Publications and Reports

The number of criminal cases referred to Maine courts dropped considerably in 2020 and continued to fall in 2021 as well, according to Prosecutorial Data in Maine: Themes and Trends from 2017-2021 a report compiled by the University of Southern Maine’s Maine Statistical Analysis Center (SAC) for the Maine Prosecutors Association (MPA).

This project studied the recidivism rates of Maine sex offenders who were released from prison between 2005 and 2019 and Massachusetts sex offenders released between 2009 and 2018. In total, the Massachusetts cohort was composed of 1,210 offenders, and the Maine study of 905 offenders. Criminal history records were obtained for each offender from their respective states to determine whether the offender recidivated (i.e., committed post-release offenses that resulted in a conviction).

In a report, co-authored by the University of Southern Maine’s Catherine Cutler Institute and Northeastern University’s Institute on Race and Justice in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, researchers found no evidence that demonstrates severe or persistent occurrences of biased-based policing at the Portland Police Department. However, the study did find that Black or African Americans individuals experience disparities in arrests in Portland. Funded by the cities of Portland and South Portland and Northeastern University’s Roux Institute based in Portland, the study was commissioned to explore whether either of the departments engaged in disproportionate enforcement activities.

In a report, co-authored by the University of Southern Maine’s Catherine Cutler Institute and Northeastern University’s Institute on Race and Justice in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, researchers found no evidence that demonstrates severe or persistent occurrences of biased-based policing at the Portland Police Department. However, the study did find that Black or African Americans individuals experience disparities in arrests in Portland. Funded by the cities of Portland and South Portland and Northeastern University’s Roux Institute based in Portland, the study was commissioned to explore whether either of the departments engaged in disproportionate enforcement activities.

The Maine Crime Victimization Survey (MCVS) is periodically conducted to raise awareness of crime victimization trends in Maine among Maine policymakers, practitioners, advocacy organizations, and the public. The current report is the fourth iteration, with previous studies conducted in 2006, 2010, and 2014. While state and local agencies also collect data, George Shaler, co-author and Director of USM’s Maine SAC, explains why the findings of this survey are unique. “Unlike data reported by agencies at the state or local level,” he states, “the MCVS findings reflect both reported and unreported crimes as well as characteristics of victims.”

The State of Maine Victim Needs Assessment (VSNA), completed by the University of Southern Maine’s Catherine Cutler Institute, documents concerns about the unmet needs of crime victims in Maine. Specifically, people of color are more likely to experience almost every type of crime and while rates for reporting crime and seeking services are higher for these victims, available services are often inaccessible due to cultural and language barriers. The 2022 VSNA found that mainstream victim service providers self-identified that they need more formal training opportunities that specifically address services and outreach strategies for meeting the needs of diverse populations, especially for individuals that have been a victim of a crime. Culturally specific organizations that are embedded in these communities provide comprehensive services yet report being underfunded and under-resourced.