Bill > LD268

This bill aims to restore judicial discretion in sentencing by removing mandatory minimum prison terms across all titles of Maine's Revised Statutes, effective January 1, 2026. Specifically, the legislation will require courts to exercise judicial discretion when sentencing, allowing judges to impose prison terms that may be shorter than previously mandated minimum sentences. The bill directs the Criminal Law Advisory Commission to conduct a comprehensive review of all state statutes that currently require mandatory imprisonment and compile a detailed report by December 3, 2025, which will list these provisions and propose alternative language that would convert mandatory minimum sentences to maximum sentences determined at the court's discretion. Following the commission's report, the Joint Standing Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety may introduce related legislation during the Second Regular Session of the 132nd Legislature, potentially further refining the approach to sentencing reform. The overall intent is to provide judges with more flexibility in determining appropriate sentences based on the specific circumstances of each case, moving away from the rigid mandatory minimum sentencing approach.

Justice

https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=268&snum=132