Criminal Justice

died · Maine · House Apr 29, 2026

LD 648: An Act To Expand The Supervised Community Confinement Program

LD 648 expands Maine's Supervised Community Confinement Program by creating a new eligibility pathway for certain long-term prisoners. It allows prisoners who committed their crime before age 26, have served at least 15 years of a 15+ year sentence, and maintained a medium, medium trustee, or minimum custody status for the past 5 years to qualify without meeting standard program requirements. This change directly affects inmates meeting all four criteria: age at crime, sentence length served, and consistent custody classification. The bill modifies eligibility under Maine law (34-A MRSA §3036-A) to provide an alternative path to supervised community confinement for qualifying individuals.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands community confinement for eligible inmates, promoting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism through alternative sentencing pathways95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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died · Maine · Senate Apr 29, 2026

LD 592: An Act To Amend The Laws Governing The Crime Of Endangering The Welfare Of A Child

LD 592 amends Maine's criminal statute (17-A MRSA §554) governing endangering a child's welfare. It clarifies that recklessly violating a duty of care toward a child constitutes the crime, and increases penalties based on harm: a Class D crime for general endangerment, Class C if the child suffers serious bodily injury, and Class B if the child dies. The bill directly affects caregivers, parents, or others with legal responsibility for a child's safety whose reckless actions cause injury or death. It does not change the core definition of the crime but specifies penalty levels tied to outcomes, making the law more precise.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties for endangering child welfare (Class D to B based on harm), aligning with 'oppose' indicator of increasing mandatory sentences.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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died · Maine · House Apr 29, 2026

LD 1009: An Act To Restore Full Civil Rights To Possess Firearms To Persons Previously Convicted Of Certain Nonviolent Felony Crimes

This bill amends Maine law to allow people previously convicted of certain nonviolent felonies to restore their right to possess firearms through the existing process under Title 15, section 396. It specifically removes convictions for nonviolent felonies (excluding those involving firearm use or serious bodily injury) from the list of offenses that automatically prohibit firearm possession. The change affects individuals with past convictions for crimes like drug offenses or property crimes that don't involve violence or weapons. It modifies the statute to clarify that such individuals can regain firearm rights once their civil rights are restored, without requiring new legislative action for each case. The bill does not automatically restore rights but streamlines the process for qualifying individuals.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestores firearm rights for nonviolent felons, advancing civil rights and reintegration - core criminal justice reform aligned with reducing unnecessary barriers post-conviction.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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signed · Maine · Senate Apr 19, 2026

LD 1962: An Act To Establish The Corrections Ombudsman

LD 1962 establishes an independent Office of the Corrections Ombudsman within Maine's Department of Corrections to improve transparency and address concerns in state correctional facilities. The ombudsman, appointed by the Governor with legislative confirmation, will receive and investigate complaints from incarcerated people and staff, report systemic issues to officials, and promote humane treatment standards. Key provisions include a 3-year term for the ombudsman, strict conflict-of-interest rules (e.g., no recent department employment), and funding set at 0.13%-0.16% of the department's annual budget. The office directly affects individuals in state correctional facilities (excluding county jails) and staff, providing a formal channel to resolve concerns and recommend policy changes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes independent corrections ombudsman to investigate complaints, improve transparency, and promote humane treatment in state facilities, advancing oversight and reform within corrections.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

failed · Maine · House Jun 18, 2025

LD 532: An Act To Protect Health Care Workers By Addressing Assaults In Health Care Settings

LD 532 expands Maine's assault law to specifically protect all health care workers in hospital emergency rooms. The bill defines assault on these workers as a Class C crime, covering anyone employed or contracted by a state-licensed health care entity (including hospitals and clinics) while performing their job in the emergency room. This change directly affects health care workers in Maine's emergency departments by strengthening legal consequences for assaults against them. The key provision amends existing statute §752-F to broaden the definition beyond previous limitations, ensuring all licensed health care workers in emergency settings receive the same legal protection.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands assault law to protect health care workers, strengthening penalties for assaults in ERs under criminal justice framework95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill classifies assaults on healthcare workers in ERs as Class C crimes, directly protecting medical staff through strengthened legal safeguards in healthcare settings.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands assault law to protect health care workers in ERs, strengthening workplace safety protections for a key labor group.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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failed · Maine · Senate Jun 13, 2025

LD 677: An Act To Update The Statutory Definition Of "Machine Gun" And Prohibit Possession Of A Rapid-Fire Device

This bill updates Maine's definition of "machine gun" to include any part or combination of parts designed to convert a standard firearm into a machine gun (such as devices enabling multiple shots per trigger pull or crank/lever systems). It also creates a new Class D crime for knowingly possessing a "rapid-fire device" without authorization. A rapid-fire device is defined as any part or device that increases a semi-automatic firearm's rate of fire beyond normal operation, including recoil-powered triggers or manual crank/lever mechanisms. The law directly affects individuals who own or possess such devices, making their possession illegal without legal authority.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new Class D crime for rapid-fire device possession, expanding criminalization per bill's definition of 'rapid-fire device'.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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failed · Maine · House Jun 10, 2025

LD 1930: An Act Regarding Acts Of Violence Committed Against A Pregnant Woman

LD 1930 defines "unborn child" as the offspring from conception until birth for certain criminal laws in Maine. It specifies that the terms "person" and "human being" in murder, manslaughter, and assault statutes include an unborn child, meaning violence harming a fetus during pregnancy could be prosecuted under these laws. The bill includes exceptions for acts committed by the mother, lawful medical procedures performed at the mother's request, or the administration of prescribed medication. This directly affects cases involving violence against pregnant people where fetal harm occurs, expanding criminal liability for such acts under existing statutes.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminal liability for harm to fetuses under assault/murder statutes, increasing criminalization per bill's explicit inclusion of 'unborn child' in criminal definitions.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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failed · Maine · House Jun 10, 2025

LD 1034: An Act To Decriminalize Personal Possession Of Therapeutic Amounts Of Psilocybin For Adults

LD 1034 would decriminalize the personal possession of up to one ounce of psilocybin for adults aged 21 or older in Maine. Currently, possessing psilocybin is a criminal offense, but this bill removes that penalty for small amounts held by adults. The key provision specifies that possession of one ounce or less of psilocybin by a person 21 years or older would no longer be considered a violation of state law. This change applies solely to personal possession and does not affect the legal status of psilocybin for sale, distribution, or other uses.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeDecriminalizes psilocybin possession for adults, reducing criminal penalties and aligning with drug reform efforts in criminal justice.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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failed · Maine · House May 27, 2025

LD 639: An Act To Improve Training Opportunities For Law Enforcement Officers

This bill removes the requirement that the Maine Criminal Justice Academy's law enforcement training program must be residential. The amendment allows the Board of Trustees to offer non-residential options, such as part-time or online courses, in addition to or instead of traditional residential training. It directly affects the Maine Criminal Justice Academy and law enforcement officers seeking certification in Maine. The change modifies the program's structure by eliminating the residential mandate without altering other training standards.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill improves law enforcement training accessibility via non-residential options, enhancing officer preparation. Directly addresses criminal justice training component with positive intent.80% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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failed · Maine · House Apr 17, 2025

LD 1335: An Act To Prohibit Life Sentences

LD 1335 prohibits life sentences for individuals convicted of crimes in Maine on or after January 1, 2026. It requires courts to impose a definite term of imprisonment of at least 25 years instead of life sentences or sentences deemed "equivalent to life" (defined as a term reasonably expected to last the person's lifetime based on factors like age at sentencing). The bill applies to all crimes under Maine's criminal code, including murder and aggravated attempted murder, but allows life sentences for convictions prior to 2026. It amends multiple sections of Maine's criminal code to implement this change and define the key term "term of years equivalent to imprisonment for life."

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits life sentences, mandates 25-year terms instead, aligns with criminal justice reform by reducing harsh sentencing and promoting rehabilitation-focused alternatives.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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