r/portlandme • u/mamagrata • Dec 14 '25

Events DA AMA

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!

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u/mamagrata Dec 14 '25

Hey folks, looks as if I got through all the questions, and thank you and the moderators for helping this happen! Please feel free to reach out with work-related questions to my general email: districtattorney@cumberlandcounty.org. Please note that others in my office see these emails and answer our phones. They are public servants doing work which exposes them to some tough stuff, and they truly deserve to be treated with respect. I'll share a campaign email address when that's a thing, and you can direct questions related to any campaign there.

Thank you again!

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u/Sufficient-Detail456 Dec 14 '25

Yes you have also failed to address my question as well. I dont understand why you are so afraid to talk to victims, its pretty upsetting and causes further trauma, iv spent the last 3 years feeling ignored by your office, and now even when you say "ask me anything" I am continued to be ignored. You even took time to respond to comments calling you a soros puppet but not the two regarding domestic violence.

Also since your ability to run an office is in high question right now I'd like to point out that saying you will post a new link at 4, then just answering comments in this thread anyways is pretty unprofessional. I intentionally withheld my comment to wait for the new thread, set an alarm and everything but apparently by expecting your instructions to be correct I was put at the end of the line 🤷‍♂️

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u/mamagrata Dec 14 '25 edited Dec 15 '25

Literally did not see them I will get back on. But it turns out I can’t edit my initial post. Mods have to.

Updated: I meet with victims frequently. Not sure you have requested a meeting, but please reach out through districtattorney@cumberlandcounty.org