SOUTH PORTLAND (AP) — Maine’s corrections commissioner says it has hired a new administrator of the state’s youth correctional facility.
The head of a Maine-based youth treatment nonprofit, Caroline Raymond, is set to begin as superintendent at Long Creek Youth Development Center in South Portland in October.
Former superintendent Jeffrey Merrill was placed on leave in March and then stepped down for personal reasons.
Corrections Commissioner Joseph Fitzpatrick declined to discuss the investigation that led to Merrill being placed on administrative leave. Associate Corrections Commissioner Colin O’Neill has served as interim head.
Merrill’s resignation came weeks after three of the facility’s inmates tried to escape during a camping trip.
Last fall, a 16-year-old transgender boy killed himself while detained at Long Creek. The state attorney general ruled the death was not suspicious.
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less