Marks

Major Lori J. Marks is the new administrator of York County Jail.

Her appointment to the top jail position was approved by a vote of York County Commissioners on Wednesday, Nov. 6.

Marks, 53, has been a corrections officer at York County Jail for the past 17 years and replaces former jail Administrator Nathan Thayer, who left in May to become warden of the Maine State Prison.

A search yielded applicants from across the country and from among them, Marks and three others were interviewed, said York County Sheriff William L. King.

“(She has) commitment, loyalty and an outstanding work ethic,” said King. “Lori is a career York County Sheriff’s Office corrections professional who has taken ‘ownership’ of the jail. She is concerned with providing a safe environment for the inmates while ensuring taxpayer dollars are being spent wisely.”

Marks, a Springvale native and Alfred resident, was named national Corrections Officer of the Year by the American Jail Association in 2022. She has served as the jail’s interim administrator since May. She is believed to be York County’s first female full-time jail administrator, and King noted that Marks is a Certified Jail Manager through the American Jail Association – one of two in Maine.

Asked her aims for those who are incarcerated and those who work at the jail, Marks put it succinctly: “I want to continue the culture of respect with residents and staff,” she said.

Marks said she is working with the jail’s contracted medical provider on grants to augment resident substance use programming without increasing the burden on the jail budget.

“We’ll focus on substance use and rehabilitation, and building job skills that are transferable to reentry into the community,” said Marks. She noted the peer recovery coach program residents learn on the inside that they can help others upon their release, and an initiative with the jail’s food service contractor provides industry education and future educational opportunities to interested residents.

York County Jail has the capacity to hold nearly 300 residents; and the population tends to hover around 240. Most residents are pretrial and either cannot make bail or are held on charges for which bail is not available.

Staffing levels, which have been low in the past, have improved in recent years, Marks said. York County Jail now has about 50 full time corrections officers and close to two dozen reserve officers.

“Nationally the focus in every line of work has been recruitment, but just as important is retaining the officers we have,” Marks said. She noted that the jail is competing for staff with a number of industries in York County. “We find quality people and conduct a thorough background check,” she said. “Many York County industries find our officers to be desirable candidates for their facilities. Consequently, it’s not just getting people through the door, but keeping them once we have them.” She said she is working on ways to ensure that happens.

York County Manager Greg Zinser said he was pleased to present Marks to commissioners for their vote, and is very pleased with the work she is doing. “I have every confidence in her abilities,” he said.

Commission Chair Richard Dutremble and Commissioners Richard Clark, Robert Andrews and Justin Chenette voted in favor, with Commissioner Donna Ring dissenting.

As jail administrator, Marks is responsible for the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of the corrections division. The jail administrator carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws; manages and coordinates all functions at the York County Jail including resident safety, resident social service programs, medical assistance, and food service; establishes policies and procedures to provide resident security and ensures the rights of residents as noted under federal and state laws, along with an array of other duties like budgetary considerations, policy development, and more.

Marks became a corrections officer in 2007. She was a single mother of three working a full-time job and two part time jobs when a friend who worked at the jail suggested she apply. “I wanted a consistent paycheck, stability and benefits,” she said in a prior interview. Marks became the jail classifications officer in 2014, was promoted to lieutenant, and continues to be involved in programing, as she has for the past several years.

The jail staff, she said in an interview following her attendance at a spring leadership conference, is a family.

“It’s how to take each other’s strengths and weaknesses and build the best teams to problem solve,” she said, pointing out a mix of personalities provides balance.

As to jail residents, Marks said it is vital that staff and others remember that those in custody are someone’s family member, someone’s loved one, and that the vast majority of residents have not been convicted of crimes or had their day in court.

“This is an opportunity to help them change their life,” she said.

Earlier this year, when Thayer announced he was departing, he encouraged Marks to apply for the interim position and then she applied for the full time position.

Of being selected as jail administrator Marks said, “I like the responsibility. I like a challenge.”

Tammy Wells is a media specialist with York County Government.