ALFRED – The new York County Jail could become the first Maine lockup in which family and friends visit inmates electronically via video, rather than across a glass partition or by direct contact.

Proponents say video visitation would reduce the amount of drugs and tobacco coming into the jail and cut the number of corrections officers needed to shuttle inmates to visitation areas and watch them while they are there.

While the change may be good for jail management, critics say it is bad policy. And so far, the Maine Department of Corrections is not in favor of the proposal, according to Sheriff Philip Cote.

“We think it’s going to be able to cut down on staffing for the new jail and substantially reduce contraband,” said Cote, who will present the proposal Wednesday to York County Commissioners.

The sheriff estimated the cost of the video link at more than $100,000, but said potential savings elsewhere in the jail could make up some of the difference.

Currently, Cote said, visitors meet with inmates over a glass partition or through direct contact in the same room, where contraband is sometimes passed despite the presence of guards.

With video visitations, visitors would go into a special room at the jail where they would see and talk with an inmate by way of a computer terminal. So far, Cote said, the Department of Corrections, which sets standards for county jails, has reacted negatively to the proposal. But he said he would try to convince officials the system is appropriate.

Department of Corrections officials did not immediately return telephone calls.

Dorcas Gilpatrick, acting director of the Maine Civil Liberties Union, said direct contact or through-the-glass visits are important, and a change to video would be bad policy.