Resolve, To Establish a Working Group To Review the Function and Mission of Probation Officers and Establish a Licensing Procedure
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 0589
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Sponsors: GRATWICK, GUERIN, CARDONE, DIAMOND, DILL, DION, MIRAMANT, ROSEN, FECTEAU, HAMANN

Legislative Document
No. 589
S.P. 204
In Senate, February 16, 2017
Resolve, To Establish a Working Group To Review the Function 
and Mission of Probation Officers and Establish a Licensing 
Procedure
Reference to the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety suggested and ordered 
printed.
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator GRATWICK of Penobscot.
Cosponsored by Representative GUERIN of Glenburn, Representative CARDONE of Bangor 
and
Senators: DIAMOND of Cumberland, DILL of Penobscot, DION of Cumberland, 
MIRAMANT of Knox, ROSEN of Hancock, Representatives: FECTEAU of Biddeford, 
HAMANN of South Portland, McCREA of Fort Fairfield.
Sec. 1.  Working group on the profession of probation officer.  Resolved:  
That the Commissioner of Corrections shall convene a working group to review the 
function and mission of probation officers within the Department of Corrections and to 
make recommendations to the Joint Standing Committee on Criminal Justice and Public 
Safety by January 1, 2018 regarding legislation to update the laws and rules regarding 
probation officers and establish a procedure and statute for licensure of probation 
officers. 
1.  The working group must include, but is not limited to: 
A.  A representative of the Department of Corrections and a representative of the 
Department of Health and Human Services, who shall cochair the working group; 
B.  A representative of a statewide organization of religious or faith communities; 
and 
C.  A representative of a prison advocacy organization; a representative of a 
grassroots community organization; a representative of the judicial branch; a 
journalist; and any other interested persons who will broaden the perspective and add 
to the strength of the review and recommendations of the working group. 
2.  The working group shall review the function and mission of probation officers and 
shall make recommendations to: 
A.  Strengthen the role of probation officers in the rehabilitation of juvenile and 
criminal offenders and the reduction of recidivism; 
B.  Develop a procedure and proposed statute for licensing probation officers that 
will provide regulation, licensing and disciplinary responsibilities within the 
Department of Professional and Financial Regulation; 
C.  Develop performance standards for probation officers; and 
D.  Develop 3 regional community resource units to reinforce standards of job 
performance and provide support to probation officers. 
3.  The Department of Corrections and the Department of Health and Human 
Services shall provide staffing and support services to the working group; and be it 
further 
Sec. 2.  Sunrise review.  Resolved:  That the Commissioner of Professional and 
Financial Regulation shall undertake the sunrise review procedure for licensure of 
probation officers in accordance with the procedure and criteria set forth in the Maine 
Revised Statutes, Title 32, sections 60-J, 60-K and 60-L.  In conducting the sunrise 
review procedure, the commissioner shall take into consideration the work and 
recommendations of the working group convened pursuant to section 1 of this resolve.  
The commissioner shall report to the Joint Standing Committee on Criminal Justice and 
Public Safety by February 1, 2018 regarding the results of the sunrise review procedure 
and any recommendations regarding licensure of probation officers. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve directs the Commissioner of Corrections to convene a working group to 
review the function and mission of probation officers within the Department of 
Corrections and to make recommendations to the Joint Standing Committee on Criminal 
Justice and Public Safety by January 1, 2018 regarding legislation to update the laws and 
rules regarding probation officers and establish a procedure and statute for licensure of 
probation officers.  The resolve directs the Commissioner of Professional and Financial 
Regulation to undertake a sunrise review procedure for licensure of probation officers and 
directs the commissioner to take into consideration the work and recommendations of the 
working group.  The commissioner is required to report to the Joint Standing Committee 
on Criminal Justice and Public Safety by February 1, 2018 regarding the results of the 
sunrise review procedure and any recommendations regarding licensure of probation 
officers.