Resolve, To Direct the Commissioner of Corrections To Study Changes in Corrections Practices and Reinvestment in Corrections Resources To Reduce Recidivism and Control Correctional Facility Costs
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 1210
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Sponsors: TALBOT ROSS, CARPENTER, BAILEY, COOPER, HICKMAN, MORALES, RECKITT, WARREN, MOORE, ROSEN

Legislative Document
No. 1210
H.P. 874
House of Representatives, March 12, 2019
Resolve, To Direct the Commissioner of Corrections To Study 
Changes in Corrections Practices and Reinvestment in Corrections 
Resources To Reduce Recidivism and Control Correctional Facility 
Costs
Reference to the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative TALBOT ROSS of Portland.
Cosponsored by Senator CARPENTER of Aroostook and
Representatives: BAILEY of Saco, COOPER of Yarmouth, HICKMAN of Winthrop, 
MORALES of South Portland, RECKITT of South Portland, WARREN of Hallowell, 
Senators: MOORE of Washington, ROSEN of Hancock.
Sec. 1.  Commissioner of Corrections to establish working group to study 
changes in corrections practices.  Resolved:  That the Commissioner of 
Corrections, referred to in this resolve as "the commissioner," shall establish a working 
group to study and report on changes in corrections practices and reinvestment of 
corrections resources and develop recommendations to reduce recidivism and control 
correctional facility costs.  The commissioner shall include in the working group 
membership relevant personnel from the Department of Corrections and other members 
who represent county corrections facilities, the court system, prosecutors, defense 
attorneys and groups that advocate for prison reform and any other interested persons that 
the commissioner determines appropriate.
Sec. 2.  Working group responsibilities. Resolved: That, in furtherance of the 
goals of the working group established in section 1, the working group shall consider 
upstream interventions, diversion and alternative sentencing, prevention and harm 
reduction and mental health and substance use disorder treatment, including:
1.  Corrections placements by type of offender, including the number of offenses 
committed by the offender and the number of times the offender was incarcerated;
2.  The use of sentencing guidelines for certain low-level offenders;
3.  The use of community-level supervision instead of incarceration for certain low-
level offenders;
4.  The efficacy of a graduated sanction and incentive program to ensure that 
disciplinary responses are swift, certain and proportional while allowing offenders to earn 
time off their sentences for engaging in behavior that reduces their risk of committing 
another crime;
5.  The expansion statewide of mental health and substance use disorder treatment 
services;
6.  The increased use of planning for the transition from incarceration to release from 
custody; and
7.  The effectiveness of criminal justice decision makers trained in the use of 
evidence-based practices and interpreting key performance measures.
Sec. 3.  Report. Resolved:  That, by January 15, 2020, the commissioner shall 
submit the report and recommendations of the working group established in section 1, 
including any recommended legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Criminal 
Justice and Public Safety. The committee may report out legislation based upon the report 
to the Second Regular Session of the 129th Legislature.
SUMMARY
This resolve directs the Commissioner of Corrections to establish a working group to 
study changes in corrections practices and reinvestment of corrections resources in 
various ways to reduce recidivism and control correctional facility costs, including 
upstream interventions, diversion and alternative sentencing, prevention and harm 
reduction and mental health and substance use disorder treatment.