Independent institutions that check this jurisdiction's own power — audit, ombudsman, inspector general, civilian review, ethics, and grand-jury bodies established by statute.
The Maine State Auditor is elected by a joint session of the Legislature to a four-year term. The office audits state agencies, departments, and other entities receiving state funds.
Read scorecard → 02 OmbudsmanEach Maine county sheriff appoints a 7-member Board of Visitors for each county jail or correctional facility (30-A MRS §1651). Boards must include persons with expertise in women's incarceration,...
Read scorecard → 03 Ethics CommissionThe Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices administers and enforces campaign finance, lobbying, and ethics laws for state officials, candidates, and lobbyists. The...
Read scorecard → 04 Civilian ReviewThe Board of Trustees of the Maine Criminal Justice Academy establishes minimum training and certification standards for all Maine law enforcement and corrections officers. It has binding...
Read scorecard → 05 Civilian ReviewThe Maine Deadly Force Review Panel (5 MRS §200-K) independently reviews officer-involved deadly force incidents after the AG's criminal investigation concludes. Its 15 members include 4 ex...
Read scorecard →Maine's law enforcement oversight has three main pillars. The Maine Criminal Justice Academy Board of Trustees (25 MRS §2802–§2806-A) certifies, decertifies, and disciplines all sworn LE and corrections officers statewide with binding authority and subpoena power. The Attorney General has exclusive statutory authority to direct criminal investigations of any officer-involved deadly force incident (5 MRS §200-A). The Deadly Force Review Panel (5 MRS §200-K) independently reviews those incidents after the AG's investigation and reports to the Legislature with improvement recommendations, but cannot discipline officers. County jails are visited by sheriff-appointed civilian Boards of Visitors (30-A MRS §1651) with facility access but no subpoena power. No independent civilian review board exists at the municipal or county level for policing.