Criminal Justice (Probation & Parole)

signed · Maine · House Apr 13, 2026

LD 2163: An Act To Improve The Response To Complaints By Victims Of Crime And Enhance Victims' Rights

This bill establishes a centralized complaint process managed by the Maine Attorney General's Office to allow crime victims to report violations of their legal rights by state, county, or local authorities. The Attorney General's Office will develop procedures for receiving and investigating these complaints, with the power to recommend corrective actions to relevant agencies and require responses within 30 days. The legislation also clarifies and expands specific victim rights, including the right to receive timely notice of hearings involving victim records and the right to comment on proposed early termination of probation or administrative release. Additionally, the bill requires the Attorney General's Office to submit biennial reports to state leaders summarizing complaint trends, outcomes, and recommendations for improving the victim complaint system.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enhances victim rights and accountability for law enforcement, strengthening criminal justice oversight and protections.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole Victims' Rights

signed · Maine · House Apr 13, 2026

LD 2161: An Act To Modify Certain Statutes Governing Revocation Of Probation, Victim Confidentiality And The Commissioner Of Corrections

This bill modifies Maine laws to require prosecutor approval before a probation officer files a motion to revoke someone's probation, while also clarifying that either the probation officer or prosecutor can withdraw such motions. It establishes that hearings on probation revocation must generally be held in the court where the person lives or is held, rather than requiring the original judge to preside. The legislation also protects victim information shared with the Department of Corrections for evaluating community program participation from public disclosure and clarifies that a deputy commissioner can act when the commissioner's office is vacant or the commissioner is unavailable.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enhances oversight by requiring prosecutor approval for probation revocation motions, improving procedural fairness and protecting defendant rights within the criminal justice system.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Probation & Parole

signed · Maine · House Apr 26, 2026

LD 1941: An Act To Implement Recommendations Of The Commission To Examine Reestablishing Parole

LD 1941 reestablishes Maine's State Parole Board, which was previously abolished, by amending statutes to create a 7-member board within the Department of Corrections. Key provisions require the board to include at least one formerly incarcerated person, a mental health professional, an attorney, and someone with expertise in treating sexual violence offenses, while also mandating that the board's racial and gender composition reflect the demographics of individuals in state correctional facilities. The bill also requires the board to provide annual training on parole evaluation best practices and mandates the Department of Corrections to submit an annual report starting in 2026, including data on implementing the new parole system. This legislation directly affects individuals in state correctional facilities who may seek parole under the reestablished system.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeReestablishes parole board with inclusive composition (formerly incarcerated, mental health expert) to promote rehabilitation and reduce recidivism, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

failed · Maine · Senate Mar 19, 2026

LD 1646: An Act To Amend Maine'S Good Samaritan Laws Regarding Suspected Drug-Related Overdoses

LD 1646 amends Maine's Good Samaritan law to expand legal protection for people who call for help during suspected drug overdoses. It removes references to "medical emergencies" and instead covers any call for assistance regarding a person showing symptoms of an overdose (such as confusion, irregular breathing, or unresponsiveness). The bill grants immunity from arrest, prosecution, or revocation of probation for drug-related offenses if the person is identified during a response to such a call. This directly affects individuals seeking medical aid during suspected overdoses and encourages calling 911 without fear of legal consequences for minor drug offenses.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands immunity for overdose callers, reducing criminalization of drug use and promoting public health over punishment in criminal justice context.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands legal protection for overdose callers, encouraging emergency medical assistance and improving access to life-saving healthcare without fear of prosecution.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole Substance Abuse

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failed · Maine · House Feb 25, 2025

LD 43: An Act To Further Protect Victims From Contact Prohibited By Probation Conditions

LD 43 amends Maine law to expand when probation can be revoked for violating contact orders with victims. Currently, probation can be revoked only for contacting a victim from the *same* crime. This bill adds that probation can also be revoked if someone contacts a victim from *another crime* where contact was prohibited - whether the related sentences run concurrently or consecutively. It directly affects individuals on probation who violate contact conditions with victims from multiple cases. The change ensures courts can revoke probation for such violations, strengthening protections for all affected victims.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands probation revocation for contact violations with victims across multiple cases, strengthening victim protection in criminal justice.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole Victims' Rights

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failed · Maine · Senate May 7, 2025

LD 822: An Act To End The Collection Of Certain Probation Fees

LD 822 eliminates two probation fees in Maine: a general supervision fee for the probation term and a fee for requesting temporary leave from a jurisdiction. The bill repeals specific statutes (17-A MRSA §§1752, 1754, 1807 sub-§6, and 1807 sub-§8) that required these payments. This change directly affects individuals on probation by removing these financial obligations from their supervision process. The bill also includes technical amendments to update related statutes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEliminates probation fees burdening individuals on supervision, reducing financial barriers and aligning with criminal justice reform goals of reducing recidivism and protecting civil rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

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failed · Maine · House May 22, 2025

LD 421: An Act To Eliminate Barriers To Reentry Into The Community After Incarceration By Repealing Certain Driver'S License Suspension Provisions

LD 421 repeals Maine law provisions that allowed courts to suspend a driver's license for up to 5 years for certain drug-related offenses. It specifically targets suspensions for crimes including drug trafficking, counterfeit drug trafficking, and aggravated marijuana cultivation. The bill removes the legal authority for courts to impose these license suspensions when sentencing individuals convicted of those specific offenses. This change directly affects people convicted of the listed drug crimes by eliminating a barrier to driving privileges upon reentry into the community after incarceration.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves license suspensions for drug offenses, reducing barriers to reentry and aligning with criminal justice reform goals like rehabilitation and reducing recidivism.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Probation & Parole Sentencing

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signed · Maine · House Jul 1, 2025

LD 1844: An Act To Expand The State'S Workforce By Supporting The Transition From Incarceration To Employment

Maine's LD 1844 requires the Commissioner of Corrections to establish a reentry services program for people leaving state correctional facilities. The program must provide five specific support areas: health/wellness services (including MaineCare access), financial literacy training, employment preparation (resumes, job search, licenses), community integration (voter registration, 2-1-1 services), and technology training (computer skills, avoiding scams). This directly affects individuals transitioning from incarceration to community life in Maine. The bill aims to improve post-release employment outcomes by addressing key barriers to workforce reentry.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes reentry services to reduce recidivism through employment support, health access, and community integration for formerly incarcerated individuals, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill creates reentry employment program with job training, resume help, and job search support, directly advancing workforce employment standards for formerly incarcerated individuals.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates technology training (computer skills, scam avoidance) as a required service in reentry programs, promoting digital skills access for returning citizens.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole Workforce Development

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

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole Sentencing

failed · Maine · House Jan 20, 2026

LD 449: An Act To Authorize A Court To Conditionally Discharge Certain Criminal Defendants

LD 449 amends Maine law to formally authorize courts to issue conditional discharges for certain criminal defendants, allowing them to avoid a conviction by meeting court-imposed conditions (like probation or community service) without a formal guilty verdict. The bill updates the legal definition of "Disposition" to explicitly include conditional discharge, ensuring it is treated like other outcomes (such as convictions) for license-related decisions. Specifically, a conditional discharge could trigger a license suspension or refusal for up to 5 years (or at least 5 years for offenses involving killing or wounding a person), as outlined in amended sections of the law governing license suspensions. This change creates a consistent legal framework for handling conditional discharges in criminal cases and their impact on licensing.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAuthorizes conditional discharge to avoid conviction, reducing criminal records and aligning with reform goals. Updates legal definition to treat dispositions consistently, supporting rehabilitation-focused sentencing.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

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