Criminal Justice

signed · Maine · House Apr 15, 2026

LD 338: An Act To Increase The Size And Balance Of Jury Pools

This bill expands Maine's jury pool sources by adding registered voters, people who receive state income tax forms, and recipients of public assistance and unemployment benefits to the list of potential jurors. Currently, jury lists are drawn primarily from driver's license records, but this bill broadens the pool to include these four new categories. The goal is to increase the size and diversity of jury pools statewide by incorporating more community members. The bill does not alter how individual jurors are selected from the expanded pool.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands jury pool diversity by including new demographics, enhancing court representation and aligning with criminal justice reform goals of equitable participation.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Maine · House Jun 18, 2025

LD 1684: An Act To Exclude From Eligibility For A Community Confinement Monitoring Program A Person Serving A Sentence For Certain Domestic Violence Crimes

This bill prohibits individuals serving sentences for specific domestic violence crimes from participating in Maine's community confinement monitoring programs. It directly affects people convicted of domestic violence aggravated assault, elevated aggravated assault, or assault on a pregnant person against family/household members or dating partners (under Title 17-A, sections 208-D, 208-E, or 208-F). The law requires jail administrators to conduct thorough risk assessments, contact victims, and document safety considerations before any potential placement, but ultimately bars eligibility for these offenders. The policy change prevents these individuals from accessing community-based supervision programs while serving their sentences.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExcludes domestic violence offenders from community confinement programs, restricting rehabilitation access and increasing incarceration instead of promoting reform.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

failed · Maine · House Jun 17, 2025

LD 1263: An Act Regarding Penalties For Fentanyl Trafficking When That Trafficking Results In An Overdose Causing Serious Bodily Injury Of A Person

This bill amends Maine law to create a new Class A crime for fentanyl trafficking that directly causes serious bodily injury from an overdose. Specifically, it targets cases where fentanyl trafficked by a defendant contributes to another person's serious injury resulting from an overdose. The law upgrades penalties for fentanyl trafficking causing such injury (currently a Class B crime for other drugs) to a more severe Class A offense. It applies only to fentanyl powder and requires the trafficked drug to be a contributing factor in the injury. This changes the legal classification for these specific cases without altering other trafficking penalties.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill upgrades fentanyl trafficking causing injury to Class A offense (from Class B), increasing penalties. Aligns with 'increases mandatory sentences' indicator for opposing criminal justice reform.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ 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 11, 2025

LD 1032: An Act Regarding Court Security

LD 1032 requires Maine's State Court Administrator to contract for court security services when a court experiences security shortages affecting more than 2% of its scheduled time in a month. This bill directly affects courts statewide that face recurring security gaps, mandating the hiring of qualified security personnel to restore operations. Key provisions include prioritizing contracts for the local sheriff's office before seeking external providers and defining the specific threshold (2% monthly shortfall) that triggers the requirement. The law aims to ensure consistent court security without specifying new funding mechanisms or altering existing sheriff responsibilities.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates court security contracts for shortages, ensuring court functionality and safety - a direct enhancement to court operations within criminal justice.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ 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 9, 2025

LD 1147: An Act Regarding The Required State Of Mind Relating To The Threatening Display Or Carrying Of A Concealed Weapon

This bill amends Maine's law on threatening weapon displays and concealed carry to require that a person must intentionally or knowingly conceal a weapon or display one in a threatening manner to face criminal liability. It directly affects individuals who carry weapons in public, updating the mental state requirement to align with a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling (Counterman v. Colorado, 2023). The key change specifies that negligence or accidental actions no longer suffice for prosecution - only deliberate or aware conduct qualifies under the statute. The law applies to all concealed weapons, including firearms, knives, and other deadly weapons typically used for attack or defense.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAmends law to require intentional/knowing conduct for weapon charges, aligning with SCOTUS ruling to reduce over-criminalization and protect civil rights.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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failed · Maine · House Jun 5, 2025

LD 332: An Act To Establish Mandatory Minimum Sentences For Gross Sexual Assaults Against Children And Aggravated Sex Trafficking Of Children

LD 332 establishes mandatory minimum prison sentences for specific crimes involving children under 12. It requires courts to impose at least 25 years for gross sexual assault against children under 12 (with no suspended time), life imprisonment for repeat offenders convicted of similar crimes against children under 12, and a minimum 25-year sentence for aggravated sex trafficking involving children under 12. The bill directly affects defendants convicted of these offenses by removing judicial discretion for the minimum sentence length. These provisions apply to cases where the state proves the crime involved a child under 12, as specified in Maine’s criminal code.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates 25+ year sentences with no judicial discretion for child sex crimes, increasing mandatory sentencing severity per bill's explicit requirements.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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failed · Maine · House Jun 5, 2025

LD 418: An Act To Remand Individuals With Pending State Probation Violations To The Department Of Corrections Following Initial Proceedings

LD 418 requires that individuals charged with state probation violations who are denied bail at their initial court appearance, cannot pay the set bail amount, or have other pending court cases (where bail hasn't been set) must remain in the custody of Maine's Department of Corrections. This applies until their pending court proceedings for the probation violation or other matters are resolved. The bill changes the current process by mandating DOC custody instead of release on bail for these specific individuals during their initial court proceedings. It directly affects people facing probation violation charges who cannot secure bail for those charges or other pending cases.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates DOC custody for probation violations instead of bail, restricting defendant rights and increasing incarceration without reform measures.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ 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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