AUGUSTA, Maine - Legislation to abolish the state Board of Corrections and return full control of the county jails to the counties has the support of the county sheriffs.
Sagadahoc County Sheriff Joel Merry testified for the sheriffs before the Legislature's Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee.
"Our Maine sheriffs stand as one, unanimous in our support of the return of Maine's county jails to county control," Merry told lawmakers. "Our sheriffs have run the jails for 195 years, we know this business like no one else, and we are good at it."
But not all county officials support the bill. Kennebec County commissioners oppose the legislation, preferring instead that the state make changes to the existing board legislation.
The Maine Municipal Association also opposed the bill, saying it would result in higher property taxes.
