Criminal Justice

signed · Maine · House Jan 11, 2026

LD 1749: Resolve, Directing The Department Of Corrections To Study Achieving Gender Equality

Maine's LD 1749 directs the Department of Corrections to study gender inequality in its programs, services, facilities, and policies. The study must examine current gender disparities and identify potential solutions, such as facility redesign or resource reallocation, by December 3, 2025. The Department of Corrections must report findings to the Joint Standing Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety, which may propose new legislation based on the results. This bill does not enact new policy but mandates a review to inform future decisions. The study specifically affects correctional programs and operations managed by the Department of Corrections.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeDirects study of gender disparities in corrections to identify solutions, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of equity and inclusion.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Maine · House Jan 11, 2026

LD 411: An Act To Amend The Law Governing The Disposition Of Forfeited Firearms

This bill (LD 411) changes Maine law regarding firearms seized as part of criminal cases. It requires all firearms forfeited under certain criminal sentences - including those used in murder or unlawful homicide - to be destroyed by the state, removing a previous exception that allowed third parties to claim ownership. The bill also aligns juvenile court procedures for firearm forfeiture with these updated adult sentencing rules. These changes apply to both adult criminal cases and juvenile proceedings involving firearms used in qualifying offenses.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves third-party claim exception for forfeited firearms, preventing reuse in crimes and strengthening public safety within criminal justice system.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Maine · House Jan 11, 2026

LD 1126: An Act Requiring Serial Numbers On Firearms And Prohibiting Undetectable Firearms

LD 1126 requires firearms dealers in Maine to permanently mark all firearms they sell with unique serial numbers. It also bans the manufacture, sale, possession, or transfer of "undetectable firearms" (defined as weapons undetectable by standard security scanners under federal law). Violations carry criminal penalties, with stricter charges for possessing such weapons near schools, courthouses, polling places, or government buildings. The law applies directly to firearms dealers and anyone handling undetectable firearms.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill requires firearm serialization and bans undetectable weapons, aiding law enforcement in crime prevention and investigations. Supports law enforcement aspect of criminal justice.80% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Maine · Senate Jan 11, 2026

LD 1871: An Act To Permit Sealing Criminal History Record Information Of Victims Of Sex Trafficking Or Sexual Exploitation

This bill allows victims of sex trafficking or sexual exploitation to have their criminal history records sealed. It requires business screening services (like background check companies) to delete any sealed records from their databases and stop sharing inaccurate or sealed information. Specifically, if a victim's record is sealed through legal process, the screening service must remove it and notify the individual within 30 days. The law ensures these services update records within 30 days and verify accuracy every 90 days. It applies directly to trafficking victims seeking to limit how their sealed records are used by private background check providers.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllows sealing of trafficking victims' records, reducing barriers to reintegration and aligning with criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Maine · House Jul 7, 2025

LD 1189: An Act To Prohibit Arrest And Detention For Civil Violations And Require An Attorney For The State To Determine Whether To Charge A Class E Offense As A Civil Violation

This bill prohibits arresting or detaining people for civil violations, such as minor offenses like traffic tickets or code violations. It requires state attorneys to decide whether to charge certain minor criminal offenses (Class E crimes ineligible for probation) as civil violations instead, considering factors like the offense severity, victim impact, and prior records. If charged as a civil violation, penalties are limited to $1,000, and this decision cannot be challenged in court. The bill directly affects individuals facing minor charges and state attorneys who will make these charging decisions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits criminal charges for minor civil violations (e.g., traffic tickets), reducing overcriminalization and aligning with reform goals like limiting arrests and protecting civil rights.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Maine · House Jun 27, 2025

LD 1849: An Act To Establish A Minimum Age At Which A Juvenile May Be Adjudicated

This bill establishes 11 as the minimum age for Maine juvenile court jurisdiction for most offenses. It defines "juvenile" as a person aged 11-18 for crimes like drug possession, underage drinking, or traffic violations involving intoxicants (as specified in sections 3103 and 3303), but excludes serious crimes like murder, felony murder, or manslaughter (which remain subject to adult prosecution regardless of age). The bill also modifies time limits for prosecuting certain juvenile offenses and clarifies that some crimes (e.g., driving under the influence) may be handled as juvenile cases only if specific conditions are met. It directly affects minors aged 11-17 who commit non-violent offenses under Maine law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes 11 as minimum age for juvenile court, excluding minor offenses from adult prosecution, aligning with reform to reduce youth incarceration and prioritize rehabilitation over criminalization.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

failed · Maine · Senate Jun 25, 2025

LD 1802: An Act To Implement The Recommendations Of The Maine Commission On Public Defense Services To Clarify When An Indigent Criminal Defendant Is Entitled To Counsel At State Expense

This bill clarifies when poor defendants in Maine criminal cases are entitled to free state-funded legal counsel. It specifies four situations where counsel must be provided: if the prosecutor requests imprisonment upon conviction, the defendant is in custody at their first court appearance, held in custody for over 24 hours total, or a court has previously found a risk of imprisonment in another case. The law directly affects indigent defendants facing potential jail time by defining clear, objective triggers for state-funded representation. This implements recommendations from Maine's Public Defense Commission to reduce ambiguity in the current system.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeClarifies entitlement to counsel for indigent defendants facing potential imprisonment, strengthening due process and protecting defendant rights under criminal justice reform.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

Track

signed · Maine · House Jun 24, 2025

LD 1113: An Act Regarding Fairness In Sentencing For Persons Under 26 Years Of Age

This bill prohibits life imprisonment without the possibility of supervised community confinement after 15 years for individuals convicted of crimes while under 26 years old. It directly affects people sentenced to life without parole for offenses committed before their 26th birthday. The key provision requires automatic review after 15 years of incarceration, allowing eligible individuals to transition to supervised community confinement. This applies to all crimes, including aggravated attempted murder under existing sentencing rules. The law creates a clear pathway for potential release after 15 years for this specific age group.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill eliminates life without parole for under-26s, mandates automatic review after 15 years, and enables supervised community transition - directly advancing criminal justice reform by reducing harsh sentences and promoting rehabilitation.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Maine · Senate Jun 22, 2025

LD 246: An Act To Establish The Option Of Sentencing Alternatives For Primary Caregivers

This bill creates a sentencing alternative to imprisonment for defendants convicted of certain offenses who are primary caregivers. It directly affects individuals responsible for minors, elderly people (60+), or those with physical/mental disabilities. To qualify, a defendant must file a motion with an affidavit within 10 days of conviction, prompting the court to consider alternatives like probation or community service. The court must then make written findings weighing the offense, defendant's history, family circumstances, and impact on dependents before deciding. This change applies only to offenses that may result in jail time but don't require it.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates sentencing alternatives to imprisonment for primary caregivers, promoting rehabilitation and family stability, a form of criminal justice reform.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Maine · House Jun 20, 2025

LD 670: An Act To Address Coercive Control In Domestic Abuse Cases

This bill adds "coercive control" to Maine's legal definition of domestic abuse, making it a specific form of abuse under protection from abuse laws. It defines coercive control as a pattern of behavior meant to dominate or exploit a dating partner or family/household member, including limiting financial access, monitoring movements, isolating from support systems, using intimidation, or exploiting vulnerabilities like disabilities or immigration status. The law directly affects victims of domestic abuse who experience these tactics and provides courts and law enforcement with a clear standard to address such cases. This change updates existing statutes without altering penalties for other abuse types, focusing on expanding legal recognition of controlling behaviors.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill expands legal definition of domestic abuse to include coercive control, enhancing victim protection and accountability in criminal justice system.90% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationBill explicitly includes 'exploiting vulnerabilities like immigration status' in coercive control definition, making it a punishable domestic abuse tactic. This protects immigrant victims from status-based exploitation.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice