MaineAmendment would let some long-term prisoners serve sentences in community confinement
The proposed amendment would let some prisoners convicted of crimes before age 26 seek community confinement after long prison terms, if they meet custody rules and agree.
What it does
Some prisoners whose crimes were committed before age 26 could be considered for supervised community confinement after serving two-thirds of their sentence or 20 years, whichever comes first. They must meet the custody rules and agree to the transfer.
The amendment lists about $2.8 million for 2025–26 and $2.9 million for 2026–27, plus 18 staff positions, to accept more people into supervised community confinement.
Argument forEligible prisoners could move to supervised community confinement after serving a long prison term, giving them a chance to finish their sentences in the community.
Argument againstSome people may worry that prisoners could serve the rest of long sentences in the community, even with supervision and strict custody rules.
More detail
The amendment says the corrections commissioner may transfer some prisoners to supervised community confinement without meeting certain usual eligibility rules. This applies to prisoners whose crimes were committed before they turned 26. They must have served at least two-thirds of their sentence or 20 years, whichever comes first, and must have held minimum custody status for the previous five years. A prisoner also qualifies if the only reason they are not classified as minimum custody is that they are within five years of their release date. The prisoner must agree to the transfer. The commissioner may approve a transfer but is not required to do so.
The amendment lists state funding and staff positions for the Department of Corrections to accept more people into supervised community confinement. The listed resources are for adult community corrections and include 16 probation officer positions and two manager positions. The listed funding and positions cover fiscal years 2025–26 and 2026–27.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Became Law
- Died
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 29Died in Possession of the Senate when the Legislature adjourned Sine Die and was PLACED IN THE LEGISLATIVE FILES. (DEAD)Died
- Feb 24On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin PLACED ON THE SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS TABLE pending ENACTMENT in concurrence.
- Feb 24Taken from the table by the President
- Feb 12On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin Tabled until Later in Today's Session, pending PASSAGE TO BE ENACTED, in NON-CONCURRENCE.
- Feb 10RELEASED.
- Vote recorded Enactment. Result: fail.Lower
- Feb 10HELD.
- Feb 10Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Feb 10(Yeas 64 - Nays 73 - Absent 11 - Excused 1 - Vacant 2)
- Feb 10ROLL CALL NO. 615
- Feb 10Subsequently, the Bill FAILED PASSAGE TO BE ENACTED.Major
- Feb 10Speaker laid before the House
- 2025
- Jun 25Carried over, in the same posture, to any special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 800.
- Jun 13Later today assigned.
- Jun 13On motion of Representative MOONEN of Portland, TABLED pending PASSAGE TO BE ENACTED.Became Law
- Jun 12Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (H-652) in concurrenceMinor
- Vote recorded ACCEPT MAJORITY OUGHT TO PASS AS AMENDED REPORT. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 12Committee Amendment "A" (H-652) READ and ADOPTED.Minor
- Jun 12Bill READ ONCE.Minor
- Jun 12Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 473 Yeas 18 - Nays 16 - Excused 1 - Absent 0
- Jun 12On motion by Senator BEEBE-CENTER of Knox the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report ACCEPTED. PREVAILED
- Jun 12Reports Read
- Jun 11Reported Out - OTP-AM/ONTP
- Vote recorded ACC MAJ OTP AS AMENDED REP. Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 11Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Jun 11The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-652).Minor
- Jun 11Under suspension of the rules, the Bill was given its SECOND READING without REFERENCE to the Committee on Bills in the Second Reading.
- Jun 11Committee Amendment "A" (H-652) was READ and ADOPTED.Minor
- Jun 11The Bill was READ ONCE.Minor
- Jun 11(Yeas 73 - Nays 69 - Absent 7 - Excused 2)
- Jun 11ROLL CALL NO. 446
- Jun 11On motion of Representative HASENFUS of Readfield, the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report was ACCEPTED.
- Jun 11Reports READ.
- May 8Voted - Divided Report
- May 8Work Session Held
- May 2Work Session Held - TABLED
- Mar 21Carried over, in the same posture, to the next special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 519.
- Feb 20The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint Rule 401.Minor
- Feb 20Received by the Clerk of the House on February 20, 2025.Introduced
Criminal Justice