Maine Bill Seeks to Transform Long Creek into Youth Treatment Center
SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine — Residents of Maine are about to have a say in the future of the state’s only juvenile detention center. A proposed bill aims to shift the focus of the Long Creek Youth Development Center from incarceration to treatment, marking a significant change in how the state addresses youth justice.
State Representative Michael Brennan from Portland introduced a bill that would repurpose the facility. Brennan emphasized the need for a secure environment for at-risk youth but also highlighted the importance of rehabilitation and community support.
“We want a program at Long Creek that is secure. There are clearly youth that need to be incarcerated, but we want to focus on treatment and making sure we also have opportunities to build a community system,” Brennan said.
The current structure of Long Creek, which was built decades ago, has a prison-like atmosphere. Brennan believes it’s time to rethink how the facility is used.
“I believe we should be looking at something that is more residential and focused on treatment,” he added.
Brennan and other advocates argue that the juvenile justice system needs to prioritize rehabilitation over punishment. They see an opportunity to improve services for at-risk youth by focusing on mental health, substance abuse, and community-based programs.
“We have a lot of space and a lot of opportunity to repurpose and rethink how Long Creek is used,” Brennan said.
Long Creek has a history of security concerns, with several instances of residents escaping. Last year alone, there were two reported escapes involving teenagers.
“One of the purposes of having this study is to look at the physical structure and determine if there are ways we can make it more secure and more safe,” Brennan explained.
The bill aims to address these issues by shifting the focus of the facility from a correctional model to one centered on treatment and support. Brennan believes that while a secure facility is necessary for some youth, it should be the last resort.
“We need to have other housing programs. We need to have substance abuse programs, mental health programs that are community based in ways that we can intervene with families so that youth can continue to live in the community and go to school and not be faced with incarceration,” he said.
If the bill passes, the state will be required to redirect funds from the Department of Corrections to create intensive services for mental health and drug and substance abuse by January 2027. This shift would allow for more comprehensive care for at-risk youth.
A public hearing on the bill is scheduled for January 12th, giving citizens the chance to voice their opinions on the proposed changes.
- The bill seeks to transform Long Creek into a treatment facility.
- It emphasizes rehabilitation over incarceration.
- The goal is to provide better mental health and substance abuse services.
- A public hearing will be held to gather community input.
- If passed, the bill will require funding reallocation by 2027.
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