Sarah has worked in manufacturing software for a few decades, and has been a volunteer educator in the Maine prison and jail system. Janet is a retired nurse and long time advocate for environmental, health and social issues. They are meeting with county rotary clubs to discuss the state of the court and carceral system in Maine, and presenting legislative initiatives our groups are supporting.
Much of their presentation revolved around the importance of hope and second chances to those who are incarcerated and how those are in short supply due to the fact that Maine does not have parole. That lack of parole also means that Maine's prison population is both larger and older, and consequently more expensive, than it would be otherwise.
A couple of key points from their presentation are that it costs 9 times more to incarcerate someone than it does to supervise them on parole and that it is estimated that there would be a $14.7 million boost to the State's economly for ever 100 people who are paroled. Sarah and Janet also explained how that lack of hope feeds the substance abuse problem in our prisons and how that is not good for both the inmates and staff. Maine prisons are also lacking in many programs that could help those who are released from prison to better integrate back into society and to lessen the recidivism rate.
There is so much more that could be written here. But, to learn more, visit their website at parole4me.com or email them at info@parole4maine.com
P.S. Sarah and Janet's presentation was so compelling that "someone" whose task it was to write this story and to take photos was so engrossed in listening and taking notes that they neglected to take the pictures.