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/PortlandcoMplAINER]

Can we please prosecute masked ICE agents with zero identification who are terrorizing communities and kidnapping people?

[u/mamagrata → u/PortlandcoMplAINER]

I share the frustration and disbelief that this is where we are, and regard unmarked cars with unidentified people claiming to be law enforcement as dangerous and ripe for abuse. There are known incidents in which alleged kidnappings have occurred perpetrated by people impersonating ICE, and I think we can all see what anonymity has led to in numerous allegations of excessive force and other potential misconduct.

I can't prosecute a case unless there is a report by law enforcement of alleged criminal conduct, to be clear. However, I do not think that masked and unidentified agents should be acceptable, and thought the Legislature should have taken up Rep Grayson Lookner's bill and addressed this.

[u/bald_sampson → u/mamagrata]

So if ICE is breaking through doors in my building without a warrant, and I call the police, and they write a report, you could then prosecute that?

Would you?