Implementing Alternative Sentencing, Community Reintegration, and Record Expungement in Maine

By Chandler Dugal, Victoria Scott, Linda Small, Mark Van Sickle

Maine’s criminal legal system lacks diversionary and post-release programs that prevent full legal redemption, and it ensures that every sentence carries a socioeconomic-stigmatic life sentence. The remedies in this paper support the idea that all justice-impacted Maine citizens and their families are valued and should live dignified lives through strong community connections, purposeful and living-wage careers, and safe and affordable housing. To be clear, it is not the position of this paper that no accountability should result from the commission of a crime. Rather, these policy proposals are intended to remove the lifelong impediments to social reintegration, employment, and housing that follow convicted persons regardless of years or decades of model behavior while incarcerated and post-release.

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