Lawmakers, commissioners, move to contain damage after surprise prison closure
by Sarah Craighead Dedmon
Only the legislature can formally close a state prison, but Governor LePage effectively closed Machiasport’s Downeast Correctional Facility (DCF) when he ordered the removal of its 63 prisoners on Friday, Feb. 5, and issued pink slips to its remaining 38 employees.
Now, state representatives and county commissioners are exploring what can be done to minimize the damage.