On a 10-2 vote, the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee endorsed a bill that would prohibit jailing suspects who can’t pay bail on most misdemeanor charges.
criminal justice
Posted inEditorials, Opinion
Our View: Maine should cut use of cash bail
County jails are full of people awaiting trial, mostly for minor offenses.
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Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Local & State
District attorney in Lewiston pushes to decriminalize prostitution
Some worry the move might spur more commercial sex in Maine as pimps tell young exploited women ‘you won’t get in trouble because it’s legal in Androscoggin.’
Posted inNation & World
Police reform bill gets new urgency in Congress, but the obstacles are the same
Lawmakers hope the conviction last week of former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin could provide the tipping point after decades of failed attempts to overhaul policing tactics.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Bill would seal records of convictions for minor marijuana offenses in Maine
Convictions for minor marijuana possession that is no longer illegal would be sealed from the public and others, and that’s drawing opposition from public access advocates.
Posted inEditorials, Opinion
Our View: To reopen during pandemic, Maine courts have to adapt
Judges won’t be able meet their historical obligations without accepting some brand-new changes.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Uncategorized
Governor denies clemency for Maine inmate seeking doctorate
Brandon Brown, serving a 17-year prison sentence for attempted murder, already is the first Maine inmate to receive an advanced degree.
Posted inNation & World
Judge blocks restart of federal executions; administration will appeal
The U.S. district judge’s order came hours before the first lethal injection was scheduled to be carried out at a federal prison in Indiana.
Posted inKennebec Journal, Local & State, Maine Crime
Wheels of central Maine justice system moving slowly due to COVID-19
Some inmates have been released, but advocates say more need be done to prevent outbreaks of the coronavirus at jails and prisons.
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Commentary: Protecting Maine inmates from virus could expose abuse victims to harm
Each release plan must assess how the proposed bail modifications or furlough would affect the safety of a given abuse victim.