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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signed · Maine · House Jan 11, 2026

LD 1784: An Act To Require Police Departments To Publish And Make Accessible Their Policies And Procedures And Require Training Of Officers

LD 1784 requires all Maine police departments (including state police, sheriff's offices, and municipal forces) to publish their policies and procedures online by January 1, 2026, in clear language accessible without fees or passwords. The bill mandates posting summaries of key policies (like use-of-force and de-escalation), a full list of officer conduct rules, and contact information for public requests. It also requires departments to provide printed copies upon request within 7 business days and update policies online within 60 days of any revision. Additionally, the bill requires all officers to receive training on these published policies and annual certification of compliance from agency leaders to the Maine Criminal Justice Academy.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires public policy transparency and officer training, enhancing police accountability - a core criminal justice reform measure.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes 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 No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Maine · House Jun 18, 2025

LD 930: An Act To Amend The Law Governing Items Identified As Prison Contraband

This bill changes penalties for trafficking certain items into Maine prisons. It reclassifies trafficking in unauthorized mobile phones or vaping devices (like e-cigarettes) from a Class C crime to a less severe Class D crime. The law specifically targets handheld electronic devices not approved by prison authorities and vaping products, defining both terms clearly in the bill. This directly affects individuals who attempt to smuggle these items into correctional facilities. The policy change simplifies enforcement by creating distinct penalties for these common contraband items.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeReclassifies trafficking of unauthorized mobile phones/vaping into prisons from Class C to Class D crime, reducing penalties and aligning with criminal justice reform principles.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ 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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signed · Maine · House Jun 17, 2025

LD 1366: An Act To Amend Certain Provisions Of The Drug Laws Related To Cocaine Base

LD 1366 amends Maine's drug laws to change penalties for cocaine base possession and importation. It raises the possession threshold for cocaine base from 4 grams to 14 grams for Class B charges (previously a Class B crime for possession over 4 grams), and removes cocaine base from the list of "schedule W drugs" that trigger enhanced penalties for prior drug offenders. The bill also modifies the Class A crime for importation by deleting the specific 32-gram threshold for cocaine base (previously a Class A crime for importing 32g or more of cocaine base). These changes directly affect individuals possessing or importing cocaine base who have prior drug convictions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill reduces penalties for cocaine base possession (raises threshold from 4g to 14g) and removes enhanced penalties for prior offenses, aligning with criminal justice reform to decrease incarceration for minor drug offenses.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Maine · House Jun 17, 2025

LD 1979: Resolve, Directing The Department Of Corrections To Convene A Working Group To Examine The Establishment Of A Program To Award Earned Time Credit For Educational Achievement To Persons Who Are Incarcerated

LD 1979 directs Maine's Department of Corrections to form a working group to study creating a program that would award incarcerated individuals earned time credits for completing educational courses. The working group must analyze similar programs in other states, review data on sentence deductions, recidivism rates, and program impacts, and gather relevant information. The group must submit its findings and recommendations to the Criminal Justice Committee by December 3, 2025, which could lead to future legislation establishing the program. This resolve does not create the program itself but initiates a study to inform potential policy changes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePromotes rehabilitation through education-based earned time credits, aiming to reduce recidivism and improve correctional outcomes.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill promotes educational access for incarcerated individuals by directing study of earned time credits for course completion, aligning with expanding educational opportunities.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

failed · Maine · House Jun 13, 2025

LD 1062: An Act To Eliminate Background Checks For Private Sales Of Firearms

This bill (LD 1062) would change Maine law to require private firearm sales to occur through a federally licensed dealer, who would then conduct a background check using the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System. It directly affects private sellers and buyers of firearms in Maine by replacing current requirements for sellers to perform checks themselves. The key mechanism shifts the background check responsibility to licensed dealers, who must complete the check as if they were the seller and may charge a reasonable fee. This preserves background checks for private transactions but removes the obligation from individual sellers. The bill does not eliminate background checks but restructures how they are administered.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates background checks via licensed dealers, enhancing firearm safety and reducing illegal gun access, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.95% 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 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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