Sen. Diamond thanks Gov. Mills for additional funding to protect Maine kids

AUGUSTA – On Friday, Gov. Janet T. Mills released the details of part two of her Biennial Budget proposal, or “change package,” which can be found here. As part of her proposal, Gov. Mills has prioritized funding six additional positions within the Computer Crimes Unit (CCU) of the Maine State Police, a longtime priority for Sen. Bill Diamond, D-Windham.

Sen. Diamond issued the following statement in response:

“This year, the CCU is on track to receive a record 1,400 cases – shattering the record of 1,100 cases set just last year. We’re seeing another disturbing trend in the evidence collected by the CCU: younger and younger children being sexually abused. Every time an offender creates child sex abuse materials, sells them or swaps them online, a child is harmed – real children, in our communities. The CCU needs all the resources they can get to thoroughly investigate these cases and bring the perpetrators to justice. Funding these additional positions is critical to working through the backlog and dealing with the high number of new cases coming in. I’m very grateful Gov. Mills is prioritizing this effort.”

The CCU is the unit of the Maine State Police responsible for investigating illegal activities involving the production, buying, selling and swapping of online child sexual abuse materials. In the CCU, computer forensic analysts work in tandem with detectives to investigate tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Over the past four years, the number of case referrals and tips has nearly tripled, and this year is currently on pace to receive a record number of cases. With too few staff to process cases, a backlog has accumulated, leaving suspects free to abuse more children.

This year, Sen. Diamond sponsored a bill, LD 438, which would have funded an additional position within the CCU. After working with Gov. Mills and the CCU on funding additional positions within the budget, Sen. Diamond asked the Legislature’s Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee not to move forward with his bill.

The budget faces further work in the Legislature.