Committee codifies youth‑diversion working group, endorses probation‑transformation effort

Representative Grayson Luckner asked the committee to turn LD 740 into a statutory working group to continue Maine’s probation‑transformation work and codify the Youth Community Supervision initiative. The amendment formalizes an ongoing voluntary effort (a cohort with the Annie E. Casey/NEKC Probation Transformation Initiative) to develop pilot diversion sites, improve family‑engaged case planning, and reevaluate juvenile community corrections officers’ duties to support diversion.

Jill Ward, co‑chair of the earlier juvenile task force, and DOC representatives described pilot sites (Biddeford and Region 3) already engaged in diversion experiments; Annie E. Casey technical assistance provided implementation support but not ongoing funding. Participants said the effort’s goals include expanding diversion, improving case planning, keeping youth in school and providing intensive outpatient and housing support as alternatives to secure placement.

The committee adopted an amendment to codify the working group, preserve continuity during executive‑branch transitions and require periodic reporting; the motion to report LD 740 as 'ought to pass as amended' carried (recorded vote: 7 in favor, 5 opposed, 1 absent). The work will continue with DOC and stakeholders coordinating pilot rollout and data collection.

Next steps: the working group will formalize pilot metrics, collect diversion‑point data statewide and report interim and final findings per the amendment’s schedule.