State House Station 111 Augusta, ME. 04333 Location: Tyson Bldg, AMHI Campus, Augusta Telephone: (207) 287-4340
Harold Doughty was appointed Associate Commissioner of the Maine Department of Corrections by Martin Magnusson on January 28, 2002. He brings over 30 years of experience in corrections including working as a Probation Officer, Training Coordinator, Director of Vocational Training, Director of the Bolduc Minimum Security Unit, and Deputy Warden/CAO of the Bolduc Correctional Facility.
Probation is a court-ordered term of community supervision with specified conditions for a determinant period of time that cannot exceed the maximum sentence for the offense. It is imposed on an adjudicated offender who is placed under supervision in lieu of or subsequent to incarceration, with a requirement to comply with certain standards of conduct. The probationer is required to abide by all conditions ordered by the court. Violation of these conditions may result in revocation by the court and imposition of an underlying sentence which was imposed at the time the offender was sentenced to probation. The probationer is generally required to pay the cost of supervision to the State of Maine, and may have additional conditions requiring payment of restitution, court costs and fines, public service, various types of treatment.
The probationer is usually required to visit his/her supervising officer in the local field office at intervals related to their risk of re-offending as measured by a risk/need assessment tool. If the probationer's assessment places him/her in the higher risk of re-offending classifications, the officer will contact the offender at his/her home and place of employment in addition to maintaining contact with service providers and other community members.
The average number of adult offenders under supervision in the State of Maine is 7300. Nationally more than 2,000 probation agencies supervise an estimated 3.2 million offenders.
Adult Community Corrections is divided into four regions with numerous suboffices. The main offices are in:
The Pre-Release Center is designed to be the last phase of a progressive incarceration system. Prisoners in this facility are within the last fourteen (14) months of their sentences and could be eligible for the facilities work release program when within seven (7) months of their scheduled release date.
While at the Pre-Release Center, the prisoners are allowed to work in the community and return to the facility at the end of their work shift. They are required to participate in a controlled savings plan, contribute to family (child) support, pay court ordered restitution, pay room and board expenses to the State, pay State and Federal income taxes, and they are responsible for their medical and dental expenses.
In addition to the prisoners that are participating in the work release program are prisoners serving on community restitution work crews. These work crews provide valuable community services to the local towns and communities as well as for other State agencies. The Pre-Release Center is under the control of Adult Community Corrections, and is located in Hallowell.