This bill requires courts to impose a $500 assessment on individuals convicted of specific crimes related to commercial sexual exploitation and human trafficking, with a $1,000 fee for repeat offenders. The funds collected from these assessments must be transferred to the Victims' Compensation Fund and used exclusively to support victims and survivors of these crimes. Courts may waive or reduce the assessment based on the convicted person's ability to pay, and the bill ensures that unpaid balances are communicated to correctional authorities.
This bill provides financial assistance to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or sex trafficking for relocation expenses when moving to escape immediate danger. Victims can receive up to $3,000 per incident for actual, unreimbursed relocation costs, with a lifetime maximum of $5,000 if multiple incidents occur. To qualify, a victim must have written certification from a qualified counselor confirming the relocation was part of a safety plan, or a prosecutor must certify the move was necessary to avoid future violence during an ongoing investigation. The assistance is funded through Maine’s Victims’ Compensation Board and applies to crimes defined in the bill’s specific legal descriptions.
LD 1427 extends the statute of limitations for prosecuting aggravated sex trafficking (a Class A or B crime) from 6 years to 20 years after the crime occurs. It applies to cases committed on or after the bill's effective date or where prosecution had not yet been barred by the previous 6-year limit. This change provides victims and prosecutors with a longer timeframe to pursue justice for these serious crimes without altering statutes for other offenses.
LD 1888 amends Maine's asset forfeiture law to specifically target assets used in sex trafficking, forced labor, and racketeering. It creates new provisions (§§10, 11, 12) allowing authorities to seize money, property, or real assets connected to these offenses. The bill also establishes a new Chapter 46 defining "racketeering" to include over 30 specific crimes like murder, kidnapping, drug trafficking, organized retail theft, and sex trafficking. This law directly affects law enforcement and courts by expanding their ability to confiscate assets tied to organized criminal enterprises. The emergency designation reflects the Legislature's view that immediate action is needed to address ongoing racketeering threats in Maine.
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.
This bill requires Maine law enforcement agencies to adopt specific protocols for responding to victims of human trafficking or commercial sexual exploitation. The protocols must include information on victim resources like anti-trafficking organizations, housing, mental health services, and crisis support. By January 2026, the Department of Public Safety must create a model protocol for agencies to follow, and all agencies must adopt their own protocols by March 2026. The law directly affects law enforcement officers and ensures victims receive coordinated support during police interactions.
LD 1877 increases penalties for human trafficking offenses in Maine, specifically targeting aggravated sex trafficking (involving minors under 14) and standard sex trafficking (promoting prostitution). It raises minimum prison sentences to 20 years for aggravated trafficking and 4 years for standard trafficking, with higher terms for repeat offenders (up to 20 years). The bill also imposes enhanced minimum sentences of 7-23 years for violations near schools, shelters, youth facilities, and other protected locations. Additionally, it increases mandatory assessments (fines) for trafficking convictions, ranging from $1,000 to $6,000, which fund the Victims' Compensation Fund.
LD 1805 establishes a new process in Maine for people convicted of crimes while being victims of sex trafficking or sexual exploitation to seek to reverse their convictions. It allows individuals to file a motion showing their crime was substantially caused by their exploitation, without court filing fees. The motion can be filed by the person, their attorney, or the court, and will be reviewed by the Superior Court. This directly affects individuals with documented victimization histories who were convicted of offenses stemming from their 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.
