, such as fighting or having weapons or other contraband, or are in need of protection. Most prisoners in the SMU are on 23-hour lockdownLockdown
There are several definitions for the term lockdown, the most common of which pertains to a state of containment or a restriction of progression....
. They receive one hour a day exercise in a recreation yard and most services, such as meals and medication, are brought to them in their cells. Prisoners who behave in such a way as to constitute a danger to themselves or others can be restrained with force, including use of chemical restraints (mace), placed in security smock/bedding, and put on a constant observation status until mental health staff determines that the prisoner is safe. If extremely agitated, they can be placed for short periods of time in a restraint chair only until they regain control of their behavior and are assessed by mental health staff.
Prison Management
The Maine State prison uses the unit management system. A team of staff for each housing unit meets periodically to talk about the needs of each prisoner, determine their custody level, and set goals for each prisoner to reach. Education programs are available to inmates including GED prep, typing, English, horticultureHorticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
, science, and college prep math.” College courses are also available for prisoners. Prisoners placed in the
SMU have access to educational, mental health, and other programs in-cell.