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Cumberland District Attorney Sahrbeck testified in support of LD 320. On establishing a minimum age to charge a child, DA Sahrbeck said, "Quite frankly, it’s time to get other programs in place." That is, supportive programming, not incarceration.
DA Sahrbeck recognized the trauma of becoming involved in the juvenile justice system inflicts on a child, and that it has lasting effects. He notes incarceration itself is an adverse childhood experience, and can lead to lifelong involvement in the adult criminal legal system.
Jan Collins of MPAC notes that many kids involved in the juvenile justice system have experienced deep wounds and trauma. "We must not add to those wounds."
Erica King of the Muskie School at USM: national research & local data are overwhelmingly find that incarcerating young people is not an effective use of taxpayer money, leads to higher likelihood of involvement in adult criminal system & long lasting negative outcomes for kids
Acc. to King: 42% of young people released from Longcreek are incarcerated again within two years, either at Longcreek or in an adult facility. King adds the average length of confinement for low to moderate-risk kids at Longcreek is 508 days (more than one year)
Ending testimony with powerful words from Skye Gosselin with Maine Youth Justice.
Skye testified about her experience with being incarcerated as a 14 year old at Long Creek. “Most kids just need to be cared for, not another case with a number on top of it.”
Skye spoke about the trauma of incarceration and the “lost understanding of human interaction.” Skye supports closing Longcreek altogether, ending youth incarceration and investing in kids and communities. We agree.
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