News & Commentary

Today, the ACLU of Maine joined colleagues across the country in filing public records requests aimed at uncovering important information about the web of connections between the military and the police. We already know that, in some states, military equipment and tactics are regularly used in domestic interactions with civilians. This development has been driven by federal policies of funneling money, training, and equipment to state and local police departments. The tactics and weapons that cause us the most concern were developed for use in war zones, by soldiers who train every day to be able to use them effectively. Soldiers and police officers have radically different missions, and the skills and gear that is appropriate for one group is not necessarily right for the other. We know, for example, that a nine-year-old girl named Aiyana Jones was sleeping on the couch next to her grandmother in her Detroit, Michigan home, when a SWAT team through a "flashbang" through the window. A "flashbang" is a type of grenade that produces a deafening noise and a blinding light, and it was developed for use in wartime raids. After throwing the "flashbang," the SWAT team stormed through the door, but they became disoriented because of the light and noise. The SWAT team mistakenly shot and killed Aiyana Jones, after causing her blanket to catch on fire. We do not know what kind of equipment and tactics SWAT teams in Maine are using, and we do not know what policies or guidelines exist to prevent abuses. We do not know those things now, but we are going to find out. You can read copies of our request here, and you can read about this nationwide investigation here. 

When I think about myself as a young adult, I think about a time in my life where I was still very much discovering who I was. I made a lot of mistakes, had a handful of successes and needed a ton of support to grow up.  I was lucky. I had a great family and wonderful friends and a number of mentors and employers and educators who helped me a long the way.  Some young adults aren't as lucky. Others still make choices they will live to regret. Today, I testified on behalf of our organization and our members on LD 353 "An Act To Allow Young Adult Offenders To Be Confined in Juvenile Correctional Facilities and To Comply with Federal Law Requirements" before the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee.  The bill would allow young adult offenders (up to age 25) to be housed at a corrections facility that houses juvenile offenders. The young adults and juveniles would be kept separated, according to state and federal standards. The young adults would have access to educational opportunities, vocational learning opportunities and various treatment programs.  We supported this bill because we know that for most people, jail or prison isn't the end of the road. We support the idea of young adults having the opportunity to truly rehabilitate and make different, better choices upon their release. That makes our communities safer and stronger in the long run. Sounds like a win-win to me! 

Yesterday, we kicked off our legislative session, testifying in opposition to two bills before the Joint Standing Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety. Both bills would create new class D crimes, which carry penalties of up to 364 days behind bars and a $2,000 fine. As a general rule, we oppose the creation of new crimes and the expansion of Maine's penal code. The United States incarcerates 25% of the world's population while having only 4% of the world's general population.  This is attributable to a culture that has emphasized punishment over education and imprisonment over rehabilitation. In that context, we oppose any bills that criminalize new behavior. LD 40 would make it a class D crime to "tamper" with a private memorial erected on a public right-of-way. We were pleased to hear that members of the criminal justice committee shared our concerns about the bill's vague language, which would make it hard for people to know whether or not they are violating the law. We hope that committee members think twice before expanding Maine's criminal code and vote "ought not to pass" on this bill.

Yesterday, I sat in on the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee meeting where Commissioner Ponte testified before the committee about his decision to close down the Central Maine Pre-Release Center in Hallowell. The pre-release center in Hallowell houses low-security prisoners with 12 months left to serve. Inmates in the unit participate in a work release program, which allows them to gain work experience, develop connections with local businesses, and save money in anticipation of release. Folks who participate in the program re-enter society on more solid footing, and are thus less likely to re-offend. With the closing of the Hallowell facility, the pre-release program would move to the Bolduc facility in Warren. Committee members expressed concern over this move, noting that inmates would have less job opportunities in Warren, which could lead to higher rates of recidivism. We support Maine's pre-release program and share the committee's concern that relocating inmates to Warren will limit the success of the program. Moving forward, we hope that Commissioner Ponte will ensure that the pre-release program continues to serve Maine communities.