LAW WITHOUT
GOVERNOR'S CHAPTER
SIGNATURE
175
APRIL 26, 2026 RESOLVES
STATE OF MAINE
_____
IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-SIX
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H.P. 482 - L.D. 740
Resolve, to Study Methods for Improving Youth Community Supervision
and Increasing Juvenile Diversion from Formal Judicial Processing
Sec. 1. Department of Corrections to convene task force. Resolved: That
the Department of Corrections shall convene a task force, referred to in this resolve as "the
task force," to study methods for diverting youths safely from formal judicial processing
and to recommend improvements to existing community supervision practices.
Sec. 2. Task force members. Resolved: That the Commissioner of Corrections
shall appoint the following 12 members to the task force:
1. One member who is a regional correctional administrator within the Department of
Corrections;
2. One member who is a regional correctional manager within the Department of
Corrections;
3. One member who is a juvenile community corrections officer within the Department
of Corrections;
4. One member with expertise in youth development and children's behavioral health
within the Department of Health and Human Services;
5. One member who is an active, active retired or retired judge or justice with
experience in the juvenile justice system, recommended by the Chief Justice of the Supreme
Judicial Court;
6. One member who is a prosecutor with experience in the juvenile justice system;
7. One member who is a defense attorney with experience in the juvenile justice
system;
8. One member with experience in youth development and juvenile justice data
analysis and research within the University of Maine System;
9. One member from a community-based program or organization designed to divert
youth from the juvenile justice system;
10. One member with expertise and experience in youth law and policy development;
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 11. One member who has personal experience with the juvenile justice system; and
12. One member who is related to a youth who has been involved in the juvenile justice
system.
Sec. 3. Duties. Resolved: That the task force shall:
1. Identify, describe and collect data on diversion of youth from Department of
Corrections supervision prior to formal court involvement, including no further action
determinations and informal adjustments;
2. Identify obstacles and improvements to diversions that will help ensure the
Department of Corrections is able to divert youths from the formal juvenile court process
when appropriate;
3. To the extent possible, establish at least one pilot site to design and implement
methods for diverting youths from the juvenile justice system, with a particular focus on
increasing diversion from Department of Corrections supervision and court involvement;
and
4. To the extent possible and appropriate, develop and implement a family-engaged
case planning process for all youth under Department of Corrections supervision.
Sec. 4. Update. Resolved: That, no later than January 1, 2028, the Commissioner
of Corrections shall provide an update to the joint standing committee of the Legislature
having jurisdiction over criminal justice and public safety matters on the work of the task
force. The joint standing committee may report out legislation based on the update to the
Second Regular Session of the 133rd Legislature.
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Statutes affected:
Bill Text LD 740, HP 482: 15.3204