Note that though Maine has the lowest incarceration rate of the US, globally they're only average. Most countries in Europe still have a lower incarceration rate, for example.
And every other US state has a higher incarceration rate than Maine. Many 3 times as high, some 5, one even 10 times as high. The US as a whole has by far the highest incarceration rate of the whole world.
Maybe Maine is the exception as the only sane state in this regard. As a whole, the situation in the US is attrocious.
However, Maine is home to greatest number of horror stories by Stephen King, by far. Clearly, your chances of being mauled by a rabid St. Bernard or vampire or nameless evil is far greater than in the other States.
Then again, you could look at other metrics and reach a different conclusion...
Agreed the issue needs to be fixed but my point is that the whole of the US isn't the same and painting the entire us as a dangerous place to go is ridiculous and unfair.
But even the safest state is still roughly comparable with the least safe country in Europe. Yes, there's lots of variation, just as there is anywhere else, but on the whole, incarceration in the US is just plain crazy.
And every other US state has a higher incarceration rate than Maine. Many 3 times as high, some 5, one even 10 times as high. The US as a whole has by far the highest incarceration rate of the whole world.
Maybe Maine is the exception as the only sane state in this regard. As a whole, the situation in the US is attrocious.