Innovation in Corrections Webinar: Maine

Featuring the Maine Department of Corrections, Commissioner Randy Liberty

Join Commissioner Liberty of the Maine Department of Corrections, Dr. Lisa Clements of the Clements Initiative, and Christopher Poulos of the Center for Justice and Human Dignity as they discuss the Maine Model of Corrections and how Maine has implemented innovative changes to their prison systems, resulting in safer prisons for both residents and staff.

The Maine Department of Corrections is

Decreasing resident incidents
Solving staff shortages
Increasing educational opportunities available to residents
Providing a safe environment for residents to live and staff to work

Key Themes:

Human‑Centered Corrections
Prioritizing dignity and respect for residents boosts engagement, reduces conflict, and supports rehabilitation.
Integrated Reentry Support
Early coordination with housing, employment, mental‑health, and substance‑use resources creates a more effective return‑to‑community pathway.
Staff Empowerment & Training
Equipping correctional staff with trauma‑informed tools and conflict resolution skills improves day‑to‑day environment and officer‑resident relationships.
Evidence‑Driven Monitoring
Implementing real‑time data dashboards to track safety incidents, program participation, and well‑being creates opportunities for nimble adjustments.
Collaborative Governance
Joint leadership—including corrections administrators, community groups, and lived‑experience advisors—ensures solutions are grounded, sustainable, and equitable.

Who Should Watch:

Anyone interested in creating a correctional system focused on redemption, resources, and healing as a tool to help people return home to be successful, contributing members of society.

The costs for this event were covered by the Maine DOC, the Tom Clements Foundation, and the Center for Justice and Human Dignity. It was offered free of charge and open to the public. The recording of this live event is now available.

Challenge questions for your department

Resident Dignity: How does your facility honor resident voices and foster a sense of dignity?
Staff Tools: What trauma‑informed and de‑escalation training do your staff currently receive? What’s missing? Did you ask your staff if your current resources are enough?
Data Feedback Loop: Are you using real-time data to guide decisions? How frequently are changes based on dashboard insights?
Resident Participation: How are residents currently involved in policy and program design? What blockages exist?
Cross‑sector Partnerships: Who are your key community partners? Where are the areas for deeper collaboration? Have you asked residents about where they feel there is a need for more resources?
Piloting Culture Change: What small pilot could you run in the next 90 days to begin shifting culture—either a restorative circle, data transparency trial, or advisory council?

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world. - Anne Frank

Initiate Culture Workshops
Hold regular sessions where staff and residents co-create facility values and expectations.
Launch Community Alliances
Establish relationships with local community health providers, housing organizations, and employment agencies for coordinated support post-release.
Publish Safety Dashboards
Make safety and incident reports publicly accessible to demonstrate transparency and accountability.
Develop Joint Safety Protocols
Involve correctional officers and residents in co-designing safety guidelines and response systems.
Conduct Transparency Audits
Review procedures to identify information gaps, then implement public-facing changes (e.g., policy summaries, simple reports).

Creating a safer criminal justice system starts with you - ideas you could implement within your department

Learn more about the Maine Model of Corrections:

Rebuilding and Transforming Lives

In 2022, the Maine Department of Corrections launched a transformative approach to corrections, emphasizing rehabilitation, mutual respect, human dignity, and community reintegration. Known as the Maine Model of Corrections, this philosophy focuses on humanizing the correctional experience, fostering collaboration between staff and residents, and preparing individuals for successful reentry into society.

Core Principles

Normalization: Normalization seeks to make life inside the facility more feel like a community, helping Residents develop skills for reintegration. We recognize there is no “normal,” and many Residents have had limited exposure to typical life experiences. Incentivized opportunities provide hope, motivation, prosocial behavior reinforcement, and personal growth, fostering a positive community culture.

Humanization: Prioritizing dignity and respect. Staff and residents/clients collaborate to model problem-solving and healthy interactions, emphasizing community over punishment.

Destigmatization: The Maine Model seeks to destigmatize incarceration by using person-first language and promoting a non-adversarial environment. MDOC is committed to reflecting the diverse backgrounds of our residents and staff, ensuring that all individuals are treated with fairness and respect regardless of their needs and background.

Key Initiatives

Revised Mission and Vision: With staff input, MDOC developed new guiding statements that align with the principles of the Maine Model, focusing on rehabilitation and community safety.
- Mission: Making our communities safer by reducing harm through supportive intervention, empowering change and restoring lives.
- Values: Accountability, Commitment, Integrity, Respect, Teamwork.

Enhanced Staff Training and Recruitment: Training programs are designed to reflect the model's principles, ensuring that staff are equipped to support residents effectively. The model also shapes our employer brand, helping us attract quality candidates aligned with our mission and values.
Facility Reforms: Living spaces have been reimagined to create environments that support rehabilitation and personal growth.
Data-Driven Decision Making: Improved data practices enable better outcomes by informing policies and program development.
Community Partnerships: Collaborations with victim service organizations and community partners strengthen community transition practices and enhance public safety.

Evidence-Based Programming and Treatment

MDOC offers a range of programs grounded in evidence-based practices to address the diverse needs of residents:

Mental Health Services: Trauma-informed and gender-responsive behavioral health services are available to all residents through partnerships with providers like Wellpath.
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT): MDOC provides universal access to MAT for residents with opioid use disorder, aiming to reduce opioid-related mortality and support recovery.
Faith-Based Initiatives: Programs like PRIMO (Prison-Based Interventions for Muslim Offenders) offer culturally and religiously tailored rehabilitation.
Sex Offender Treatment: Intensive, evidence-based treatment is provided to address the specific needs of persons with problematic sexual behavior, including relapse prevention and aftercare planning.

Community Reintegration and Reentry

Programs and facilities like Leading the Way, Waypoint, the Southern Maine Women’s Reentry Center, Bolduc Correctional Facility, and Downeast Correctional Facility are designed to support residents' transition back into society. They offer such opportunities as educational programs, vocational training, and wellness activities, fostering a supportive environment for reintegration.

Learn more at: https://www.maine.gov/corrections/mmc