Shame on Maine for its treatment of young adults. I moved my 17-year-old daughter here from Washington to get her away from gangs, drugs and trauma.

At 18, she got an apartment and a summons. Four 18-21 year-olds had a four-pack of hard lemonade. Video footage shows police entering her apartment without permission. The court did not care. That summons was used against her. She got “driving to endanger” for an accident in icy conditions. There were no witnesses. The court offered a deferred disposition. Every little infraction has led to more summonses.

Washington was forgiving. She got tickets but nothing permanent. In Maine, records never go away and it feels like the state is hellbent on giving her one. My daughter is rebuilding her life after a wrong turn. Now, it’s not the dealers and gangs she fears, but the law enforcement. They’ve labeled her “bad.” She’s not. She knows that. Yet they repeat it.

My daughter finished high school and studies business. She works three jobs. Police don’t seem to want her to succeed. They park unmarked cars just outside our condominium and find any reason to stop her. It sends her into fight or flight. She feels watched and trapped. How is this helping her become a productive individual?

Are we trying to push Maine’s 18-25 year-olds off the deep end?

Recently, I took a new job in Tennessee. My daughter decided she’s had it with Maine and wants to move. Maybe that’s what Maine wants.

Dan Erickson
Waterboro