PARIS – Nine representatives from the Maine Department of Corrections visited the Oxford County Jail on Thursday to inspect the facility the governor hopes to close.

It is the eighth of the 15 county jails to be inspected as the department gathers information for a proposed consolidation that would put all of them under state control. According to the plan, jails in Oxford, Franklin, Piscataquis and Waldo counties would close.

Gov. John Baldacci has said the consolidation under the Department of Corrections will save the state $38 million over the next eight years. He said county jail costs have risen 12 percent over the past three years, while the state’s prison costs have only risen 6 percent in the same period.

Sheriff Wayne Gallant, in welcoming the inspectors, made no secret of his thoughts on the plan.

“We certainly won’t get into the politics today,” Gallant said. “It’s pretty clear we’re not in agreement with the governor’s plan.”

Ralph Nichols, director of inspections, quality insurance and professional practices for the Department of Corrections, said the group was not part of the political process.

“We’re all technical people,” Nichols said. “Our job is to gather information.”

The inspection looked at all aspects of the jail operations, including its condition, budget, transportation issues, human resources, security system and medical services. Nichols said inspectors would gather data and draw conclusions off-site.

State Rep. Terry Hayes, D-Buckfield, also attended the inspection.

“I assume at some point this is going to come my way, so I’m here to learn,” Hayes said.

While the inspectors set aside two days to view the jail, they finished a tour of the facility during the morning.

Capt. Ernest Martin, administrator of the jail, led the inspectors through the cell blocks, kitchen and other areas, and met with some inspectors individually.

Martin said overcrowding, which has been a problem at the jail in the past, has not been an issue recently.

“We’ve been in the 20s for three, four months,” said Martin of the jail’s population.

However, Martin did tell inspectors that the jail had only one holding cell and sometimes jailers have multiple people who have a need for it. He said the jail staff is also charged with bringing inmates to four different courts or bringing inmates from other facilities.

“The biggest headache I have is transports,” Martin said. “It’s a huge problem.”

Martin later said the transportation issue would not be solved by the shutdown of the Oxford and Franklin jails because police and jail personnel would have to transport inmates farther to reach a jail or a court.

Nichols said inspectors will determine how well the jails measure up to corrections standards in 11 different areas. He said he would not be able to comment on how well the Oxford County Jail performed until all results are in, but did say that the condition and capability of the jail was satisfactory.

“I’d say it’s looking better than average,” Nichols said.

Martin said he was pleased that the inspectors didn’t display an “aggressive manner,” but also said that the inspection was not entirely pleasant.

“It is very awkward to avail yourself and accommodate people whose purpose is to potentially close your jail and three others,” Martin said.

He added that he was “guardedly optimistic” that the proposed shutdown will not occur.

“I still think that the more the state looks into this, the more complicated they’ll find it is,” he said.