PRIA Logo™
MaineLD 102132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026)House

An Act to Notify the Public of Juveniles That Have Escaped a Department of Corrections Facility and to Direct the Department of Corrections to Study the Further Release of Juvenile Intelligence and Investigative Record Information

Sponsored By: Michel Lajoie (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

JUVENILE OFFENDERSJUVENILE OFFENDERS - DETENTION

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

State can alert public about escaped juveniles

The law lets the Commissioner of Corrections or a designee share limited details when a youth escapes from a state facility. This applies only when there is probable cause the youth is a serious risk to themselves or to public safety. They can share a photo, a physical description, recent or likely locations, and that the department is searching. The notice tells people not to approach and to report sightings to law enforcement. Other juvenile records stay confidential; the goal is to help identify and apprehend the youth.

Study on sharing juvenile records after escapes

The Department of Corrections convenes a working group to study how to find juveniles with warrants or who escape from arrest or during transport. The group reviews what juvenile intelligence and investigative information, if any, should be shared with the public to help capture. If sharing is appropriate, it will outline how agencies could ask a court to allow release. Members include sheriffs and police leaders, a defense lawyer, a prosecutor, an active or retired juvenile judge, and a juvenile law or policy expert; the Public Safety Commissioner is an ex officio member. By January 1, 2027, the Commissioner of Corrections submits a report with findings and any proposed laws to the Legislature’s criminal justice and public safety committee.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Michel Lajoie

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 76 • No: 65

House vote • 3/17/2026

acc otp-am by ca "a"

Yes: 76 • No: 65

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 622

    4/3/2026

  2. PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence.

    3/25/2026Senate

  3. PASSED TO BE ENACTED. Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    3/24/2026House

  4. COMMITTEE ON BILLS IN THE SECOND READING REPORTS NO FURTHER VERBAL AMENDMENTS NECESSARY. REPORT ACCEPTED.READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED BY Committee Amendment "A" (H-849), in concurrence.Ordered sent down forthwith.

    3/19/2026Senate

  5. Reports READOn motion by Senator CURRY of Waldo the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-849) Report ACCEPTED in concurrence. Bill READ ONCE Committee Amendment "A" (H-849) READ and ADOPTED. ASSIGNED FOR SECOND READING NEXT LEGISLATIVE DAY.

    3/18/2026Senate

  6. Reports READ.On motion of Representative HASENFUS of Readfield, the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report was ACCEPTED.ROLL CALL NO. 653(Yeas 76 - Nays 65 - Absent 8 - Excused 1 - Vacant 1)The Bill was READ ONCE.Committee Amendment "A" (H-849) was READ and ADOPTED.Under suspension of the rules, the Bill was given its SECOND READING without REFERENCE to the Committee on Bills in the Second Reading.The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-849). Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    3/17/2026House

  7. Carried over, in the same posture, to any special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 800.

    6/25/2025House

  8. Carried over, in the same posture, to the next special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 519.

    3/21/2025House

  9. The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY in concurrence

    1/8/2025Senate

  10. Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety suggested and ordered printed. The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY.Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    1/8/2025House

Bill Text

  • Amendment C-A (H-849), adopted by House & Senate

    PDF

  • Enacted

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation