by Susan Cover | March 26, 2020 | Due Process, Money, Politics
Legislative limbo The Maine Legislature adjourned on March 17 due to concerns about the coronavirus. But lawmakers feel the pressure to decide on more than 450 bills before new representatives are elected in November. Don’t Miss Maine’s Important StoriesSubscribe to...
by Susan Cover | March 12, 2020 | Due Process, Money, Politics
Maine may implement a text reminder system, similar to this one used in Indiana, to reduce the number of people jailed for failing to appear. Officials approved the idea, but the system has not been put in place because the Legislature did not fully fund the position...
by Susan Cover | March 5, 2020 | Due Process, Money, Politics
Sheriff Barry Curtis, of Washington County, said that as drug-related cases have become more common and severe in his county, they have also taken longer to move through the district court system. He feels Washington County is being overlooked by the district attorney...
by Susan Cover | February 20, 2020 | Due Process, Money, Politics
Cumberland County has a full-time diversion clerk in its district attorney’s office in Portland to monitor deferred dispositions. Photo by Gabe Souza. The disparities of deferred dispositions Deferred dispositions are handled differently in Cumberland County...
by Susan Cover | January 30, 2020 | Due Process, Money, Politics
Doug Dunbar battled alcoholism for the better part of two decades until he spent 136 days in jail in 2017 and 2018 for an OUI conviction. Now, Dunbar is an advocate for bail reform. Photo by Gabe Souza. When bail doesn’t work Efforts to eliminate cash bail are...
