Penobscot County officials have continued to pursue plans to expand the jail and have now entered a purchase option agreement for a site in Hampden, Maine. Building this new jail would not just replace an aging jail, as the county says — it would significantly increase the number of beds.

However, the significant funds needed for the expansion have not yet been put on the ballot or approved by voters. There is still time to stop this expensive mistake.

We, the signers of this petition, believe the expansion of the jail is unnecessary - and that it will do nothing to solve the problems of Penobscot County, including poverty, mental health crises, homelessness, and drug overdose deaths.

In fact, jailing people often makes these problems worse - creating a cycle of repeated incarceration.

Instead, we insist that Penobscot County invest in solutions, including:

• Expanded mental health, substance abuse and crisis stabilization services

• Bail reform, so that poverty is no longer a reason someone stays locked up

• Diversion programs, to keep people out of jail who can safely stay in the community

• Transformative justice, to repair harm

We believe that together, we can build a community that doesn't rely on increasing incarceration to lock its problems away, but addresses them head-on in ways that really work.