Resolve, Directing the Department of Corrections to Convene a
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1979
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Sponsors: SARGENT, RAFFERTY

Legislative Document
No. 1979
H.P. 1322
House of Representatives, May 13, 2025
Resolve, Directing the Department of Corrections to Convene a 
Working Group to Examine the Establishment of a Program to 
Award Earned Time Credit for Educational Achievement to Persons 
Who Are Incarcerated
Reference to the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative SARGENT of York.
Cosponsored by Senator RAFFERTY of York and
Representatives: DODGE of Belfast, GRAMLICH of Old Orchard Beach, HASENFUS of 
Readfield, MURPHY of Scarborough.
Sec. 1.  Department of Corrections to convene working group.  Resolved:  
That the Department of Corrections, referred to in this resolve as "the department," shall 
convene a working group, referred to in this resolve as "the working group," to examine 
the establishment of a program to award earned time credit for educational achievement to 
persons who are incarcerated.  The working group must include relevant stakeholders and 
interested parties.
Sec. 2.  Duties.  Resolved:  That the working group shall:
1.  Analyze programs to award earned time credit for educational achievement to 
persons who are incarcerated implemented in states the department identifies as having 
correctional systems and programming opportunities similar to this State; 
2.  Examine data on the amount of time typically deducted from the sentence of a 
person who is incarcerated under the programs analyzed under subsection 1;
3.  Collect any available data on rates of return to custody, recidivism or program 
impact or successes in other states;
4.  Gather information comparing types of sentence deductions other than the award of 
earned time credit made available in the states analyzed under subsection 1;
5.  Perform any other relevant analysis or collect any other relevant data; and
6.  Recommend steps for the Joint Standing Committee on Criminal Justice and Public 
Safety to advance the development of a program to award earned time credits for 
educational achievement to persons who are incarcerated in this State.
Sec. 3.  Report.  Resolved:  That, no later than December 3, 2025, the department 
shall submit a report that includes the findings and recommendations of the working group, 
including suggested legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Criminal Justice and 
Public Safety.  The joint standing committee may report out legislation based on the subject 
matter of the report to the Second Regular Session of the 132nd Legislature.
SUMMARY
This resolve directs the Department of Corrections to convene a working group to 
examine the establishment of a program to award earned time credit for educational 
achievement to persons who are incarcerated and report the working group's findings to the 
Joint Standing Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety no later than December 3, 
2025.  The joint standing committee is authorized to report out legislation based on the 
subject matter of the report to the Second Regular Session of the 132nd Legislature.