Cumberland County’s left-wing District Attorney (DA) Jacqueline Sartoris launched a new “restorative justice” program on Monday that aims to resolve cases with “community dialogue” rather than criminal convictions.
[RELATED: DA Dysfunction: Top ADA Exits Jackie Sartoris’ Office Amid Allegations of Toxic Work Environment…]
“We know that restorative justice has a better chance of keeping low-level offenders out of the criminal legal system because it is based on taking real responsibility. Tracking which cases and offender profiles lead to the best outcomes will be essential over this next year,” said Sartoris.
“We’re excited to be working with the Cumberland County Friends of Restorative Justice and the many community volunteers participating in this program and eager to share our results with the community,” she added.
According to Sartoris’ press release, her office began giving defendants charged with misdemeanors their first offers to resolve their cases with “community dialogue.”
Offenders would also cover a “fee” to avoid facing legal proceedings. Sartoris expects that up to 500 “low-level” cases will be resolved via the program over its first year. She even claimed that some serious felonies that involved significant harm to victims could be resolved under the program.
It is not clear how the DA’s office will determine which people accused of serious felonies will be given a chance to resolve their cases without a criminal conviction.
The Cumberland County Friends of Restorative Justice nonprofit partnering with the DA’s office on the program was founded in 2024, and was selected to work on the program in March after a “competitive bidding process.”
Defendants who qualify for the program will be offered the “restorative justice outcome” at their arraignments, and they will be given two months to pay their fee and complete the required dialogue.
Defendants already receiving taxpayer-funded public benefits will qualify for lower fees.
Sartoris responded to one comment on her press release, claiming that the program will not cost taxpayers additional money and saying that the DA’s office will maintain its current $35,000 per year expenditure on restorative justice programs.
Notably absent from Sartoris’ press release was any explanation of what the “community dialogue” would actually entail.
Maine Public spoke with Sartoris, who reportedly told the taxpayer-funded outlet that the program would require defendants to speak with their victims in hour-long sessions facilitated by the non-profit. Each defendant will only reportedly need to pay just $150 in fees.
Sartoris told the outlet that the program would focus on defendants without long criminal histories.
[RELATED: Lincoln County Committee Recommends Just $1 in Funding for Lenient “Restorative Justice” DA…]
Progressive restorative justice policies pushed by DAs like Sartoris often prioritize the welfare of criminals over victims and focus on rehabilitation to the exclusion of punishment and focus on “equity” in sentencing.
What could go wrong? It’s funny how Sartoris almost rimes with Soros. Maybe they’re related.
From the Maine Wire: “An environmental activist and attorney who won the Democratic Party primary with the help of more than $300,000 from far-left mega donor George Soros is now the District Attorney in Cumberland County” Sartoris
Interview for “Restorative Justice”
DA: So I see you’re charged with holding up a family in the park, So do you have any regrets on the alleged crime?
Arrestee: Yeah damn right I do!
DA: What is it?
Arrestee: I got 2 I shoulda took more money and left no witnesses.
DA: Release them! The arrestee shows regret of his alleged crime! Oh and give him 50Krestitution for the trauma and embarrassment of the arrest in front of his peers.
Guaranteed she gets re-elected to make Cumberland County even more violent and unsafe. Way to go Mainers!!!!
What an embarrassment. I can’t wait to get out of this cesspool of a state
AMAZING!!!
No nose ring.
Bad idea!
Only a fool would think this is a good idea.
The fent-head pimp who lives down the road from me caused a police stand off when the police came to bust the drug and human trafficking operation last August.
He was out a week later
He was busted again a few weeks later with controlled substance.
He was out a week later.
A month or so after that, he was arrested again for possession and distribution of controlled substances.
He was out a week later.
Meanwhile while this was all going on, he was ruining our quiet neighborhood. The druggies wreck the dirt road, litter, and drive so fast that our kids can’t ride their bikes on our once beautiful road.
Jacqueline Sartoris, your “Restorative Justice Program to Resolve Charges with Community Dialogue” doesn’t work. Scumbags get let out and start their illegal activities again. Law abiding Mainers suffer. F— you Sartorius. You are an idiot.
Check out the pronouns…. 17 Staff, wonder what this is costing us.
https://rjpmaine.org/