ADVOCACY
It's beyond time for survivor voices to be at the table when decisions are made that impact perpetrators and victims of domestic abuse in Maine.
Finding Our Voices is gathering and amplifying survivor voices from across our state to finally move the needle on domestic abuse in Maine!
Finding Our Voices stages outdoor rallies across Maine, often as part of a larger Breaking the Silence activity including Survivor-Speaks panel discussion and often preceded by sign-making workshops, through a generous grant from Mariah Studio.
Coercive Control
Finding Our Voices gathered 13 domestic abuse survivors to provide in-person and written testimony in March 2025 for LD670, which would add Coercive Control to the definition of domestic abuse in Maine. The sponsor was Rep. Holly Eaton. Governor Janet T. Mills signed this bill into law on June 20 2025.
You can read the Finding Our Voices-generated testimony here from Suzanne, Christine, Eleanor (Ellie), Carla, Mary K., Meg, Patrisha, Tessa, Lisa, Lori, Candis, and Ashley.
Rep. Holly Eaton (D-Deer Isle) in the center flanked by FOV Survivors Lisa, Candis, Agnes, Patrisha, Christine, and Pamela Gagnon Da Silva (Finding Our Voices board member).
Changing the System!
In 2023, ten survivors with FOV provided testimony for a bill that we generated that was signed into law by Governor Janet T. Mills that is curtailing early release from jail of DV perpetrators and providing better notification to their victims of the release. The sponsor of this bill was Vicki Doudera (D), Camden, to the left of Janet Mills in the white jacket standing with some of the FOV survivors who provided testimony for this bill.
Restrictions on Early Release from Jail and Prison of Violent Domestic Abusers
Finding Our Voices gathered 13 survivors to testify in person and online in writing for a bill Patrisha McLean worked on with her legislator Vicki Doudera (D-Camden) to exclude the worst domestic violence felons (category A and B) from being eligible for early release through Community Confinement Monitoring programs, that in actuality neither confine nor monitor.
The bill was in honor of Virginia Cookson, strangled to death in Bangor in September of 2024. Her ex-boyfriend charged with the crime was released from prison that February, years early from a prison sentence for almost killing his ex-wife Darcia Thorpe. He met Virginia in April, and five months later this mom was dead.
Agnes Brackett and Nicole Bernhardt joined Patrisha in testifying in person and 11 others submitted written testimony in favor of this bill.
A watered-down version of the bill ended up being approved. Class A and B domestic abuse felons are STILL eligible to be released early from prison on these programs!
Finding Our Voices empowered the mother of a domestic violence felon to find her voice, resulting in this letter sent to the legislative committee deciding this bill:
5.1.2025
To Whom it May Concern
I am writing today regarding today's discussion surrounding : An Act to Exclude from Eligibility for a Community Confinement Monitoring Program a Person Serving a Sentence for Certain Domestic Violence Crimes
I am a Mother of a person who has committed Domestic Violence, not only once, but on several occasions, the final act resulting in the death of a beautiful single mother. Being released early and in community confinement is about as effective as a PFA. The person can basically do what they want and then it's too late!
Please hear my voice when I say, the ONLY safe place for violent Domestic Violence Offenders is behind bars.
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Being released early from Prison, only to take a life should be more proof than you will ever need to know the right answer to this bill. We need to protect our victims' rights and lives. The ONLY person who matters in this scenario is the victim, their families, their friends.
The ripple effect of these crimes are immense. Speaking from the point of view of a parent of one of these perpetrators; the fear and pain and sorrow is also real for the families of the people who commit these horrific crimes. My family lives in fear of his release, the rage spills over to all of us.
I can not fathom who would not support this bill. Five women have been murdered in Maine this year already. This needs to stop. We need to protect the innocent people in these scenarios.
I beg you to think about how you would feel if your daughter or sister were a victim of domestic violence and how you would like the offender to be punished. Behind bars is the ONLY answer.
PLEASE make the right decision today. The ONLY right decision.
Sincerely,
A very concerned and heartbroken parent
