State of Maine Archives: on Crime
Angus King:
Opposes the death penalty
King indicates support for the following principles to address crime. - Oppose the death penalty.
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Inform communities when a convicted sex offender moves into the community.
- Support the blood-alcohol-content limit defining drunk driving.
Source: Maine Governor 1998 National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 1998
Angus King:
More prisons, but more alternative sentencing
King indicates support for the following principles to address crime. - Increase state funds for construction of state prisons and for hiring of additional prison staff.
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Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
- Inform communities when a convicted sex offender moves into the community.
Source: Maine Governor 1998 National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 1998
Charlie Summers:
Mandatory jail for drug crimes; penalties for online crimes
Summers indicates support for the following principles regarding crime. - Support mandatory jail sentences for selling illegal drugs.
- Support strict penalties for internet crime (e.g. hacking, identity theft,
worms/viruses).
- Support programs to provide prison inmates with drug and alcohol addiction treatment.
Source: Maine Congressional Election 2008 Political Courage Test
Nov 1, 2008
Charlie Summers:
Supports the federal death penalty
Summers indicates support for the following principles regarding crime. - Support the use of the death penalty for federal crimes.
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Support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released.
Source: Maine Congressional Election 2008 Political Courage Test
Nov 1, 2008
Chris Lyons:
Stricter punishment doesn't reduce crime
Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Stricter punishment reduces crime"?
A: oppose
Source: OnTheIssues interview of 2018 Maine Senate candidate
Mar 6, 2018
Cynthia Dill:
Alternative penalties for non-violent offenders
Dill supports these principles regarding crime: - Support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released.
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Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
- Increase state funding for community centers and other social agencies in areas with at-risk youth.
Source: Maine 2006 Congressional National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 2006
Eliot Cutler:
Assure support services for victims of domestic violence
- Stop Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault And Abuse: Incidences of domestic violence and assault are directly related to the failure to protect victims, to require universal background checks for handgun sales, and to change cultural
attitudes about women and girls. To combat violence against women, we will:
- Protect and Support Victims:
A Cutler Administration will support collaborative initiatives currently underway in Maine such as High Risk Response Teams that provide enhanced coordinated community responses to reduce homicides and serious assaults.
We will strengthen prevention measures and assure access to legal and support services for victims, including transitional housing, in order to overcome the scourge of domestic violence.
Source: 2014 Maine gubernatorial campaign website CutlerForMaine.com
Sep 1, 2014
Eric Brakey:
Being pro-life is why I oppose the death penalty
Since Senator Brakey is a Liberty Republican I found it imperative to get a specific answer on the issue of abortion. Many small government advocates split when it comes to believing in using the government to prevent abortion.
He retorted with a very unique stance on pro-life ethics. "I am Pro-Life. For me however, I am someone who operates on the basis of principles, not necessarily issue by issue.
I am Pro-Life in principle, and certainly I apply that to the issue of abortion." he went further, and explained where many
Pro-Life movement falls short. "For me being Pro-Life is not just about abortion, being Pro-Life is also why I oppose the death penalty."
Source: Cecc Point News on 2018 Maine Senate race
Oct 3, 2017
Janet Mills:
Expand personnel to fight crime in courtrooms and computers
Our budget bolsters public safety: By beefing up security in courtrooms. By authorizing fifteen additional state troopers and sergeants to ensure a 24-hour police presence statewide, including in all rural areas. By adding seven positions to the
Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit. There can be no more important purpose of government than to protect our children from violent predators. We will continue to work with community groups to combat the scourge of domestic violence.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to the Maine legislature
Feb 11, 2019
John Baldacci:
End parole for repeat violent offenders
Indicate which principles you support regarding crime. - Support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released.
- End parole for repeat violent offenders.
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Strengthen penalties and sentences for drug-related crimes.
- Increase state funding for community centers and other social agencies in areas with at-risk youth.
- Strengthen sex-offender laws.
Source: 2006 Maine Gubernatorial National Political Awareness Test
Nov 7, 2006
Mary Mayhew:
imprisonment for life as a deterrent to crime
LePage, and his welfare protege Mary Mayhew, have adopted the foolish and cruel position that poverty and crime can be eliminated by tightening the clenched fist. In their minds, cutting off funding for the poor and throwing drug offenders into
prison for life will scare society's ills away. People will stop choosing to be poor, sick or criminal if they are left to fend for themselves or fear incarceration, and instead they will choose to be healthy, productive members of society.
Source: Bangor Daily News on 2018 Maine Gubernatorial race
Sep 18, 2017
Matt Dunlap:
Alternative penalties for non-violent offenders
Dunlap indicates support for the following principles to address crime. - Support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released.
-
Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
- Increase state funding for community centers and other social agencies in areas with at-risk youth.
Source: Maine Congressional 2002 National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 2002
Paul LePage:
Victim's Compensation Fund to address domestic violence
Last session, we put politics aside and worked together to address domestic violence in Maine. We amended Maine's bail code, ensuring that judges determine the bail for domestic violence offenses. We required abusers to pay into the Victim's Compensation
Fund. This provides financial resources to the victims and families of domestic abuse.A number of other bills dealing with stalking and risk assessment were passed, and executive orders signed. We sponsored a Governor's Bill supporting our
Batterers' Intervention Programs.
Ending domestic violence requires abusers to change--batterers' intervention is an important step in that direction. As a youth, domestic violence hit close to home for me. I was not a spouse, I was a child.
It is important that we broaden the discussion about these heinous crimes. Domestic violence is a crime that affects families. Family violence is domestic violence, and we need to focus on protecting all women and children.
Source: 2013 State of the State speech to Maine Legislature
Feb 5, 2013
Shawn Moody:
Law enforcement needs all the right tools to catch criminals
FIGHTING VIOLENT CRIME. Ensure law enforcement has the resources they need to catch the criminals--including strengthening our
criminal code for addictive opioid drug trafficking and tools to track the traffickers.
Source: 2018 Maine Gubernatorial race website ShawnMoody.com
Sep 1, 2018
David Costello:
Focus increased resources on violent offenses
David will help in enhancing public safety by supporting efforts to:- Increase funding for community policing, substance abuse, and mental health services.
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Focus increased investigative and prosecutorial resources on violent offenses.
- Enhance police training and accountability.
- Build on recent common-sense gun safety laws and regulations.
Source: 2024 Maine Senate campaign website CostelloForSenate.com
Jul 24, 2023
Angus King:
Defund localities that defund police
Criminal Justice How to ensure effectiveness and fairness in law enforcement?Angus King (I): Sponsored a measure designating "National Police Week." Supported funding to reduce police backlog and strengthen re-entry
programs. Supported decreasing federal funding for localities that defund police and a GOP bill calling for changes in data collection.
Demi Kouzounas (R): "We've lost respect for those that protect us."
Source: Guides.vote candidate survey on 2024 Maine Senate race
Sep 9, 2024
Demi Kouzounas:
We've lost respect for those that protect us
Criminal Justice How to ensure effectiveness and fairness in law enforcement?Demi Kouzounas (R): Respects "law enforcement and the rule of law." "We've lost respect for those that protect us."
Angus King (I): Supported funding to reduce police backlog and strengthen re-entry programs. Supported decreasing federal funding for localities that defund police and a GOP bill calling for changes in data collection.
Source: Guides.vote candidate survey on 2024 Maine Senate race
Sep 9, 2024
Robert Charles:
Back our troopers, unleash a full-force crackdown
A Republican focused on fighting crime launches bid for Maine governor: "I've taken down cartels before--with a badge and a mission," he wrote. "As Governor,
I'll back our troopers, fund the front lines, and unleash a full-force crackdown." His campaign slogan is "Cut crime. Cut taxes. No nonsense."
Source: Spectrum News, "Launch," on 2026 Maine Gubernatorial race
Apr 18, 2025
Page last updated: Feb 07, 2026