Facility needs to change inmate totes and get accessibility certification, state says

AUBURN – The Androscoggin County Jail barely missed a perfect inspection score by state corrections officials, who found a pair of small problems despite a 251-point, two-day examination.

In its just-released report, the Maine Department of Corrections found that the jail met 100 percent of its essential standards and 98.5 percent of its mandatory standards.

What did inspectors find? A professional staff and relatively happy inmates.

Inmates told inspectors they even liked the food they were served, but complained that the portions were too small, according to the state’s 38-page report.

“We’re very, very pleased,” Sheriff Guy Desjardins said. “This means a lot to us.”

It had been six years since the state last inspected the 18-year-old jail. No past inspection went this well, Jail Administrator John Lebel said.

Failure can be costly.

State licensing for each of Maine’s 15 jails hinges on success in the inspection. The three-person Department of Corrections team examined the entire jail, interviewed guards and inmates and rifled through four filing cabinets of evidence concerning each of the 251 standards.

Rules include standards for cleanliness, record keeping, food preparation, health care and security.

Technically, the inspection of the Auburn jail was a failure. There were two problems.

One was over the tote boxes assigned to each inmate, where they keep their clean clothes and toiletries. If there were a fire in the jail, the plastic totes would likely give off toxic fumes.

The other failed standard was over compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. It has been 10 years since the jail was examined for its handicapped accessibility. Following that inspection changes were made, but a follow-up visit was never scheduled, Desjardins said.

The sheriff and Lebel have 60 days to either fix the problems or give the state a plan for fixing them.

It will likely be the latter, Desjardins said. The reason: Totes cost money.

Meanwhile, Desjardins is working to set up a meeting between corrections officials and the three-member county commission to discuss the findings.

The report is only the third completed since new state standards for jails went into effect this year, calling on jails to carry more responsibility in making sure they meet state rules.

Inspectors and Lebel praised the jail’s compliance manager, Sgt. Dan Levesque for the good showing. The jail administrator also highlighted the work of Lt. Jeffrey Chute, Sgts. Eric Samson and Lane Feldman, and officers Lee O’Connor and Donald Olivier.

In the end, the inspection merely told them what they already knew, Lebel said.

“It just verifies that you’re doing a good job,” he said.