Senators Collins, King Announce $2.1 Million to Support Maine's Criminal Justice System

Statement

Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that Maine has received a total of $2,113,892 to support the state's criminal justice system. This funding was awarded through the U.S. Department of Justice.

"Preventing crime and prosecuting criminals is critical to ensuring the safety of Maine families and obtaining justice for victims," said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. "This funding will help reduce crime and recidivism, support our hardworking law enforcement officers, and make our communities safer."

The funding will be allocated as follows:

Maine Department of Public Safety will receive $398,892 for the Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Program to hire additional staff and combat case backlogs.
Maine Prisoner Re-Entry Network will receive $750,000 for the Maine Prisoner Community Reintegration Project to strengthen re-entry programs designed to reduce recidivism, increase public safety, provide an able and motivated workforce, reduce system costs, and empower ex-offenders to be reliable family members and realize their full potential.
Maine Department of Corrections will receive $715,000 for the "Smart Probation: Innovations in Supervision Initiative" to support client behavior change and positive reinforcement, while increasing access to treatment and reallocating resources to reduce burdens of high caseloads and geographic barriers. The Department will also receive $250,000 for the Implementing PREA Standards, Protecting Inmates, and Safeguarding Communities Program to reduce sexual violence in prisons by expanding body-worn camera programs, certifying all criminal investigators, and improving evidence collection methods.

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