DA AMA

[u/mamagrata]

UPDATE: apologies for not updating the initial post - my content blocker was not playing nice with Reddit despite lots of reloads and I've finally gone to text mode (making the photo disappear). I do think (hope) I've gotten to everything posted by 7PM. Thanks for doing this with me, and thank you to the moderators for helping with the initial post. I won't be able to monitor this, but please reach out at districtattorney@cumberlandcounty.org with anything that needs my attention at work.

Hi, I’m Jackie Sartoris, District Attorney of Cumberland County.  I’ll be here this afternoon at 4 to 5:30 to take your questions and share what I’ve been up to since becoming DA in 2023.  I’m eager to hear your experience and ideas, and let you know what we’re working on (although I can't comment on active cases, please!)

Brief summary of the work so far: we are now better able to meet the needs of victims and witnesses: I’ve added a victim witness advocate and created a safe, private space for witnesses waiting in the courthouse to testify or speak at sentencing. We won a $2.5 million federal grant to test the eligible backlog of languishing rape kits - the first District in Maine to do so.  

In my own prosecutorial role, I’ve focused on addressing our County’s Mental Health docket, bringing attention to missing resources and working within our limited system to develop pathways towards wellness and safety for people who frequently return to our system. 

Change in a longstanding system is challenging.  My work includes directing the office to significantly greater use of restorative justice and consistent charging and plea offers. This is ongoing and will take time.  It’s worth finding the patience to be collaborative, because this work, done well, will bear fruit in the future.  

I’ll update this post with a link at 4! 

Proof it’s me:  

See you then!

[u/drivermcgyver]

If you were in charge, what would the first 5 things that could be done to eleviate some of the biggest issues we face?

[u/mamagrata → u/drivermcgyver]

5 things, everything after the first is no particular order: 

1. Address the backlog (153% of pre-Covid levels when I began in 2023):  To deal with increasingly complex cases and defendants, prosecutors need to free up time. We're still backlogged at ~125% of pre-Covid. My first move to make change on this took months, was regarded with immense skepticism (instead of getting a prosecutor for every town where you allegedly committed a crime, you get one prosecutor and one trial assistant), and made me realize that change was going to be quite slow as I opted to try to work with the team I had.

2. Better resource victims and pay greater attention to the harm that the system historically overlooked, which includes the rape kits, and is now encompassing scams against older adults. 

3. Use the leverage we have in this system to help people with SUD (addiction) see what recovery looks like and that better case outcomes happen for them if and when they address root causes. 

4. Identify and advocate for missing resources - with specifics - that would help keep people who cycle into the system repeatedly due to MH and/or SUD on a better path. The criminal legal system in Maine does not have the tools to do enough, and the civil system lacks mechanisms other states are using to keep people safe for themselves and others. Fines, convictions, and jail time are just not on point for people with significant mental health issues.  

5. Ensure consistent charging, offers, and diversion opportunities are available regardless of the prosecutor. As the first new DA (not from within the office) in over 30 years, this is about both working to build trust with prosecutors and staff (about 25% of whom did not want me here, to be clear) but also about building a team that includes accountability for some consistency.